The question: are sweet potatoes potatoes? is a question that many people ask themselves, but there are two main schools of thought. One school says that they are potatoes, while the other says they are not.
So are sweet potatoes potatoes? Sweet potatoes are not potatoes. Sweet potatoes are vegetables and not actual potatoes at all. Sweet potatoes belong in the tuber family, while most other types of potatoes come from roots.
This article will explore both sides of the argument to determine whether sweet potatoes should be called potatoes or not.
Are Sweet Potatoes Potatoes?
We consider “potato” to mean one thing, so we don’t call sweet potatoes that because they are different. Sweet potatoes have a sweeter taste than regular potatoes because of their place in the plant family. To be called a potato, sweet potatoes would have to be the same family as regular ones.
What Is The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes And Potatoes?
The difference between potatoes and sweet potatoes is in how they are processed. Potatoes are tubers, which means they grow under the soil in the dirt with their roots in the ground. Sweet potatoes are root vegetables that thrive off vines in the ground, similar to watermelons or pumpkins.
After potatoes are harvested from a field, they are typically washed and have their skin removed. Potatoes are then stored in a cool, dark place to wait for processing facilities, where they will be turned into things like potato chips, French fries, mashed potatoes, dehydrated flakes, and others.
Sweet potatoes are also harvested from fields before being processed. The difference is that sweet potatoes are not peeled before they are processed, as the skin is rich in nutrients and not considered an ‘unwanted’ part of the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are then made into chips, French fries, dehydrated flakes, candies, and others.
Potatoes have a wide range of nutritional values that change depending on how they are processed. White potatoes have a high glycaemic index, meaning that they can raise blood sugar levels. Sweet potatoes are a rich source of beta-carotene, a nutrient that is important for healthy eyesight and boosts the immune system.
Sweet potatoes are not related to white potatoes or yams. Yams are grown in tropical countries, but they come from different plant families than sweet potatoes.
Types Of Sweet Potatoes:
1. Beauregard potatoes are well known in the southeast United States. Their orange flesh is sweet and moist, with high sugar content. The plant reaches about five feet in height, meaning they need plenty of room to grow.
2. Jewel or Garnet are well-known for their bright red skin and deep orange flesh with excellent flavor. This variety is often used in canned sweet potatoes.
3. Centennial Russet, also known as Centennial or Mule, has an excellent flavor and holds its shape well after cooking. It makes a good candidate for baking because it won’t fall apart when cooked to perfection.
4. Atlas is a short, stumpy potato that can be baked or fried. It has a rich flavor and creamy texture.
5. Sumo is also known as Okinawan Sweet Potato in Hawaii. It can grow up to 50 pounds in weight! The flesh is bright orange, and the skin is dark brown with purple streaks. This variety contains lots of antioxidant beta-carotene, iron, calcium, and vitamin C.
Some facts about sweet potatoes:
-They are an excellent source of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and potassium.
– Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamins B6 and C.
– They also contain niacin, which is vital for proper metabolism.
-The fibre in sweet potatoes slows down the release of glucose into the bloodstream, which can be an advantage for people with diabetes or on a weight loss diet.
-They are low in fat and sodium.
-Sweet potatoes contain no cholesterol, and they’re gluten-free! So go ahead and give these tubers a try; they can be baked, boiled, or microwaved and turned into fries, chips, wedges, and others.
Similarities Between Sweet Potatoes And Potatoes:
-Both are root vegetables.
-Both are dicots, meaning the plant has two seed leaves when young and grows stems and flowers with petals.
-They both grow under the soil in the dirt with their roots.
-They are both grown in similar conditions and regions.
-They can both grow up to a foot long or more!
-They both can live up to 5 years, if they are stored properly.
How To Identify Sweet Potatoes From Potatoes:
1. Potatoes are classified as Solanum tuberosum, whereas sweet potatoes are in the Ipomoea batatas family.
2. Sweet potatoes have both purple-red and white varieties, but not all white potatoes are sweet. There are also blue or purple varieties of potatoes, which you can identify by their aesthetic value rather than their taste.
3. an actual potato has both eyes and buds (sprouts) on its sharp, underground stem. Sweet potatoes don’t have these characteristics.
