Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Weve all been there: standing in the super market wondering if that can of candied yams is actually yams or if its just candied sweet potato in disguise. Or, if that pile of yams in the produce section has been mistaken for sweet potatoes. The whole thing is a bit confusing if you ask us! In fact, it makes planning your Thanksgiving dinner just a little more stressful—and that’s something no one needs! So, to make your holiday food shopping easier we’re breaking down the difference between yams and sweet potatoes once and for all.
If you thought yams and sweet potatoes were the same thing, think again. For years, grocery stores have been mislabeling sweet potatoes and yams, and using the names interchangeably. But, it turns out, these two tubers arent actually related at all. (You wont find yams on our list of types of potatoes!) The one with a bright orange interior used for making the annual marshmallow-topped casserole? Thats a sweet potato. Yams, however, look and taste far different than those sugary sweet potatoes. If youve been wondering what exactly is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato, read on for everything you need to know.
If you’re looking for true yams and can’t find them, some varieties of sweet potatoes can be swapped in. While orange sweet potatoes live up to their name, other varieties aren’t as sweet.
What is a sweet potato?
A sweet potato is a a root tuber native to Central and South America. Sweet potatoes come in a few varieties and be orange, purple, or even white in flesh. The most common type of sweet potato has bright orange flesh with smooth, rosy brown skin. Sweet potatoes are pretty common in the United States, and are used in many sweet and savory preparations like sweet potato casserole with marshmallow, air-fryer sweet potato fries, beef curry with sweet potato noodles, and Ree Drummonds family favorite sweet soul taters (a yummy sweet potato casserole topped with mounds of brown sugar and pecans).
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
Now that you know a little more about sweet potatoes and yams, it’s easy to see that they’re actually two different vegetables! They look different, they taste different, and they grow differently, too. They might just have more differences than they do similarities!
YAMS OR SWEET POTATOES | What’s the difference?
FAQ
Can sweet potatoes and yams be used interchangeably?
Do yams and sweet potatoes taste similar?
Can you bake yams the same as sweet potatoes?
Do yams and sweet potatoes grow the same?
Can yams be substituted for sweet potatoes?
Yams and sweet potatoes can both be prepared by roasting, steaming, boiling or frying. Substituting real yams in a sweet potato dish would be like using potatoes instead of sweet potatoes in the recipe—it would work, but the end result would taste very different.
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yam?
Both sweet potatoes and yam are tuber vegetables and are actually very different. They belong to different plant families. Yams are sweeter than sweet potatoes, grow much larger and are also nutritionally inferior. 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. The sweet potatoes are used in both savory and sweet dishes, most often baked, mashed or fried. When it is pureed it can be used in soups as well as baked foods and desserts. 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. Yams are most often boiled, roasted or fried.
Are sweet potatoes healthier than yams?
The sweet potato is an important source of starch, and therefore fiber. Compared to the yam, they have less calories, more vitamin C and significantly more vitamin A. There are two main types of sweet potatoes: firm and soft. Firm sweet potatoes have paler golden skins and dry, flaky flesh, like many types of baking potatoes.
Are sweet potatoes and yams safe to eat?
Although sweet potatoes and yams are considered healthy and safe foods to consume for most people, it may be wise to follow certain precautions.