Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Yams or Sweet Potato

Gerry, There is no such thing as a dumb question, period, at ANY age!!!

There is no such thing as a Yam in the United States. The following explains.

What is the Difference Between
a Sweet potato and a Yam?

Jonathan R. Schultheis
and L. George Wilson
Extension Horticultural Specialists
Department of HorticulturalScience
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University

Several decades ago, when orange-fleshed sweet potatoes were introduced in the southern United States, producers and shippers desired to distinguish them from the more traditional, white-fleshed types. The African word nyami, referring to the starchy, edible root of the Dioscorea genus of plants, was adopted in its English form, yam. Yams in the U.S. are actually sweetpotatoes with relatively moist texture and orange flesh. Although the terms are generally used interchangeably, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that the label "yam" always be accompanied by "sweetpotato."

You can microwave a sweet potato the same way you do a russet potato, however I've found they usually take a little longer, say a minute or 2, because they are more dense. It also depends on the size as to how long you microwave them, and different microwaves use different wattages so cook at different rates. Refer to you manual. Don't forget to prick the skin overall a couple times before you nuk them. If you don't they WILL explode. You can tell if they're done by gently squeezing them. If they feel soft they're done. As to the nutritional quality, (usually) the darker the color the more nutrients so pick the dark "ruby" ones (as they are often called) if that's what you're after. Some produce people ONLY call the dark orange fleshed ones yams and the lighter colored ones sweet potatoes, but as you now know, they are ALL sweet potatoes. To avoid the extra fat, skip the butter and serve with some brown sugar and perhaps a sprinkle of cinnamon and/or nutmeg.

Does this help?

What, you can't get any of those sweet 'taters at the cheap buffets?

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