Cooking 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 sustained 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. Southern cooking also features the sweet potato for sweet potato casserole and pie. 

Buying Sweet Potatoes: When purchasing sweet potatoes at the store, choose ones 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. They typically keep for ten days. Storage should be well ventilated, do not store potatoes 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). 

Cooking Ideas: When serving sweet potatoes, it's hard to go wrong. For a tasty treat, you may want to top a hot buttered sweet potato with 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. Or simply serve them warm with butter and a little salt.