jersey sweet potato vs sweet potato jersey sweet potato vs sweet potato

All types of sweet potatoes offer nutrient-dense benefits to your health. These sweet potatoes are much denser than most of the orange varieties, and starchier, too. Bluegill vs Redear Sunfish Are They The Same? Everyone loves the sweet, caramelized flavor of a sweet potato, and its health benefits make this spud a spectacular addition to your diet. The flesh is either creamy white or bright yellow, and the potato has a sweet taste that you can enjoy just from steaming it. Nutritional value for 100 grams of sweet potato versus 100 grams of rice (brown rice and white rice). Other nutrients like the antioxidant anthocyanin and vitamin C possess anti-inflammatory properties protecting against disease and illness. The main reason? Orange Appearance wise, they look the most like yams. Click To Download Your Paleo Diet Food List. Sweet potatoes have a bronze outer skin with anorange flesh inside. These orange-fleshed sweet potatoes pack a lot of moisture, and take well to boiling, baking, and making into casseroles. One large baked sweet potato provides about 3.6 grams of protein. Covingtons have a moist and creamy texture with a malty sweet flavor when cooked. Looking at pictures of the Jersey sweet potato you can see that it is similar in color to regular potatoes. The more potassium, the more sodium your body will lose. 2. Potato, potahto. This sweet tuber has tan-colored skin and mildly sweet yellow-orange flesh. These conclusions laid the foundation for further research regarding the damage-protective activities of purple potatoes on RPE cells or human vision. Watch this video to find out. You will find sweet potatoes pre-peeled and cooked and sold in cans or frozen. I love to simply roast then mash these sweet potatoes with butter, but they can also be used to add some heartiness to winter stews and braises. If you eat too many of these tasty veggies you might notice your skin and nails looking a little orange! Theyre not nearly as sweet as sweet potatoes and take best to boiling and slow braising. One medium, 5-inch sweet potato, cooked, provides 23.6 grams or 8 percent of your daily value (DV) for carbs, according to the USDA. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. It features beautiful dark-purple skin and pale yellow flesh than darkens as it cooks. There are so many different ways to incorporate these nutrient-dense veggies into your diet. Furthermore, sweet potatoes are a natural sweetness. I asked them which one do they prefer the taste of. They are all comparable in nutrition, so it really comes down to your personal preference for taste, texture and how you want to use them in your favorite recipe. The covington sweet potato is becoming more widely available around the country. These potatoes have golden skin and bright orange-pinkish flesh, making them a popular choice for holiday dishes. These sweet potatoes are much denser than most of the orange varieties, and starchier, too. This variety of sweet potato was developed using Beauregards and has a distinct oblong shape and tapered ends. Unlike orange sweet potatoes, you don't have to worry about satsuma-imo getting soggy or waterlogged as they cook. So if youre looking to keep your diet low in carbs, you might want to look for other alternatives lower on the glycemic index. Color: Light orange skins, orange flesh.Flavor: Lightly sweet.Texture: Moist, watery.Best uses: Boiling, baking, in casseroles. Find out if Russet potatoes and Idaho potatoes are the same in my article, Idaho vs Russet Potatoes Are They The Same? So, for example, a baked sweet potato actually has a higher GI than a boiled white potato. Summarized findings in the review supported magnesium as a treatment for mild anxiety and multiple anxiety disorders. Japanese sweet potatoes are also great for gnocchi because they are low in moisture. These fat-soluble compounds are found in the retina, lens and macula of your eyes. Sweet potatoes must be kept cool, moist, and light to prevent them from becoming overheated, moisture-laden, or just plain old sweet. Connor's reaction was scarcely more helpful than my husband's: "Good!" The conclusion: I had high hopes for the sweet potato pie, but the winner in the root vegetable custard pie head to head competition was clear: pumpkin pie still reigns supreme. The conclusions suggested that supplementing magnesium in people with physical and mental stress can help relieve restlessness, irritability, depression, lack of concentration or insomnia. The flesh varies, too, and can be creamy white,. Both are considered root vegetables, meaning the part of the plant you eat grows beneath the soil. Purple flesh: These potatoes have a buff-colored skin and include the Okinawan sweet potato. Some of the publications of DOST are spelled "sweet potato" and "sweetpotato." One Facebook user explained that both spelling styles are correct. Hannah sweet potatoes are perfect mashed as a side. KETO RECIPES CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnAGH-jp4YXl30rir1BPrxA/Is bread or potato worse for your health? When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Redear sunfish is the L.microlophus and bluegill is, Read More Bluegill vs Redear Sunfish Are They The Same? But while most Americans are comfortable with the two or three shades of sweet potato theyre familiar with, they might avoid some of the tastiest varieties for lack of familiarity. SKIN Reddish/Dark Orange. Due to the smooth texture of the flesh, many chefs recommend using Hannah sweet potatoes to make sweet mash. