Though when canned, they are called yams, this is a misnomer, from two distinct botanical families; sweet potatoes from the same group as morning glories, and yams from the lily group. Yams are native to Africa, and Asia, while sweet potatoes originated in South America.
Sweet potatoes can be deep orange, almost white, or even purple. The thin skinned white sweet potatoes are drier, and not as sweet. Deep orange ones are the most common in the U.S,, and have a sweeter, more moist flesh. They can be baked in the skin, peeled and simmered, then mashed with butter, even made into sweet potato fries. They do cook faster than regular potatoes, like russets. Unknown to most people, the skins are edible and can be tasty. The normal method for baking is to line a baking sheet with foul As they bake, they will ooze some liquid onto the pan, It's a challenge to get off of a baking sheet. Foil makes cleanup easier. Lightly scrub the potatoes under running water to remove ant grit. Cooking time will very with the sweet potato size, and how many are baked. Do not wrap in foil. This will result in flabby skins. Typically, in a 425' F. oven, you're looking at about 45 minutes baking time. To test, stick a fork in it, The flesh should be soft in the thickest part of the potato. For a yummy, and crispy skin, rub the skin with oil, and lightly salt before baking. sweet potatoes are usually mashed with butter, salt, and pepper. They also pair well with maple syrup, or a bit of orange juice.
Note" Sweet potatoes are considered one of the superfoods, high in vitamins A and C, and a good source of potassium, as well as some B vitamins, They are low sugar, high fiber, and fat
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