Food History: Purple Sweet Potatoes Origin
Do you want to have a more comprehensive understanding of purple sweet potatoes? Then understanding its origin is an essential link. There is a long development process behind this, containing rich knowledge. Come and explore it.
What region are Purple sweet potatoes from?
Purple sweet potatoes originated in the Andes region of South America, that is, areas in Peru and Bolivia. Purple sweet potatoes also originated in Central and South America at first. Later, they were introduced to Asia through Europe, and unique varieties have also developed in Okinawa, Japan.
Although both Purple sweet potatoes and purple sweet potatoes contain quite abundant anthocyanins, they are completely different crops. Purple sweet potatoes belong to the Solanaceae family and are a variant produced by natural mutation of ordinary potatoes; purple sweet potatoes belong to the Convolvulaceae family and are selected from traditional sweet potatoes.
Most of the common purple sweet potatoes on the market now are improved varieties. For example, "Okinawa purple sweet potato" in Japan is quite famous. These improved varieties not only retain the nutritional value of traditional purple sweet potatoes, but also have improvements in taste and appearance, and are very popular among consumers.
How long do Purple sweet potatoes usually take to cook?
Under normal circumstances, purple sweet potatoes can be fully cooked in 15 to 20 minutes. However, the specific cooking time needs to be adjusted according to the size of the potato pieces. If purple sweet potatoes are cut into small pieces, the cooking time will be shorter. If the whole purple sweet potato is put into the pot for cooking, it will take 25 to 30 minutes.
It is quite simple to judge whether purple sweet potatoes are cooked. Gently poke them with chopsticks. If they can be easily inserted, then they are cooked. If the cooking time is too short, purple sweet potatoes will be hard and have a bad taste. If cooked for too long, purple sweet potatoes will become too soft and are also easily broken.
Why do Purple sweet potatoes turn green?
Purple sweet potatoes turn green mainly because solanine is produced after being exposed to light. Solanine is an alkaloid harmful to the human body. So the green part should be cut off and not eaten. Otherwise, it is easy to make people feel uncomfortable.
Incorrect storage methods are the key reason for purple sweet potatoes to turn green. Purple sweet potatoes should be placed in a cool and dry place and not be directly exposed to sunlight. If they are placed in a translucent plastic bag or in a bright place, they will easily turn green.
How long do Purple sweet potatoes last?
They can be stored for 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature. If refrigerated, they can be stored for 2 to 3 weeks. If frozen, they can be stored for 3 to 6 months.
There are several key points for storing purple sweet potatoes. The first choice is a cool and ventilated place. Wrap them in newspaper and avoid using plastic bags. This can prevent mildew. Especially in hot summer, it is more reliable to store them in the refrigerator.
When buying purple sweet potatoes, choose ones that are intact and undamaged. Don't rush to wash them when you get home. It is best to wash them when you are about to eat them. When storing, keep them away from fruits such as bananas and apples that emit ethylene to avoid accelerating deterioration.
Can you eat raw Purple sweet potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes cannot be eaten raw.
Raw purple sweet potatoes contain a large number of starch granules that are difficult to digest. After eating them, it is easy to cause stomach discomfort, such as abdominal pain and bloating. Raw purple sweet potatoes also contain some anti-nutritional factors that will affect the body's absorption of nutrients.
The most commonly used methods for cooking purple sweet potatoes are steaming and boiling. After washing the purple sweet potatoes, put them in a pot and steam for 15 to 20 minutes or boil for 20 to 25 minutes. If chopsticks can easily pierce through them, it means they are cooked. Baked purple sweet potatoes and fried purple sweet potatoes are also good choices. However, from a health perspective, steaming and boiling are better.
What is the real name of the Purple sweet potato?
The scientific name of purple sweet potato is sweet potato.
Purple sweet potato is actually a variety of sweet potato. It is named after its purple flesh. In agricultural classification, it belongs to the genus Ipomoea batatas of the Convolvulaceae family and is a perennial herbaceous plant.
In daily life, people are used to calling it purple sweet potato, purple-hearted sweet potato or purple sweet potato. It is essentially the same plant as the common sweet potatoes and white sweet potatoes. Only the varieties are different, and the nutritional components are also slightly different.
