FOOD NEWS
14 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking With Sweet Potatoes
BY ELETTRA PAULETTO
Buying The Wrong Ones
Inspect your sweet potatoes for bruising, soft spots, and any protruding sprouts, which are all signs that the potato isn't the freshest.
Neglecting The Water
If you've ever ended up with charred sweet potatoes, simply add a few tablespoons of water to the aluminum foil cocoon that you wrap your potatoes in.
It will create a sort of steam bath for your potatoes, preventing them from drying out or burning up before they're cooked through. Just make sure you tightly close the foil.
Forgetting The Oranges
Try adding some freshly squeezed orange juice to your sweet potato puree along with some butter and brown sugar for a sweet side dish.
The presence of the juice will also help you keep your sweet potatoes from sticking to the pot while also giving them some added tang.
Wrong Temperature
The absolute best temperature for baking sweet potatoes is 425 degrees Fahrenheit, at which they should take about 40-50 minutes to bake.
Poke holes in the potatoes' skin before baking, or they may burst or end up undercooked in the middle. They're done once tender enough to be pierced with a toothpick.
Not Braising In Milk
Peel, slice, and brown your sweet potatoes in olive oil before adding milk and aromatics to the pan to let them braise for 15-20 minutes.
For best results, use whole milk, whose higher fat content will help soften the potatoes and yield sweeter, silkier pieces.