How much does an average Yam weigh?

Sweet potatoes are not actually potatoes or yams, but a storage root which belongs to the morning glory vegetable.

How much does a sweet potato weigh?

An average medium-sized sweet potato will weigh approximately 4 ounces (113 grams).

Sweet potatoes are known for being super healthy. There are many reasons for this but one of the main reasons is that they contain a lot of beta-carotene.

Beta-carotene contains lots of anti-oxidants and vitamin A which helps protect the skin against sun damage, as well as being good for anti-aging.

In parts of Central and South America, they call the sweet potato “Batata”

In North America, the sweet potato is often called a yam which is incorrect as yam is a vegetable native to North Africa.

The average person in the USA will consume between 1.5-2 kg of sweet potato per year, a statistic which is in decline.

Typically, there will be around 113 calories in an average medium sized sweet potato.

Sweet potatoes come in many different skin colors, flesh colors and have many different varieties. The jewel variety is the most commercially available sweet potato.

~ Fun Fact ~
Back in 2016 there were 105 million tons of sweet potatoes produced globally.

Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato
https://www.cooksinfo.com/sweet-potatoes
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11202/10-fun-facts-about-sweet-potatoes.html

In this article, we will answer the question “How much does an average sweet potato weigh?”, and how to cook a sweet potato?

The average weight of a medium-sized sweet potato is about 113 grams (4 ounces). Sweet potatoes are healthy and more nutritious as compared to regular potatoes because they contain beta-carotene in abundance.

The shelf-life of sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes can stay fresh in the pantry for 3-5 weeks and can retain their freshness for 2-3 months at refrigeration temperatures. They can last even longer in the freezer. All these time periods are approximate for when the vegetable is stored correctly.

How to cook a sweet potato?

Bake

Wash your sweet potatoes and bake them at 400°F for 40-50 minutes. Do not forget to poke holes or prick the sweet potatoes. This will keep them from bursting due to steam. Alternatively, you can slice open the sweet potatoes, add a small butter cube with your favorite seasonings until tender. You can top them with cheese if you like.

Sweet potatoes can also be roasted in the oven. For roasting, cut the sweet potatoes into equal-sized cubes and toss them with your favorite seasonings and olive oil. Roast them in the oven at 425°F. Keep turning occasionally to prevent burning.

Microwave

Prick the sweet potatoes using a skewer or a fork and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Make sure the potatoes are of the same size. Microwave them for about 4-6 minutes at high power. 

The other method is to slit the potato from the middle, add cheese, seasonings, and butter or oil, and then microwave.

Steam

Bring 1 and ½ inches of water to a rolling boil in a steamer. Place the sweet potatoes (unpeeled) in the steamer basket and cover with a lid. You can either cut the potatoes into equal-sized cubes or steam them whole. 

Unpeeled and whole sweet potatoes will take 40-50 minutes to cook completely while cube-sized potatoes will only take 30 minutes.

Boil

Boil whole and unpeeled sweet potatoes in hot boiling water for about 35-40 minutes or until completely tender. Mash the boiled potatoes. 

Use immediately or store for later use. Mashed sweet potatoes can be combined with milk and served with maple syrup. It makes for a great dessert. They can also be added to brownies.

Fry

Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them in slices of about ½ or ¼ inch thickness. Warm the oil in a pan to 365°F. Fry evenly until brown and crispy. Spread them on a paper towel to get rid of excess oil.

Grill

Wash and slice the sweet potatoes. Coat the slices in a dressing made up of cilantro, salt, olive oil, and some lemon/lime juice or zest. Place ¼ inch slices of sweet potatoes on grill grates. Grill each side for about 3-6 minutes. Flip the slices once grill marks are obtained.

Fresh 

Cut the sweet potatoes into desired shape or size or grate them. Toss the cut, sliced or grated potato into your salad bowls. Cut the sweet potato into french fry shape and enjoy it with a dip. Add lemon to prevent browning in the salad.

Other FAQs about Potatoes which you may be interested in.

How to plant a potato that has sprouted?

If I plant a potato will it grow?

How to tell when potatoes are done?

How to pick a good sweet potato?

Yams are not to be confused with sweet potatoes. The former has more starch and a drier texture as compared to sweet potato. 

Orange and red-colored sweet potatoes are the sweetest with the creamiest texture. Do not buy a sweet potato with soft or mushy spots. A healthy sweet potato should be firm with no discolorations.

Health benefits of sweet potatoes

• Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants providing about 65% of the daily value of ascorbic acid.

• Sweet potatoes contain a decent amount of dietary fiber and aid in digestion and promote the growth of healthy gut microbes.
• Providing about 769% of the daily value of Vitamin A, sweet potatoes promote good eyesight. 

• Boost immune health, improve cognitive functions, and might have anti-cancerous properties.

What is the science behind the sprouting of potatoes?

Sprouting occurs when the vegetable is kept in a humid environment with sufficiently warm temperatures. During germination, the stem arises from the eyes and grows into a plant with leaves by using up the nutrients like starch, minerals, and vitamins in the sweet potato.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “How much does an average sweet potato weigh?”, and how to cook a sweet potato?

References

http://wearpotatoes.com/cookingtips.html#:~:text=To%20prevent%20cut%20sweet%20potato,for%20up%20to%20four%20days.

https://askinglot.com/how-much-does-a-sweet-potato-weight#:~:text=An%20average%20medium%2Dsized%20sweet,4%20ounces%20(113%20grams)

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sweet-potato-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

Hi, I am Charlotte, I love cooking and in my previous life, I was a chef. I bring some of my experience to the recipes on this hub and answer your food questions.