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Sweet Potato

Sweet Potatoes

Produce Spotlight on Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are sweet root vegetables that grow underground. They are an excellent source of vitamins A and C and a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6. 

 

Shopping for Sweet Potatoes

When shopping, choose firm, dry, and smooth sweet potatoes without cuts, sprouts, soft spots, or bruises. Massachusetts-grown sweet potatoes are available from October through January. Frozen and canned sweet potatoes are available year-round.

 

Common Types

Beauregard – most common all-purpose type, sweet flavor, and orange flesh and skin. They are juicy and good for mashing and baked goods.

Jewel – light orange skin and orange flesh; less sweet than Beauregard. Used for baking, boiling, and casseroles.

Japanese Satsuma – dark purple skin and pale yellow flesh. They have a slight nutty flavor and are denser and starchier than other varieties.

Garnet – also know as red yam. Dark redish-purple skin, sweet flavor, and very moist. Ideal for pies, mashing and casseroles.

 

Storage and Preparation

  • Store unwashed sweet potatoes in a cool, dark area, in an open container or bag that allows for airflow. Do not store whole sweet potatoes in the refrigerator; doing so may cause the center to harden and flavor to become unpleasant. For best quality, use within two weeks.
  • Scrub under cool running water just before using.
  • Cooked sweet potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for 4 to 5 days.  
  • Cooked sweet potatoes can be frozen whole, sliced, or mashed. Package them in a freezer bag or container and use within 10 to 12 months.

 

Serving Ideas

  • Cut a sweet potato into slices, toss with vegetable or olive oil, and bake in an oven at 400° F for 20 to 30 minutes to make delicious sweet potato fries.
  • Roast or sauté sweet potatoes with other mixed vegetables or add to a casserole dish.
  • Add mashed sweet potatoes to your muffin or pancake batter for a healthy breakfast.

 

Sweet Potato Math

1 pound of raw, fresh sweet potato =

3 cups shredded, cubed, or sliced =

1¾ cups cooked, or mashed

 

Using Locally Grown Produce

For recipes featuring fruits and vegetables, visit our website https://extension.umass.edu/nutrition/recipes/. To locate places to buy local produce, visit www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-grownand-fresher.

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 1 large sweet potato; Calories: 112; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Fiber: 3.9 g; Fat: 0.1 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 72 mg