Why Are Sweet Potatoes So Hard To Cut?

Why Are Sweet Potatoes So Hard To Cut

You may think that cutting a sweet potato is just as easy as cutting any other vegetable, but you would be wrong.

The texture of the sweet potato makes it hard to cut into without turning your knife into a weapon and injuring yourself in the process.

I’ve seen kitchen knives go through the skin like butter and they can definitely do some damage to your hands!

This guide explains why this is such a problem and how we can prevent it from happening again.

Why are sweet potatoes so hard to cut?

Sweet potatoes are hard to cut because they are denser than regular potatoes. They have smaller molecules and are packed tighter than other vegetables.

These reasons make them similar to carrots and butternut squash.

Are they really potatoes?

The sweet potato is not related to the potato. The need for a different name came when people first came to America.

They called it “batata” which means “potato” because that was the word used by people here. So they mixed this word with the word for potatoes that Europeans use, and the result was patata.

Sweet potatoes are different than regular potatoes. They are firmer, more compact, and sometimes called yams. Regular potatoes are starchy and grainy.

The name yams came from the fact that there is no specific, agreed-upon vegetable that was original yam but instead several tubers can be called a yam in different parts of the world.

They are in the Convolvulaceae family. They are Ipomoea batatas.

Regular potatoes are in the Solanaceae family. They are Solanum tuberosum.

Yams come from many different plants that have tubers, including Colocasia esculenta, Oxalis tuberosa, and Amorphophallus paeoniifolius.

Butternut squash is part of the Cucurbitaceae family and comes from Cucurbita moschata.

Pumpkin comes from the same family as yams and is part of the plant Cucurbita pepo

High sugar content is also a reason for the hard-cutting

Sweet potatoes are hard to cut. They are very dense and they also have a lot of sugar in them, which makes it harder to cut. There are 4 grams of sugar in every 100 grams of raw sweet potato, or about 4% of the entire tuber.

When we cut them, a liquid comes out. This liquid sticks to a knife and makes cutting the potatoes hard. It is good to use a thin blade so you can get the liquid off of it.

How to make it easier to cut?

Most of the time, people use these potatoes in a stew, mash, or puree. But they can also be used for fries. Here’s how to get them ready:

First, you need to peel and cut off the ends of the potatoes. Then put them into a pot with cold water and bring it to a boil before letting it simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Potatoes get soft when you cook them. If you want them to be really soft, like mashed sweet potatoes or soup, then you should let them cook all the way. But if they are for a stew, then it’s better to let them soften first before cooking in the stew

If you want to make fries out of potatoes, here’s what we recommend. If your potatoes are small, keep them whole. If they’re bigger, cut them in half (as best you can) and then only boil them a little.

They need to be soft enough for the knife so that it cuts through the potato well like regular potatoes. This can take 10-15 minutes after boiling water.

You need to get rid of some of the moisture in the potatoes. If it is too much, hot cooking oil will splatter all over the house and you.

Try putting some oil on them and put them in a sheet pan. Then put them in the oven to roast or fry. Do not turn on the broiler if they have a lot of oil, because you might start a fire!

Try using the microwave

If you don’t like cooking potatoes in boiling water, you can cook them in the microwave. You have to peel them first and put a bowl on top to keep the steam and moisture in.

Put a few minutes on low heat, then take them out and check them. If one side is cooked but the other side is not, then put it back again.

Put the potatoes in the microwave for 10 minutes. They will be hot, so use oven mitts or tongs to take them out. Cook one at a time, with 10 minutes per potato. Put them on a plate when they are done.

FAQ’s

How do you make sweet potatoes easier to cut?

There is a way to make cutting them easier. Usually, you microwave a potato for a few minutes to soften it up and then cut it.

How long should I boil sweet potatoes to soften them for cutting?

Dip the potatoes in boiling water for 15-20 minutes. It will take less time if you cut the potatoes into small pieces.

How hard should sweet potatoes be?

They should be firm. They should not yield when you press them. Make sure they are free from scratches, blemishes, and sprouting. Store them in a dark place, but never refrigerate them.

Can you eat raw sweet potatoes?

Some types of potatoes are unsafe to eat when they are raw. The substance in the potato can make you sick if it is not cooked. If you want to be safe, peel and cook your potatoes before eating them.

Can you eat sweet potato skin?

You can eat sweet potato skin. You can eat it raw or cooked. You just need to wash it if you don’t want soil and pesticides on your food. However, just to be safe, be sure to cook the thing first.

Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes?

You can cook them in two ways – boiling or by baking. Boiling may actually retain more of the antioxidant power, but baking can cause twice as much vitamin A to be lost. So it is better to boil rather than bake these potatoes.

Conclusion

Sweet potatoes are not that hard to cut. You just need a few tricks up your sleeve to get the job done faster and easier! Do you have any tips for cutting sweet potatoes? Let us know in the comments below!

Tamara Pierce

Tamara Pierce is a food writer at Elapasony, passionate about exploring diverse cuisines and sharing recipes and food experiences. From trendy restaurants to local hotspots, she's always on the lookout for new and exciting flavors.

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