Are sweet potatoes and yams the same?

Yes, all so-called “yams” are in fact sweetpotatoes. Most people think that long, red-skinned sweetpotatoes are yams, but they really are just one of many varieties of sweetpotatoes.

Is there a difference between yams?

The skin of a yam (left) looks kind of like tree bark, while a sweet potato (right) is more reddish-brown. Real yams are entirely different root vegetables that are more like yucca in texture and flavor. They have bumpy, tough brown skin (that looks almost tree trunk-like) with starchy, not sweet flesh.

What is the difference between jewel yams and red yams?

I think I’ve figured it out, though: the garnet yam has a reddish skin and tends to be thicker and rounder—sort of more corpulent—and the jewel has brown (sort of light brown) skin and is longer and skinnier.

What’s better sweet potatoes or yams?

It seems essential to emphasize that in terms of nutrition sweet potatoes and yams are different too. Yam is higher in Fiber, lower in Sugars, Sodium, and Glycemic index; although sweet potato is lower in Saturated Fat. Thus, in macronutrients content yam is the winner.

Can I substitute yams for sweet potatoes?

The main reason you can’t substitute sweet potatoes for yams, or vice versa, is because the two root vegetables taste entirely differently and have very different nutritional compositions. A yam is starchy and dry, but a sweet potato is, as the name suggests, sweet and moister.

What has more carbs yams or sweet potatoes?

Nutritionally, both sweet potatoes and yams are low in calories, fat-free and high in carbs. A 1/2-cup serving of baked sweet potato has 90 calories, 20 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fiber. The same serving of yams has 80 calories, 19 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fiber.

Which are better garnet or jewel yams?

Garnet. You can spot a garnet by its reddish-purple skin which reveals a striking orange interior. These are super velvety, with a denser texture and more complex flavor than jewels.

Which type of sweet potato is the sweetest?

Sweet potato varieties with orange or red skin and deep orange flesh, including Red Garnet (our favorite) and Jewel, cook up sweet and moist. Sweet potato varieties with tan or purple skin, such as Sweet Hannah, Japanese, and Purple, bake up dry and starchy, more like russet potatoes.

Can I use yams instead of sweet potato?

And can you use yams as a sweet potato substitute in your recipes? The short answer is no, you can’t always substitute yams for sweet potatoes. A yam is starchy and dry, but a sweet potato is, as the name suggests, sweet and moister.

Why do we call sweet potatoes yams?

In the United States, firm varieties of sweet potatoes were produced before soft varieties. African slaves had already been calling the ‘soft’ sweet potatoes ‘yams’ because they resembled the yams in Africa. Thus, ‘soft’ sweet potatoes were referred to as ‘yams’ to distinguish them from the ‘firm’ varieties.

What’s the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

Yams are closely related to lilies and grasses. Native to Africa and Asia, yams vary in size from that of a small potato to a record 130 pounds (as of 1999). There are over 600 varieties of yams and 95% of these crops are grown in Africa. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier.

What kind of skin does a yam have?

The yam tuber has brown or black scaly skin which resembles the bark of a tree and off-white, purple or red flesh, depending on the variety. They are at home growing in tropical climates, primarily in South America and the Caribbean, as well as Africa, where they originated. In Spanish, they are referred to as batata, boniato, and ñame.

Where do yams come from and where are they grown?

Yams are also a tuber vegetable. Their scientific name is Dioscorea, and they originate in Africa and Asia. They are now commonly found in the Caribbean and Latin America as well. Over 600 varieties of yams are known, and 95% of these are still grown in Africa. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams can grow very large.

Where can you find purple yams in the US?

Purple yams are found in Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines and are often used in desserts. In parts of the United States where yams are not popular, most major supermarkets don’t carry them–to find yams you’d have to go to specialty markets selling Caribbean, Asian or African foods.