Is Yams The Same Thing As Sweet Potatoes at Holly Hernandez blog

Is Yams The Same Thing As Sweet Potatoes. Even though cooks use the words yams and sweet potatoes interchangeably, they're not the same plant at all. Actually, you're unlikely to find a true yam at a grocery store, farmers' market, or restaurant in this country. Yams can also grow much larger than sweet potatoes, too—more than five feet long and up to 100 pounds. What you've been calling a yam is most likely a sweet potato. They have more of an earthy, neutral taste. Yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables from different plants. It's not necessarily wrong to refer to sweet potatoes as yams (because the name has become normalized through the rough history of use), but it is important to understand that the two tubers diverge in look and taste. Although the terms sweet potatoes and yams are often used interchangeably in the u.s., they are not the same thing. Unlike sweet potatoes, which are roots, yams are the tuberous stems of a flowering plant belonging to the dioscoreaceae family. In fact, a yam's flesh, in both texture and flavor, is more similar to a russet potato than a sweet potato. Although they may look similar to sweet potatoes, they are an entirely different species (yams belong to the dioscoreaceae family and are related to grasses and lilies, and sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family) and not even remotely related. Drier and less creamy than sweet potatoes, yams are hardly sweet.

Although the terms sweet potatoes and yams are often used interchangeably in the u.s., they are not the same thing. What you've been calling a yam is most likely a sweet potato. Yams can also grow much larger than sweet potatoes, too—more than five feet long and up to 100 pounds. They have more of an earthy, neutral taste. Unlike sweet potatoes, which are roots, yams are the tuberous stems of a flowering plant belonging to the dioscoreaceae family. Although they may look similar to sweet potatoes, they are an entirely different species (yams belong to the dioscoreaceae family and are related to grasses and lilies, and sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family) and not even remotely related. Yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables from different plants. In fact, a yam's flesh, in both texture and flavor, is more similar to a russet potato than a sweet potato. Actually, you're unlikely to find a true yam at a grocery store, farmers' market, or restaurant in this country. Even though cooks use the words yams and sweet potatoes interchangeably, they're not the same plant at all.

The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams

Is Yams The Same Thing As Sweet Potatoes Yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables from different plants. Unlike sweet potatoes, which are roots, yams are the tuberous stems of a flowering plant belonging to the dioscoreaceae family. Even though cooks use the words yams and sweet potatoes interchangeably, they're not the same plant at all. Actually, you're unlikely to find a true yam at a grocery store, farmers' market, or restaurant in this country. Yams can also grow much larger than sweet potatoes, too—more than five feet long and up to 100 pounds. Although they may look similar to sweet potatoes, they are an entirely different species (yams belong to the dioscoreaceae family and are related to grasses and lilies, and sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family) and not even remotely related. They have more of an earthy, neutral taste. Although the terms sweet potatoes and yams are often used interchangeably in the u.s., they are not the same thing. Yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables from different plants. Drier and less creamy than sweet potatoes, yams are hardly sweet. It's not necessarily wrong to refer to sweet potatoes as yams (because the name has become normalized through the rough history of use), but it is important to understand that the two tubers diverge in look and taste. In fact, a yam's flesh, in both texture and flavor, is more similar to a russet potato than a sweet potato. What you've been calling a yam is most likely a sweet potato.