How big of a pot do I need to cook four pounds of sweet potatoes?

[chuckm]

Can someone please advise me how big of a pot I need to cook 4 lb of sliced sweet potatoes? Thank you.

 

[Janet H]

Maybe not as big as you might think. Use this guide: 1 lb of sweet potatoes = 2 large sweet potatoes, 3 medium sweet potatoes, or 4 small sweet potatoes

When they are sliced they pack nicely in a pot but you'll want to entirely cover them with water and still have headroom so they won't boil over. In general I might use a 6 quart pot for this although you might be able to use a slightly smaller pot.

 

[chuckm]

Maybe not as big as you might think. Use this guide: 1 lb of sweet potatoes = 2 large sweet potatoes, 3 medium sweet potatoes, or 4 small sweet potatoes

When they are sliced they pack nicely in a pot but you'll want to entirely cover them with water and still have headroom so they won't boil over. In general I might use a 6 quart pot for this although you might be able to use a slightly smaller pot.

Thanks for the reply. I plan to use small sweet potatoes. I want to try a candied sweet potato recipe I found online. It does not call for using any water at all. A couple of sticks of butter a few cups of sugar and a few other things but no water. I should have included that in my initial question. Do you think a 3 qt pot would be too small? 5 qt maybe? I need to buy one or the other. Thanks.

 

[msmofet]

Thanks for the reply. I plan to use small sweet potatoes. I want to try a candied sweet potato recipe I found online. It does not call for using any water at all. A couple of sticks of butter a few cups of sugar and a few other things but no water. I should have included that in my initial question. Do you think a 3 qt pot would be too small? 5 qt maybe? I need to buy one or the other. Thanks.

That recipe sounds good. Please post a link to the recipe. Thanks in advance.

 

[chuckm]

That recipe sounds good. Please post a link to the recipe. Thanks in advance.

Southern Candied Yams

Candied yams is a old fashioned side dish that's slow cooked in a candied mixture on the stove-top with warm spices, sugar and butter.

whiskitrealgud.com

 

[msmofet]

Thank you.

 

[dragnlaw]

Sounds great! We always did candied yams in the oven. This gives you the choice to free up oven space or stove top space!

BTW, Welcome to DC chuckm! and thanks for the link!

 

[msmofet]

I think the orange juice is the liquid it cooks in. It says bring to boil then cover and simmer. Sounds like it's steaming in the juice.

 

[chuckm]

I am going to double the recipe. Do you think a 3 qt pot would be too small?

 

[dragnlaw]

have you purchased the sweet potatoes yet?

 

[chuckm]

No, not yet. I'm not cooking them until Nov. 17. I think I'll just buy two pots and whichever one I don't use I'll return.

 

[HeyItsSara]

Are you boiling them whole? If so, you need maybe a 4 qt saucepan with a lid. If you are cutting them up, you can use a much smaller pot.

 

[dragnlaw]

The 17th isn't that far away. You could easily buy them now. Then at home you can put them in one of your pots to see how they fit. You don't have to peel and chop, it will look to need a bigger pot. Chopping them will use a smaller one. But having them there will give you a good idea as to size.

 

[Katie H]

Thanks for the reply. I plan to use small sweet potatoes. I want to try a candied sweet potato recipe I found online. It does not call for using any water at all. A couple of sticks of butter a few cups of sugar and a few other things but no water. I should have included that in my initial question. Do you think a 3 qt pot would be too small? 5 qt maybe? I need to buy one or the other. Thanks.

I'd buy a 5-quart pot because you might need it for something else in the future. Better to have too large than too small.

 

[chuckm]

Well I finally made the candied sweet potatoes. I doubled the recipe, and the 5-quart pot was just the right size. They were a big hit at work. I wish I got as many compliments on my work as I did on these candied sweet potatoes.

 

[dragnlaw]

LOL, ain't that the truth in so many ways.

Congratulations on a successful dish! Very happy it worked for you.