Sweet potatoes can’t be eaten because they oxidize and turn dark in color? It’s unfair, sweet potatoes are delicious and full of treasures!

Sweet potatoes are a national delicacy that is rich in trace elements and inexpensive. They can be eaten steamed, baked, or made into sweet potato soup, with a variety of flavors. Especially with the rise of health awareness, more and more people pay attention to eating sweet potatoes for health, and even replace them as staple food. However, there are some online myths about eating sweet potatoes, such as: "If the sweet potato turns dark in color, it is poisonous and cannot be eaten?!" Therefore, people are deterred from eating it. What is the truth?!

Sweet potatoes are full of treasures. The more you eat, the more energetic you will be.

Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, β-carotene, magnesium, potassium and other nutrients. It can be said that the whole body is a treasure. They taste soft, dense and sweet. Especially with high nutritional value and inexpensive, it is no wonder that people love them so much. Whether you are at street vendors or convenience stores, you can always find roasted sweet potatoes, which are convenient for you to buy at any time to replenish your energy and nutrition. You can also buy raw sweet potatoes and take them home to cook sweet potato soup or grind them into sweet potato puree. They are all very delicious and make you want to eat one bite after another, making you feel more energetic the more you eat.

When talking about sweet potatoes, one can't help but think of potatoes, which are also staple foods and look quite similar to sweet potatoes. In terms of dietary fiber, sweet potatoes are slightly better, as they can promote intestinal peristalsis, aid defecation, and increase satiety. As for the trace elements they contain, sweet potatoes are still more diverse and richer than potatoes. Especially eating sweet potatoes with the skin can help you take in more vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, which is good for your health.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes are very different, don't confuse the two

In fact, sweet potatoes and potatoes are crops from completely different families. Sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes) belong to the "Convolvulaceae" plant, while potatoes belong to the "Solanaceae"; and the parts they eat are also different. Sweet potatoes are "roots" while potatoes are "trumps", so the two are completely different!

Don’t be afraid if the sweet potatoes oxidize and turn darker or sprout! Still safe to eat

It turns out that many people often regard sweet potatoes and potatoes as the same relatives. Without any verification, they directly apply the fact that potatoes will produce toxic alkaloids when they sprout to sweet potatoes. Or they mistakenly believe that sweet potatoes are rotten when dark spots appear, causing sweet potatoes to be wrongly accused and cried out that it is so unfair!

Agricultural expert Lai Yongchang, director of the Chiayi Agricultural Experiment Station, said that sweet potatoes will not produce toxic substances whether they are sprouting or oxidized by contact with air like fruits and vegetables. The starch content in the sweet potatoes will decrease after sprouting, which may affect the taste and the relative nutrients will also be reduced. Therefore, they can still be eaten safely without worry.

As for sweet potatoes that turn darker in color, can they still be eaten? Director Lai Yongchang said that sweet potatoes are rich in natural polyphenols that can provide a lot of antioxidant effects, but like apples, bananas and other fruits and vegetables, once the flesh or leafy vegetables come into contact with the air, they combine with the oxygen in the air to produce color changes (browning). The longer the time, the darker the color will become. This is a natural phenomenon and will not affect human health.

Keeping sweet potatoes fresh is the key to keeping them dry

How should consumers choose a good sweet potato? Qiu Yuxiang, deputy general manager of GuaGuaYuan’s fresh produce department, suggested that the key is to have good quality sweet potatoes, keep them in the best condition, and retain nutrients. Consumers can choose sweet potatoes that have a brand name and a certified production and sales history, and do the first step of checking - eating with peace of mind. After purchasing, you need to keep the sweet potatoes fresh. Taiwan's environment is humid and warm, which is very suitable for the growth of mold. Therefore, if you choose to store sweet potatoes at room temperature, keep the environment cool, ventilated and dry. If you want to store sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, there is no need to wash them. Just wrap them in clean paper, put them in a dark bag, and put them in the refrigerator. This way, the flavor will not be lost.