How To Cook Yams
A Cook’s Delight – How to Cook Yams
In this article, we want to discuss different methods for how to cook yams. While some people refer to this type of potato as a “yam”, others simple call them “sweet potatoes”, both being correct yet the two are different. Shaped similar to a regular potato, yams are oblong and they have a rust-colored skin. Of course, the “meat” on the inside is starchy like a regular potato but also a light rust color and with a slight sweet flavor.
Before we get into the different methods of hot to cook yams, we wanted to provide a little information on this delicious vegetable. Yams and sweet potatoes can both be cooked in much the same way and they are both loaded with nutrition. For instance, yams and sweet potatoes are high in vitamins A and C, potassium, beta carotene, iron, and fiber.
Regarding the difference between the two vegetables, they are both from flowering plants but from a botanical standpoint, they are not related. For instance, yams are actually family to grasses and lilies native to Asia and Africa. In all, some 600 varieties of yams exist. As far as the “meat”, yams are drier and starchier. Sweet potatoes are from the morning glory family, the skin varies in color to include red, purple, brown, and white, and the “meat” is softer and moister.
Regarding how to cook yams, you have four primary methods although you can incorporate this vegetable into hundreds of recipes. The most common cooking method is baking, which can be done in a convection or microwave oven. For this, the yam would be washed thoroughly, cleaned with a vegetable brush, and then pricked with a fork or knife several times so steam during the cooking process can escape. In the oven, the right way for how to cook yams is to bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes and in the microwave, about five to eight minutes. When done, the yams can be eaten plain or enhanced with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, etc.
The second method we wanted to mention for how to cook yams is also baking but in a casserole. You would choose about six yams, clean and brush them, and then slice them into relative thin pieces. You can remove the skin or leave it on based on personal preference. Simply place a layer of yams in a casserole dish, add a few dollops of butter, sprinkle with a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans, and then bake for about 40 to 45 minutes at 375.
Another method for how to cook yams is to make homemade French Fries. Instead of using the regular yellow or white potato, you would use yams. You can use a French fry cutter or simply cutting five to six yams into strips. After cutting the yams, set them aside. Then, mix two tablespoons of cinnamon, one teaspoon of nutmeg, and two tablespoons of sugar in a plastic bag.
Gently coat the yam strips with olive oil and then add to the mixture in the bag, shaking to coat. Spread the yam fries out on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 minutes at 375 degrees. When you use this method for hot how to cook yams, the goal is to get the yams crunchy on the outside yet soft and tender on the inside.
The last option for how to cook yams involves mashing. Just as you would a traditional potato, wash, brush, and remove the skin of the yams. Cut into large chunks and place into boiling water. Allow the potatoes to boil for about 20 minutes or until tender all the way through. For this method on how to cook yams, you can then create the taste you want although most people will mash yams with butter, nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a little bit of milk.