Its time to set the record straight.
They look very different, and although theyre both stem tubers, they belong to different plant families.
So, why are sweet potatoes and yams commonly conflated?
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However, sweet potatoes and yams are two separate vegetables.
Heres how to tell the difference between them.
Hajrudin Agic/Getty Images; Sonia Tapia/Getty Images
What Is a Sweet Potato?
However, sweet potatoes arent actually potatoes at all.
They do bear some resemblance tothe potato, though, and theyre high in starch like potatoes.
However, the different types of sweet potatoes have varying tastes and textures.
Some are sweeter than others, such as the Beauregard.
Those that are more dense are better for making recipes like sweet potato fries andcasseroles.
What Is a Yam?
A yam is a starchy root vegetable and stem tuber belonging to the yam family (Dioscoreaceae).
Its native to Africa and Asia, with most crops hailing from African countries.
On the outside, the skin of a yam looks kind of like bark on a tree.
Its rough to the touch with a brown exterior and white or pale yellow flesh on the inside.
Theyre toxic when eaten raw.When cooked, yams have a neutral taste.
For this reason, yams can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
So, those candied yamson your table at Thanksgivingare most likely sweet potatoes.
Whats the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams?
Sweet potatoes and yams are two separate foods, but they still get confused for each other.
And its easy to understand whytheyre even mixed up at the supermarket.
Heres how to distinguish between them.
Taste and Texture
Sweet potatoes are exactly thatsweet.
When cooked, the flesh is often soft and moist, though some sweet potatoes are denser than others.
Yams, however, arent super sweet.
Theyre also drier and denser than your average sweet potato.
Nutrition
Despite their differences, sweet potatoes and yams have similar nutrition profiles.
Theyre both full of beneficial nutrients, such asantioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Theyre also each lower in fat and higher incarbohydrates, thanks to their starchy composition.
This also makes them good sources ofdietary fiber.
Neither is a significantsource of protein, though sweet potatoes are slightly higher in protein.
Availability
In the United States, sweet potatoes are much easier to find.
Can You Substitute Yams For Sweet Potatoes?
Yams and sweet potatoes arent as interchangeable as you might think.
They have a different taste and texture, so theyre not the best substitute for one another.
