What To Know
- The bright orange color we expect to see in sweet potatoes is a sign of carotene, an antioxidant that’s also responsible for the color of carrots.
- One of the best ways to tell if a sweet potato is bad is by looking at its color.
- It’s true that they need a fair amount of room and they do take several months to mature, but the good news is that once they’re ready to harvest, you’ll be rewarded with a bumper crop of delicious, nutritious root vegetables.
You probably never thought you’d need a lesson on the color of sweet potatoes, but here we are. You’re probably wondering why your sweet potato turned out orange and white inside when you pulled it from the oven. After all, you probably came into this expecting to see the telltale sign that it was done: That beautiful, bright orange color.
You were probably thinking that since you didn’t add any other ingredients to your sweet potato, there’s no way that it would turn out any other color but orange.
Why Is My Sweet Potato Orange And White Inside?
You open your oven to check on the sweet potatoes you just baked, and the first thing you notice is that they’re not quite orange enough. The bright orange color we expect to see in sweet potatoes is a sign of carotene, an antioxidant that’s also responsible for the color of carrots. But if your sweet potatoes are only pale yellow or white inside, don’t worry—they’re still healthy and delicious. The color difference is usually due to the soil they were grown in or the variety of the plant.
If you grow your own sweet potatoes, you have more control over the soil they’re grown in, but store-bought sweet potatoes can come from anywhere. If they’re grown in a cooler climate, the sweet potatoes may not produce as much carotene, resulting in a lighter-colored interior. The opposite is also true: If they’re grown in very warm soil, they may produce more carotene than usual, leading to an even deeper orange color.
The variety of the plant can also affect the color of the sweet potatoes. For example, the popular honey baked sweet potato is typically white or pale yellow on the inside because it’s a lower-carotene variety. The taste and texture will be the same, regardless of the color.
So if you’re looking for the classic orange color, you may need to do some trial and error when shopping or growing your own. But if you’re happy with a lighter-colored sweet potato, there are plenty of delicious varieties to choose from.
What Are Some Recipes That Use Sweet Potatoes?
- Sweet potato pie
- Sweet potato casserole
- Sweet potato bread
- Sweet potato rolls
- Sweet potato mash
How Can You Tell If A Sweet Potato Is Bad?
Bad sweet potatoes will be very firm and may have started to sprout. They will often be discolored and may have a musty smell.
It is best to avoid sweet potatoes that are soft and wrinkled.
How Long Do Sweet Potatoes Last?
Sweet potatoes are best kept in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated location. If stored properly, they can last for up to two weeks.
When you are ready to use them, be sure to wash them thoroughly.
Do not keep sweet potatoes in the refrigerator.
Freezing sweet potatoes is not recommended because they will become mushy when thawed.
One of the best ways to tell if a sweet potato is bad is by looking at its color. If it is discolored or has dark spots, it is likely to be bad. You can also check for mold or mildew, which is another sign that the sweet potato is not good.
The texture of the sweet potato is also important. If it is soft or mushy, it is likely to be bad. The same goes for if it is hard or shriveled.
The smell of the sweet potato can also be an indicator. If it has a musty or unpleasant smell, it is likely to be bad.
In conclusion, there are a few key things to look for when determining if a sweet potato is bad.
How Do You Know If A Sweet Potato Is Ready To Harvest?
If you’ve ever grown sweet potatoes, you know they take up a lot of space in the garden, and it seems like they take forever to grow. It’s true that they need a fair amount of room and they do take several months to mature, but the good news is that once they’re ready to harvest, you’ll be rewarded with a bumper crop of delicious, nutritious root vegetables. What’s more, your sweet potatoes will keep well in storage, often lasting through the winter and into the spring.
When Do Sweet Potatoes ripen?
Sweet potatoes are often harvested when the tops of the plants start to turn yellow and shrivel. However, the best way to know if your sweet potatoes are ready to harvest is to gently dig around the roots to check the size of the tubers. When they are big enough for your liking, usually between 4 and 6 inches long, they’re ready to harvest. You can also check the color of the tubers.
What Is The Difference Between An Orange And White Sweet Potato?
Both are starchy vegetables that are often used in similar ways in the kitchen, but there are some key differences between the two. The most obvious way to tell the difference between the two is by looking at their colors. Orange sweet potatoes have a much stronger color than white sweet potatoes. They also tend to be a bit more tender when cooked, whereas white sweet potatoes have a more dense texture. In addition, orange sweet potatoes are much higher in vitamin A than white sweet potatoes. This is because they contain beta-carotene, which is an orange-yellow pigment that is also found in carrots and other fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body, which is an essential nutrient for maintaining good vision and a healthy immune system.
Both types of sweet potatoes are low in calories and high in fiber, making them a healthy choice for anyone looking to maintain a healthy weight.
Why Do Sweet Potatoes Sometimes Turn Orange Or White On The Inside?
You probably know that orange and white sweet potatoes exist. And you’ve probably seen the occasional yam with a deep purple or red skin. But you’ve probably never seen a blue or green one, which is kind of a shame because they’re really quite pretty.
These different-colored sweet potatoes are all perfectly edible and delicious, but they’re not usually sold in stores. That’s because the varieties with white or pale yellow flesh are less strongly flavored than the orange ones. The pale varieties also don’t have as much beta-carotene as the orange ones.
Beta-carotene is the chemical that gives sweet potatoes and carrots their characteristic orange color. It’s also an antioxidant, which means it helps prevent damage to your body’s cells by neutralizing unstable molecules called free radicals. So, if you want the healthiest and most flavorful sweet potato, you should choose one with a deep orange or red skin.
Summary
As you can see, the color of your sweet potato depends on its genetic makeup. Some sweet potatoes are orange because they have genes that code for orange skin and flesh. Others have genes that code for white skin and flesh. The genes that code for orange skin and flesh are dominant, so if you have two copies of those genes, you will have an orange sweet potato. If you have one copy of those genes and one copy of the genes for white skin and flesh, you will have a white sweet potato with orange spots. This is because the orange genes are recessive.