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Sometimes called the Yellow Hannah or Sweet Hannah, this variety of sweet potato has lightly colored tan skin. Olive oil is better than soybean oil due to its higher percentage of minerals, antioxidants and healthy monounsaturated, Read More Olive Oil vs Soybean Oil: Which of the Oils is Better?Continue. They can be used in both savory and sweet recipes, but are unsurpassed when baked, roasted or boiled. Jewels are definitely a go-to variety for baking and casseroles, so pop these spuds in the oven whole or cut them in wedges, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown. So, sweet potatoes are a completely different type of vegetable from potatoes. There are very few foods I cant live without. Itll add some variety to your diet.. 2023 Food Storage, Choices and Alternatives, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7b7_ND9eQ. A German study, published in the journal MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin in December 2016, analyzed the association of magnesium intake with stress reduction. Fat: 0 g. Total carbs: 24 g. Fiber: 4 g. Sugar: 7 g. Protein: 2 g. Sweet potatoes are also high in vitamin A (more than 400% of the daily requirement), vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium and manganese. Garnets are oblong tubers that have dark-orange to red skin with deep orange-colored flesh. We Compare. Its flesh is a light color and is dry and starchy. Also, sweet potatoes are native to the Americas, whereas yams come from Asia and Africa. Rest assured, either variety is a good choice nutritionally - so say goodbye to sweet potato favouritism and hello to all kinds of taters. Garnet sweet potatoes are a popular variety due to their mildly sweet taste and moist texture. But back then, the sweet potato was also white or yellow in color. Jewels have light orange skin, and are less intensely sweet than Beauregards, but can be used in many of the same recipes. They have coppery skin that ranges from red to purple with deep orange flesh. Red Bliss Potatoes. *Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. The cooked sweet potato skin peels off to reveal dark sweet orange flesh. Though they can get watery, jewels and Beauregards are both excellent all-purpose sweet potatoes. Which Is Healthier? The orange sweet potato was cultivated in the 1930s and it was larger, sweeter, more moist, and fleshier compared to the smaller, yellowish, and drier-fleshed varieties. Certified Organic Slips. Better to flavor your tuber with fresh herbs or low-fat yogurt. King and Coho salmon vary in size, flavor, and, Read More Coho Salmon vs King: Whats The Difference?Continue, As a Certified Health Coach informing clients about different nuts is part of my job. It comes from an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is colored water-soluble pigments that can give plants, fruits, and other vegetables their rich coloring. To conduct original research, I decided to visit a few local supermarkets and compare the prices of each one. Though I think of these as very sweet, their flavor is actually more subdued and subtle than other breeds. These antioxidants protect our skin from free radicals. Sweet potato virus diversity is an important factor in food security and sustainability. (Youre on your own for taste.). Tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin and melatonin. I grew up with vegetarian parents, so I can comfortably go decent stretches of time without meat. Many types of sweet potato from Asia have dark-colored skin and white flesh. Sweet potatoes originated in North America, first joining market shelves alongside the white potato as far back as the late 1600s. Braising these taters, or cooking them low and slow, gives them a silky texture. Nutrition: TASTE Very sweet and fairly firm inside. The following are the amounts and nutrients per one cup: Lets now talk about a couple of nutrient differences between an orange sweet potato and a purple sweet potato. It's only a. When you visit the oat aisle in the supermarket, you may be overwhelmed choosing from many different options. However, true yams contain more starch and less moisture than