Sweet potatoes, everyone’s favorite excuse to eat brown sugar and marshmallows for dinner. But what are they? And how do you choose sweet potatoes? And are they as healthy as everyone says? Well read on, my sweet potato compadres!

What’s the difference between sweet and white potatoes?
Answer: A lot. The sweet potato is distantly related to the white potato. While both originate in Southern Peru (not Ireland!), their nutrient compositions are pretty different.
Sweet potatoes, while having the same amount of carbohydrates as white potatoes, have more fiber, twice the vitamin C, and WAY more vitamin A. Read more about the nutrients in sweet potatoes at the bottom of this post!
Okay but are sweet potatoes the same as yams?
The difference between sweet potatoes and yams? Now that’s a bit trickier. Though sweet potatoes and yams are in almost no way related (yams native to Africa and Asia), we have a tendency to call sweet potatoes “yams” in the U.S. True yams are very starchy and dry and can be pretty difficult to find in your everyday grocery.
So why do we call sweet potatoes “yams”? (Can you sense the food history coming?!) Well there are two general varieties of sweet potatoes, firm (lighter color) and soft (deeper golden color).
The firm variety established itself in the U.S. first, dubbing the name “sweet potato”. So when the soft variety began to gain traction, they needed a way to distinguish it from its firm counterpart, hence we call the soft variety “yam”…regardless of the fact that there is near to no relation.
So although the United States Department of Agriculture now requires all true sweet potatoes to be labelled “sweet potatoes”, be aware of this misnomer next time you’re rounding up sweet potatoes for your mashed sweet potato casserole.
Types of sweet potatoes
There are two general categories in which a majority of the hundreds of varieties of sweet potatoes fall under: soft and firm.
Soft Sweet Potatoes: Reddish/copper colored skin and orange/golden flesh. These are great for baking and mashing! Variety includes: Jewel, Garnet, Covington.
Firm Sweet Potatoes: Light/golden skin and pale/white flesh (these can sometimes be purple too). These hold their shape well, making them great for soups or fries. Variety includes: Hannah, Japanese (though the skin is purple with this one), Purple (the whole thing is, well, purple), O’Henry.
How to pick the perfect sweet potato
When choosing a sweet potato, look for a small to medium sized sweet potato. Generally, the larger the potato the starchier it is. A deeper orange color alludes to higher vitamin A content. Note that these aren’t as hardy as white potatoes, so avoid choosing any with cuts and bruises, as these will deteriorate more quickly. Store ‘em in a cool dry place, like the pantry (not the refrigerator), for about 2 weeks.
Our favorite sweet potato recipes
We love sweet potatoes around here, and have a ton of sweet potato recipes to choose from! Here are some of our favorite:
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
- Sweet Potato Gnocchi
- Sweet Potato Fettuccini Noodles
- Sweet Potato Fries
- And for your furry friend, try these Dehydrated Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Nutrition information for sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain a host of vitamins and minerals. Here is the nutrition information for 1 cup of raw sweet potato (133 g).
- Calories: 114
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 4 g, 16% Daily Value (DV)
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 0 g
- 377% DV of Vitamin A: Provides the provitamin version of this fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it comes from a plant source and your body converts the plant pigment into active Vitamin A. It is essential in many components of healthy vision, as well as immunity and cell growth/differentiation.
- 17% DV of Manganese: A trace element that plays a role in healthy brain and nervous system function.
- 14% DV of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): A water-soluble vitamin that works behind the scenes as a coenzyme in many important reactions within your body, including protein metabolism and red blood cell formation, among countless other functions.
- 13% DV of Potassium: A key mineral and electrolyte involved in countless processes, including healthy nervous system functioning and contraction of the heart and muscles.
Are Sweet Potatoes Keto?
No, sweet potatoes are not suitable for keto diets. 92% of the calories in sweet potatoes come from carbs, and a small ½ cup serving (about 4 ounces) contains 24g of carbs.
Can You Eat Sweet Potato Skins?
Yes, and you absolutely should. The skin contains as much fiber as the rest of the potato and is loaded with vitamins and minerals.
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
Great post, Sarah. Thanks for answering the sweet potato vs yam question. I was baffled for a long time because yam in Southeast Asia is a very different thing. I love them both though. Have you tried Japanese sweet potato?
Sarah says
From the sounds of it yea, yams are verryy different! I have a Japanese sweet potato sitting in my pantry awaiting inspiration (the photos of it turned out a bit blurry so I didn’t include them). What do you like to make with Japanese sweet potato? I need some ideas!
Christine | Vermilion Roots says
I usually just eat them roasted. Slow roasting them brings out more of the natural sweetness. I think it’s the sweetest kind of sweet potato. Try it! 🙂
Sarah says
I’ll definitely give it a go! With a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and thyme 🙂 Thanks Christine!!
Kathryn With Going Zero Waste says
I asked my mom to pick me up some sweet potatoes. She grabbed some of the firm variety. I had no idea what it was. I’m so used to seeing the orangey ones. I feel so educated about sweet potatoes now. I love knowing the history behind food.
Sarah says
Food history is my favorite! How did you like the firm sweet potatoes? I like the common orange sweet potatoes best, but it might just be that I’m used to them 🙂
Kathryn With Going Zero Waste says
I did not like them. It didn’t work at all. I make a beet, goat cheese, and sweet potato galette. You use a mandolin to get the slices all pretty and layer them. The colors are gorgeous. The firm sweet potato really let me down in both appearance and taste. I’ve been wondering this – Are the purple potatoes you find in fingerling potatoes technically sweet potatoes?
Sarah says
Yea I tried just roasting one of the light firm ones last night and wasn’t keen on the taste or texture. Sort of sweet like a sweet potato but not near creamy enough.
And since I love food history I just went on a hunt to answer your question. From the looks of it, no I don’t think the purple fingerlings are sweet potatoes. The purple fingerlings are heirlooms so they go way way pack to when potatoes first potato-ed in Peru. So while it looks like they’re defiantly related (because all potatoes go back to Peru), I don’t think they’re in the same family…unless we’re talking red-headed step child twice removed kind of family.
JenniferDawn says
I am addicted to sweet potato fries!!!
Sarah says
Come on back in about a week! I’ve got a killer sweet potato fry recipe with an avocado + Greek yogurt dipping sauce of sorts. Let’s just say I ate the whole recipe (2 big sweet potatoes worth), by myself, in one sitting.
Irene says
It is such an amazing post, dear!
Have a nice weekend:)
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3880191
Lisa says
In New Zealand we refer to them as kumara (coo-mah-rah). Very popular veggie http://www.kumara.co.nz/types-of-kumara.html
AnnMire says
Love your blog wish there was less ads though
Sarah Bond says
Hi AnnMire! I know ads aren’t anyone’s favorite, but they’re the only way I (and my team) are able to create these free recipes and guides for you 🙂