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Cooking with Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are native to Central America and considered one of the oldest vegetables in history. When analyzing Peruvian caves dating back 10,000 years, it is shown that sweet potatoes fed the inhabitants of the past since prehistoric times. Throughout the years, the sweet potato has become an important ingredient in many Asian and Latin American dishes. The southern part of the United States has also embraced the vegetable, which is known to create a well-known delicious holiday pie.

Buying Sweet Potatoes

When purchasing sweet potatoes at the store, you should choose specimens that are firm, free of cracks, and without any soft spots or bruises. If you pass by sweet potatoes showcased in the refrigerated section of a produce department, avoid purchasing them because cold temperatures seem to alter their taste for the worst. After bringing home a bag of sweet potatoes, store them in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place within your home. The potatoes typically keep fresh for ten days. Storage should be loose and not kept in a plastic bag. Exposure to light and high temperatures will also cause the sweet potatoes to ferment. As a rule of thumb, uncooked sweet potatoes should not be kept in the refrigerator.

Eating the Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and also provide a decent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, and iron. With all of these healthy components, the sweet potato is associated with fighting cancer; combating the aging process; and helping dieters lose weight. As you encounter the preparation of the sweet potato, you will find that the entire tuber, flesh, and skin are edible (when purchased as an organically grown product). Peeling is usually the common method of preparation for sweet potatoes. Cooking the sweet potato immediately after peeling is suggested, as the longer you wait – the more nutrients are lost through the oxidation process.

Cooking Ideas

When serving sweet potatoes, there are numerous approaches to consider. For a tasty treat, you may want to create a puree containing bananas, cinnamon, and maple syrup, which are then topped with chopped walnuts. Some people steam cubed sweet potatoes with broccoli, adding raisins and serving hot or cold with curried vinaigrette dressing. Sweet potatoes also make great desserts, including a wealth of muffin, pudding, bread, and pie recipes.

A few sweet potato recipes include Indian-Style Lamb with Sweet Potatoes, Braised Kidney Beans with Sweet Potatoes, and Louisiana Sweet Potato Pancakes. To get a picture of the variety associated with cooking with sweet potatoes, consider the recipe for Sweet Potato Balls, which includes canned sweet potatoes, butter, crushed cornflakes cereal, maple syrup, and large marshmallows.