sweet potato varieties. The dense flesh holds up well during cooking and its sweet orange flesh makes delicious sweet potato wedges. Hernandez sweet potatoes have red skin, an oval to oblong shape that tapers at one end, and moist orange flesh. Types of Plums: Black, Red, and More Varieties (With Pictures) - Including Plumcots, Apriums, and Pl Types of Sweet Potatoes: Japanese, Hannah, Jersey and More, Ultimate Guide to Different Kinds of Potatoes. Hannahs are dense, firm, and creamy, and much less prone to becoming waterlogged than orange sweet potatoes. Sweet potato skins can be in a range of colors such as pink, red, orange, creamy white, copper, and light tan. They also provide some calcium, iron, magnesium, and folate. If you have a local farm or roadside stand close by, buy them there. Carbohydrates and protein, though, are more plentiful in the regular potato, which boasts 37 grams of carbs and 5 grams of protein versus 24 grams of carbs and 2 grams of protein in a sweet potato. Jewel sweet potatoes can be cooked in a few different ways. The flesh of these tubers is very smooth and baked Porto Rican sweet potatoes make a tasty buttery mash. A Matter of Nutrition: Sweet Potato vs Potato. They grow in warm, temperate climates as well as in tropical regions. Stokes purple sweet potatoes are one of the most popular purple cultivars. The purple color comes from pigments called anthocyanins which are powerful antioxidants. Allow me to preface this with I don't know much about farming. Farmers pulled more than 370 million metric tons of potatoes out of the ground in 2019. Yukon Gold, white potatoes, and purple . Many people confuse sweet potatoes with yams. this post of 66 Paleo sweet potato recipes here. However, a roughly equivalent amount (100 g) of peeled potato contains approximately 110 calories per serving, or 400 calories total. Thats bad news given the amount of French fries and potato chips in many diets. But if you told me right now that I could never eat another sweet potato, I dont know how Id go on living. To me, it seems that garnets are slightly more reddish in color on the outside. A superior sweet potato! All the varieties described below are technically sweet potatoes, though theyre often called yams. Christy Wilhel. Their skins can be various shades of brown, yellow, orange, red or purple. The facts presented are offered as information only - not medical advice - and in no way should anyone infer that we or anyone appearing in any content on this website are practicing medicine. orange-fleshed cousins. Serotonin is often included as an ingredient in antidepressants. They are both good to eat as a part of a healthy . Cutting up potatoes and sweet potatoes helps preserve their starchiness, while cooking them whole results in more sugariness. Here are some of the most popular purple sweet potatoes that you can buy. White Sweet Potato - Also called firm sweet potatoes, white sweet potatoes have light, golden skin and pale flesh. It seems that it became popular to call sweet potatoes yams in the US during the late 1800s. Beta Carotene also helps promote vitamin A in the body as well as promotes eye health. Melatonin is known to promote relaxation and sleep and is helpful as a sleep-aid medication. Sweet potatoes are native to tropical countries in Central and South America. So, when I spotted these 5 varieties of sweet potatoes in Whole Foods the other day, I decided to document them with photographs and notes! Please help! Purple and regular sweet potatoes are both stored in a cool, dry, ventilated container. As the middle-of-the-road potato, all-purpose potatoes usually suffice as a substitute for any starchy or waxy potato recipe. This variety is also called the soft sweet potato and has reddish-brown skin with bright, orange flesh. Very similar in appearance to garnets, Jewel sweet potatoes also have deep orange, sweet-tasting flesh. Potatoes and sweet potatoes might not look all that impressive, but those oval-shaped vegetables rank as two of the worlds most-produced crops. Purple sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes can be stored together in a cool, dark place at a temperature between55F and 60F. Purple sweet potatoes store bought can last for about two weeks if properly stored. Pour into a baking dish. Place the potatoes either into the water or onto a steaming rack. These tuberous starchy roots belong to the family Convolvulaceae (morning glory) in the order Solanales. One of the things that always bothered me when living in China was I couldnt tell what type of sweet potato I was buying. The popular Hannah batata (sweet potato) has light tan skin and yellow flesh. To differentiate the orange sweet potato from the white and yellow ones, it was called a "yam" because it looked similar to the African vegetable. Sweet potatoes are said to have about 86 calories per 100 g and roughly 100 calories per