One of the best things about the winter season is that we get to indulge in comforting food. One such food that not only tastes good but also adds to your overall nutritional intake is sweet potato. Did you know that sweet potato is loaded with all essential nutrients like dietary fibre, vitamin C, B vitamins, minerals, and more? But what is the best way to cook sweet potatoes? Well, we are comparing two ways of cooking sweet potatoes: baked vs boiled to help you out.
Let’s find out which one is better for your health! To put you out of the dilemma, Dt Neha Pathania, Chief Dietician at Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, Haryana, explained it all to us.
Which one improves texture?
Dt Pathania: Although boiling softens sweet potatoes, it doesn’t do much to improve their flavour. Roasting sweet potatoes in the oven whole or cut into cubes caramelises the starchy flesh of the potatoes, making them sweeter and giving them a velvety texture.
Health benefits of sweet potatoes
Dt Pathania points out that both, sweet potatoes and ordinary potatoes can be included in a healthy diet. However, sweet potatoes typically have a higher level of vitamin A than regular potatoes.
Did you know sweet potatoes contain about 50 per cent more fibre than in a white potato? “Moreover, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index than ordinary potatoes, which means they are less likely to increase your blood sugar levels,” she adds.
Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes?
Do you need to boil yams before baking?
You do not need to boil yams before baking them. With this candied yams recipe, the sweet potatoes get perfectly tender without that extra step. How long does it take to bake sweet potatoes at 350? It takes about 50-60 minutes to bake sweet potatoes at 350°F. Can you make candied yams ahead of time? Yes.
What are yams?
Yam is a tuber, a nutritious food, source of carbohydrates, with high energy value. It is a source of energy and disposition for the development of daily activities. Source of soluble fibers that help in good intestinal functioning.
Can yams be baked?
Yams that have been boiled and cooked can take on any flavor — savory or sweet — that you prefer. A baked yams dish is a familiar item on menus for special occasions, especially holiday meals. Some cooks add toppings or spices, such as cinnamon or nutmeg, or sugar to achieve a candied yam dish.
Do canned yams taste better?
Leave the canned candied yams on the grocery store shelf because homemade tastes so much better! A passed down from my dad, this candied yams recipe from scratch results in fork-tender sweet potatoes glazed in sticky, sweet sauce. They are rich, sweet, and made with a dash of vanilla so they nearly taste like dessert.