Safety First: Can You Eat Raw Purple Sweet Potatoes

Purple sweet potatoes are deeply loved because of their unique color and nutritional value. But can Purple sweet potatoes be eaten raw? Many people have doubts about eating Purple sweet potatoes raw. The following will answer this question for you.

Is it safe to eat raw Purple sweet potatoes?

They cannot be eaten directly. They have a powdery and astringent taste and a bitter flavor. Just like raw potatoes, they are impossible to swallow. They can only be eaten after heating and cooking.

Purple sweet potatoes are best eaten by steaming or boiling. They will be fully cooked after steaming for about 20 to 30 minutes. Steamed Purple sweet potatoes have a dense texture and can retain more nutrients. They can be eaten directly or used to make various delicious foods.

What are the common ways to prepare Purple sweet potatoes?

Steaming: It's very simple. Wash the Purple sweet potatoes and cut them into pieces. Put them in a steamer. Don't pile them up completely. Leave some gaps. Steam on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. After that, don't rush to open the lid. Let it sit for a while. Steamed in this way, the original flavor is preserved and the nutrition is also retained. It's quite delicious to eat directly or with meals.

Boiling: Wash the Purple sweet potatoes and throw them into a pot. Add water to cover the Purple sweet potatoes. First, boil the water on high heat. Then turn to medium-low heat and slowly boil for 20 to 30 minutes. Stir with a spoon from time to time while boiling. Boiled Purple sweet potatoes can be used to make Purple sweet potatoes porridge and Purple sweet potatoes soup.

Baking: If using an oven, preheat the oven to 200°C. Wrap the Purple sweet potatoes tightly with aluminum foil. Put them on the middle layer and bake for 40 to 60 minutes. Remember to turn them over in the middle. If there is no oven, you can use charcoal fire. Bury the Purple sweet potatoes in the red-hot ashes. It will be almost done in 30 to 50 minutes.

Stir-frying: First, wash the Purple sweet potatoes, peel them, and cut them into small pieces. Pour some oil into the pan and heat it up. Stir-fry on medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes until the surface turns golden. Stir-fried Purple sweet potatoes can be eaten alone or stir-fried with other dishes. For example, when paired with green vegetables, shredded meat, etc., it makes the whole dish more abundant and the nutrition is also balanced.

What are the disadvantages of Purple sweet potatoes?

Difficult to preserve: It has a high water content and is particularly prone to mildew and deterioration. Even when placed in the refrigerator, it can only last for one to two weeks. During storage, it is also easy to lose water and become hard, resulting in deteriorated taste and reduced quality.

Easy to stain during cooking: It is prone to staining during cooking. With its deep color, it can easily stain other ingredients when cooked. If making dishes that require a particular color, this can be troublesome.

Strong stickiness: During processing, it always sticks to the pan. Cleaning after cooking is difficult, which is quite unfriendly to people seeking convenience.

Single taste: Compared with ordinary potatoes and other tuberous vegetables, Purple sweet potatoes have a less rich taste. Some people may find its taste a bit monotonous and bland.

What is the texture of Purple sweet potatoes like?

The taste of Purple sweet potatoes is dense and delicate, soft and glutinous, sweet, and melts in the mouth. It is smoother than ordinary potatoes.

Cooking methods directly affect the taste of Purple sweet potatoes. Steamed Purple sweet potatoes are the most soft. The skin is thin and the inside is soft, making it as easy to eat as cake. Baked Purple sweet potatoes will form a slightly charred skin. After biting, the inside still remains dense. This taste is reminiscent of freshly baked bread.

In home cooking, it is recommended to choose Purple sweet potatoes of moderate size and with intact appearance. After cleaning, put them in a steamer and steam on medium heat for 15-20 minutes. Steamed Purple sweet potatoes taste best when eaten hot. You can directly peel off the skin and enjoy them, or you can make them into Purple sweet potatoes puree or Purple sweet potatoes balls, all of which can maintain their unique dense texture.

How can you store Purple sweet potatoes for the longest shelf life?

The optimal storage temperature for Purple sweet potatoes is 12 - 15 degrees Celsius. They need to be kept in a ventilated and dry place and avoid direct sunlight. In this way, they can be stored for 1 - 2 months.

When purchasing, choose Purple sweet potatoes with intact skins, moderate sizes, and no rot or sprouting. After returning home, do not wash them immediately. Wrap each one with newspaper and put them in a ventilated cardboard box or bamboo basket. Place newspaper at the bottom to absorb moisture.

During storage, check regularly. If any are found to be rotting or sprouting, pick them out in time to avoid affecting other Purple sweet potatoes. In winter, they can be stored at room temperature. In summer, it is best to place them in a cool place or in the fruit and vegetable section of the refrigerator's fresh-keeping compartment. However, low-temperature refrigeration is not recommended to avoid affecting the taste. If they have been cut, it is best to eat them within 24 hours. If it is really impossible to eat them in time, they can be vacuum-packed and put in the refrigerator, but not for more than 3 days.

Are Purple sweet potatoes suitable for making desserts?

Purple sweet potatoes are quite suitable for making desserts.

Purple sweet potatoes themselves have sweetness and a dense texture. When making desserts, you don't need to add too much sugar and the taste is excellent. The simplest way is to mash steamed Purple sweet potatoes to make Purple sweet potatoes puree, which can be eaten directly or used as filling.

Slightly more complex desserts like Purple sweet potatoes balls, Purple sweet potatoes tarts, and Purple sweet potatoes mousses are extremely charming when made.

During baking, Purple sweet potatoes can also replace some flour. The Purple sweet potatoes bread, cakes, and biscuits made are attractive in color. When paired with cream and cheese, the taste is extremely rich.