Sweet Potato Guide
Sweet Potato Guide
While all are delicious, each variety has its own distinct flavor and texture that lends itself to a variety of cooking applications. Sweet potatoes are nutritious, packing a good amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and manganese into each serving. They also have anticancer properties and may promote immune function and other health benefits.
The fiber and antioxidants in sweet potatoes can be beneficial for gut health as well. Sweet potatoes contain two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Your body cannot digest either type, therefore, fiber stays within your digestive tract and provides a variety of gut-related health benefits, always welcome this time of year.
Garnet Sweet Potato
Garnet Sweet Potato
Garnets have dusty brown maroon colored skin which happens to be the inspiration behind its name. Inside, the flesh is a brilliant golden orange. It is starchier and moister than other varieties and offers mild sweet flavor with savory earthiness. These are great for baking, casseroles, and mashing.
Japanese Sweet Potato
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Japanese or Oriental Sweet Potato
Japanese sweet potatoes, which includes the Murasaki variety, have reddish-purple skin with whitish flesh that turns golden when cooked. Its shape is more round than cylindrical. The flavor is very sweet and the texture is fairly firm. We think these taste best roasted or steamed.
Jewel Sweet Potato
Jewel or Covington Sweet Potato
Jewels, which includes the Covington variety, have copper colored skin and deep orange flesh. When cooked, this sweet potato takes on a moist, fluffy texture and offers mildly sweet taste with subtle earthiness. This is a good all-purpose sweet potato. The moist flesh is good for boiling, baking, and adding to casseroles.
Purple Sweet Potato
Purple Sweet Potato
Purple sweet potatoes have a vibrant deep purple skin and purple flesh inside. Dryer, denser and richer in texture than other varieties, it offers a balanced sweetness with floral notes. It contains high levels of antioxidants making it one of the most nutritious varieties. The dryer texture of this potato lends better to high moisture cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, roasting or frying. They can also be used for baking but note that recipes with baking soda may turn this purple potato green!
Jersey Sweet Potato
Jersey Sweet Potato
The Jersey sweet potato has golden-colored skin and white flesh. It is less sweet than orange sweet potatoes and has a drier and more dense texture that works well for making fries. Excellent for soups and curries.