dish. Olive Oil vs Soybean Oil: Which of the Oils is Better? Sweet potatoes have rosy brown skin and bright orange flesh while yams have a dark brown, bark-like skin and white flesh, and grow to be much larger than sweet potatoes. Picking a Winner in 7 Food Fights, Heres the Deal With Your Junk Food Cravings, Recipe Adventure: 10 Ways To Cook and Bake With Cinnamon, Everything to Know About Spaghetti Squash, 6 Sore Throat Remedies That Actually Work. In a small bowl mix spices and sprinkle generously over potatoes. Varieties of sweet potato such as Beauregard and Jewel are very popular in many countries. So, when we discussed our favorite types (I know, its the sort of geeky conversation foodies indulge in! Coat potatoes in ghee, lay flat on a sheet pan. Jewels have a long elliptical shape, a mildly sweet taste and fairly firm texture and a lot of moisture, making them excellent all-purpose sweet potatoes. It may be harder to find recipes including purple. ).The most common varieties in the U.S. are the Beauregard (the most widely grown cultivar), the jewel, and the garnet (also sometimes known as red yams). You can also try them pureed or mashed for soups, stews, sauces or a simple mashed side dish. You will learn about the color of their skin, flesh, and how they taste. They provide a higher level of anthocyanin antioxidants than orange or white flesh sweet potatoes. NUTRITION Data from Whole Foods. All Rights Reserved. They can both be baked, roasted, mashed or grilled. They have light tan to creamy-colored skins with white flesh. Finish with a drizzle of tahini, or like me the dried crumbly bits at the bottom of the jar. In addition, a review published in the Annals of Neurology in November 2012 concluded that carotenoids may play a role in preventing or delaying Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Although they are sometimes mistaken for yams, they are more firm on the inside and have a slightly sweet taste. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, sugar (if using), vanilla, salt, and melted butter. The flesh varies, too, and can be creamy white, vibrant . There is also an Oriental/Japanese variety with a dark purple skin and white flesh . For reference: An average 5-inch long medium sweet potato is about 130 grams. The sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) is an underground tuber. Most notably, Beta Carotene, which is easily absorbed by the body. Although they have a bluish-purple color, their texture is dry and starchy with a mildly sweet and bitter aftertaste. TASTE Mildly sweet, and pretty moist inside. One group compared the glycemic index and load of sweet potatoes vs. potatoes. The majority of the sugar in sweet potatoes is from sucrose . The calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates that both provide are basically the same," says Manaker. I find it really hard to tell garnet and jewel varieties apart because their coloring is fairly similar both inside and outside. Like the Hannah, Okinawa sweet potatoes are denser than orange varieties. The reason Beauregards are so popular is due to their very sweet taste and vibrant orange color. Keep in mind that because these sweet potatoes are quite dense, they shouldn't be substituted in recipes that call for orange sweet potatoes, as the baking times and moisture levels won't line up. You can recognize a garnet sweet potato thanks to its dark orange-red skin, which conceals bright orange flesh. Purple sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes can substitute for each other in recipes for almost any dish. Sweet Potato vs Russet Potato Nutritional Content. Instead, you'll find plenty of sweet potato varieties mislabeled as yams. We prefer Yukon Gold, an all-purpose variety, for mashed potatoes. Both are viewed as essential for global food security. When cooked, these sweet potatoes have a slight flakiness akin to a regular potato. They taste less sweet and are more akin to winter squash with a heavy, pumpkin-like quality and flavor. Their skin color is not an indication of the flesh color. Sweet potatoes are root vegetables that have the scientific name Ipomoea batatas and are part of the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Their starchy flesh takes on a sweet and malty flavor when cooked. They can store for about two weeks in the proper conditions 4. Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals especially vitamin A. They are your grocery store potatoes, she says. Behind their colorful interior, all sweet potatoes are chock-full of nutrients, but they differ in their antioxidant content, depending on the type. This is identified by its elongated shape, deep purple skin, and soft white flesh. Please note though, the type of vitamin A is betacarotene, and only a small percentage is actually converted to retinol, the usable form of vitamin A. Those have both names on the label but are not yams. If you purchase anything through a link on this website, you should assume that we have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that we will be paid in some way. Baking them causes the least reduction in nutrients, says Czerwony. I've long believed that the sweet potato is a perfect foodit's filling, flavorful, easy to make, and, according to the internet, relatively nutritious. In addition, no statement on this website has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and any product mentioned or described on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Japanese sweet potatoes, aka white sweet potatoes, have a pale yellow interior and purple skin. Think of all-purpose potatoes as the ultimate workhorse, they have medium starch and medium moisture content. Vitamins and Minerals Sweet potatoes are especially high in vitamin A and potassium. As with all varieties of sweet potato, these are rich in fiber and vitamin C. Creamsicle sweet potatoes get their name from the cream-colored skins and extremely sweet flesh. Color: Light brown skins, white flesh.Flavor: Sweet.Texture: Dense, firm, creamy.Best uses: Roasting, mashing. NUTRITION Data from Whole Foods. Theyre both lower-calorie, low-fat foods that are rich in: Heres a side-by-side nutritional comparison. Lower GI than oats. SKIN Cream colored and pretty smooth. Sweet potatoes tend to be on the sweeter side and yams have a mild earthy taste. All types of sweet potatoes offer 5 percent of your daily value for protein per serving, along with a significant source of dietary fiber 3.8 grams, or 15 percent of the DV needed for keeping your digestive system functioning properly and helping to prevent constipation. Summary of differences between Red potato and Sweet potato Red potato has less Vitamin A RAE, Manganese, Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Fiber, and Vitamin B2 than Sweet potato. So in case you've ever been tempted, take care not to substitute a sweet potato for an Idaho willy nilly; in some cases it may work (you can mash cooked sweet potatoes easily), in others it won't (good luck frying them to the same crispy crunch). Sweet potatoes have a nutritional profile that makes them powerful allies in preventing disease and supporting overall health. For starters, a sweet potato isn't a potato at all, meaning it's not a member of the Solanum tuberosum potato family from which French fries, mashed potatoes, and latkes are made; their composition of simple sugars and complex starches are quite different. Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are not a 'true' potato from the nightshade Solanum tuberosum variety.Types of sweet potatoes such as the Japanese sweet potato and Hannah sweet potato are starchy tubers from the Ipomoea batatas plant. Though our site boasts some truly excellent sweet potato recipes, Ive always preferred them completely plain. Any diet, health, or nutritional program you undertake should be discussed with your doctor or other licensed medical professional. If you spend any time in Hawaii, you'll find these sweet potatoes incorporated into some of the most delicious potato salads around, dressed generously with my favorite condiment: mayonnaise. But there are several different types of sweet potatoes grown worldwide. When looking at either one at the market, always choose large ones which feel firm. Japanese sweet potatoes are medium to large in size with a cylindrical, oblong shape and rounded tapered ends. But in the end, it comes down to personal preference., Her best advice? Therefore, lets answer, is a redear sunfish the same as a bluegill? Purple potato may be more difficult to find in traditional supermarkets. I lived on this island off the Southern coast of China for 3 months, and I survived in large part on sweet potatoes (in addition to salted duck eggs, roasted duck, and fresh fish!). They both provide a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrient profile. While potatoes and sweet potatoes may be healthy, its also easy to turn potato-based food into a fatty calorie bomb. One medium, 5-inch sweet potato, cooked, provides 23.6 grams or 8 percent of your daily value (DV) for carbs, according to the USDA. Like other sweet potatoes, they originate in Central and South America, but this variety is typically associated with Japanese cuisine. Sweet, white. Traditionally, Korean sweet potatoes are roasted or steamed and served as a snack. They have tapered ends, a slight curve to the overall shape and are small to medium in size. Their firmness and dense texture makes Hannah sweet potatoes ideal for roasting in chunks, turning into fries, or mashing as a side dish. The Covington variety of sweet potato is particularly popular in the south. At the dinner table, though, theyre often viewed as side-dish siblings right down to the rivalry over which one is more