Sweet Potatoes: A Power Food

Sweet Potato Tips 

We asked experts to share their tips for buying, storing, and enjoying sweet potatoes.

Buying:
Pass up sweet potatoes with soft or sunken sports or sprouts, says Jason Tucker of The Sweet Potato Council of California.

Storing:
Store sweet potatoes loose in a cool (55-65 degrees F), dark place. "Refrigerated sweet potatoes will develop an off-taste, a hard center, and won't be as sweet," says Sue Johnson-Langdon, executive director of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission.

Leftovers:
"Leftover cooked sweet potatoes work great in recipes such as quick breads or soups," says Holly Clegg, national spokeswoman for the Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission.

Store leftover cooked sweet potatoes in a zipper-lock bag in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on how quickly you plan to use them.

Ordering at restaurants:
Be sure to check how the sweet potatoes are prepared and how large the serving is before you order, says Marsha McCulloch, M.S., R.D., Heart-Healthy Living staff dietitian. You may want to split it with a companion. Avoid toppers such as marshmallows and choose baked sweet potatoes over sweet potato fries, which restaurants often deep-fat fry.