Sweet potatoes are sweet (obviously) and creamy when cooked. They’re loaded with beta-carotene, so that orange color means good stuff for your eyes. You can roast them, mash them, or turn them into fries.
Real yams are more like a potato’s distant, earthy cousin. They’re starchy and slightly nutty, but not very sweet. You often have to boil or soak them first to remove a bitter taste. They’re a staple in West African and Caribbean stews.
Sweet Potatoes Vs Yams , What’s the Difference Between Yams and Sweet
So, if you’ve ever had candied “yams” with marshmallows? Those were sweet potatoes. Sorry, tradition. You’ve been living a lie, but it’s a delicious one.
How to tell them apart at the store
Look at the skin. Sweet potatoes have thin, smooth skin that’s tan, red, or purple. They’re sort of torpedo-shaped. Yams have rough, bark-like skin that’s brown or black. They look like something you’d use as a club.
Check the label. But as we learned, labels lie. The best clue? If it’s in a typical American supermarket chain, it’s probably a sweet potato. If it’s in a bin with a foreign name like ñame or ubi, you’re looking at an actual yam.
Also, if it has a fuzzy texture or feels hairy, run. That’s a yam, and you need a recipe for it. Not your marshmallow casserole.