nutritious. Potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum) are in the Solanaceae family, related to tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant along with deadly nightshade. Theres also plenty of arguing over which spud is yummier, of course. Download Our Essential Paleo Pantry List For Free. If you see pictures of yams and sweet potatoes together, it may be hard to tell them apart. The mix-up between yams and sweet potatoes originated from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Boniato vs Batata Although some people think sweet potatoes and yams are the same thing, yams come from a completely different plant related to grasses and lilies. Stokes from North Carolina originally but is grown commercially in Central California. You can roast sweet potatoes, use them in casseroles, or bake with them. Find out how Russet compared to Yukon Gold Potatoes in my latest article, Yukon Gold Potato vs Russet Potato: Whats The Difference? Lets look at some of the many types of sweet potato, starting with some of the most popular and widely consumed varieties. The articles rely on scientific studies, medical associations and professional experience. A typical question asked, is soybean oil better than olive oil? Another study that compared white, yellow and purple-fleshed sweet potatoes confirmed the findings. While you may be acquainted with only one or two types of sweet potatoes, sometimes referred to as "camote," many of the hundreds of varieties produced around the world are available in the United States. Carotenoids may be beneficial in enhancing your immune system and contribute to eye health. Sweet potatoes are a little sweeter than purple which have a milder flavor. Because Hannahs are quite firm, they also do well when used for gnocchi, baked into a casserole or sliced into wedges and fried. His years of research and knowledge inspire people to achieve their goals. This is why sweet potatoes are known to ward off certain diseases such as colon cancer . Okinawa sweet potatoes, also known by their Japanese name, beni-imo, have unremarkable off-white or dusty purple skins, but once you slice into them, you're greeted by a rich and vibrant purple flesh rarely seen in nature. They need to be baked for approximately 90 to 120 minutes at 350 degrees. Hi y'all!! Advertising on our site helps support our mission. A boiled potato has a high GI around 78, while a boiled sweet potato has an intermediate GI of 63. Lets examine the different taste and texture of each sweet potato. There are two main types of sweet potatoes, both of which are elongated yellow or orange tubers that taper to a point at each end. In fact, in the U.S., it is very rare to find true yams for sale in the store. The ones in the supermarket probably have been stored for months, while farm-fresh potatoes may only be a week old. Sweet potatoes have a medium-to-high GI, around 60, and yams have a lower GI at about 50. NUTRITION Data from Whole Foods. If you are concerned about maintaining proper vision, it's good to know that a sweet potato contains an abundance of an important nutrient vitamin A known for its role in eye health. Consuming too much sodium or not enough potassium throws off the delicate balance the kidneys need to remove the excess water 11. Andrews loves using Hannahs for a simple side of mashed sweet potatoes because their flavor is sweet enough all you need is a little dab of butter. Increased cooking times is recommended for purple. Purple sweet potatoes have a beige outer skin with a purple flesh inside. The magazine published an issue exclusively dedicated to sweet potatoes. These are what you typically find in the grocery store, even if the label says yam. Yams are tubers from from the Dioscoreaceae family, and are related to lilies and grasses. You can purchase them all year round, and the most common types in the U.S. are the: These three are the most common and usually have orange, rose, or reddish-colored skin. Purple sweet potatoes are some of the most interesting and colorful vegetables you can cook. The big difference between the two is the skin color: Japanese sweet potatoes have a pinkish brown skin and the outer skin of a boniato is light tan. Find out how white sweet potatoes compared in my comparison article. (1). Ube purple yams are a staple food in Asian countries and their sweet nutty taste goes well with desserts. They absorb harmful high-energy light waves, such as the sun's ultraviolet rays and blue light, according to Harvard Health. Roasting, frying or sauting purple sweet potatoes can help to keep that gorgeous color from bleeding out when cooking. The skin is often purple or red with a textured, semi-rough feel and some shallow eyes. So, sweet potatoes (family Convolvulaceae) are completely unrelated to yams. While some sweet potatoes are dense, starchy, and creamy, others are more watery when cooked, with a stringier texture.