What is the difference between sweet potato and yam? Although the two terms are often used interchangeably in America, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing. They are not even from the same family. Sweet potatoes are often called yams, but the two vegetables are very different. It’s possible that you’ve never seen or watched a real Yum!
As a self-proclaimed sweet potato connoisseur I will help clear up any confusion you may have about sweet potatoes vs. yams. Keep reading!
Are yams and sweet potatoes the same?
No, they are two completely different vegetables.
Yams
True yams are edible tubers from the Dioscorea genus of flowering plants native to Africa and Asia. They are commonly used in African, Latin American and Caribbean cuisine. In West Africa they are a staple food like cassava/yuca and plantain. You may see them labeled in the market with the African word Nyami or Namé.
Yams have thick rough bark-like brown skin and white or yellow-ish flesh. They become starchy when cooked and have a mild aroma. Yams are much larger than sweet potatoes. In African and Caribbean cuisine, yams are used in delicacies such as chili soup and pounded yams.
sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are root vegetables, not tubers. The tuber is the thick stem of the plant, not the root. Sweet potatoes are the actual root of the plant, plump and can be delicious. Sweet potatoes are native to Central or South America and belong to the morning glory family.
Unlike yams, sweet potatoes have smooth skin, which can be orange, gray, or even purple, depending on the variety. Sweet potatoes have flesh that is sweeter than yams. Depending on the variety, sweet potato flesh can be white, orange, or even bright purple. There are many varieties of sweet potatoes: some are starchier and sweeter than others. More on the different varieties below. Sweet potatoes are used in both savory dishes and desserts.
Which is more nutritious?
Both sweet potatoes and yams are excellent sources of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and complex carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes contain more vitamin C and more beta-carotene than true yams. Yams boast high levels of copper.
Both are nutritious starchy vegetables, and should be enjoyed as part of a balanced plant-based diet.
Why are sweet potatoes called yams?
In American grocery stores, you’ll usually find orange sweet potatoes called yams. You can even refer to them as yums themselves. Candied yams, anyone? I’ve heard two stories about why sweet potatoes are called “yums.”
During slavery, enslaved Africans referred to the new sweet potato as “yams” because it reminded them of the African yams they ate. The name stuck and Americans continued to call sweet potatoes yams.
I also read that when orange fleshed sweet potatoes were introduced, sweet potato growers called them “yums” to distinguish them from the commonly used (at the time) white fleshed sweet potatoes. I’ve even read that it was a way for sweet potato growers in one state to differentiate their identical crops from others.
Key difference between sweet potato and yam
sweet potato
smooth skin
White, orange or purple flesh
Commonly found in American grocery stores
sweet meat
Used in South American cooking
Grown in the southern United States
Yams
Rough bark-like skin
White or yellow-ish flesh
Mild taste, not sweet
Much larger than sweet potatoes
Available in African and Caribbean grocery stores
Grows in tropical climates
Used in African and Caribbean cooking
Both are easy to cook
Both sweet potatoes and true yams are surprisingly easy to cook, they just need time. Yams are traditionally boiled or cooked in a stew. Sweet potatoes can be easily baked, steamed, boiled, microwaved, steamed in the air fryer or in the Instant Pot. Depending on the recipe and how you eat it, you can either cook it whole or cut it into your desired shape. Cutting it out will cut down on cooking time and get you to the table faster. Always test your sweet potatoes for tenderness with a fork. When fully cooked the fork will slide all the way out.
Varieties of Sweet Potatoes
If you live in the US, you’ll be hard-pressed to find yams in your local mainstream grocery store. When you find them, the store may only carry one variety. However, you will likely find many varieties of sweet potatoes, all of which are delicious. Here are the most common:
Jewel: Light orange skin and flesh. High moisture content.
Garnet: Dark orange to reddish skin, and orange flesh. High moisture content.
Beauregard: Most common in US stores. Dark orange skins and flesh. Starchier but still moist.
Asian or Caribbean: Purple skins and yellowish-white flesh. Very starchy and sweet.
Okinawan: Dark gray skin and bright purple flesh. Starchy and very sweet. Also called purple yam.
Stokes: Purple skin and purple flesh. Fairly new variety.
Best Sweet Potato Recipes
Sweet potatoes aren’t just for Thanksgiving. Sweet Potato Casserole topped with marshmallows is wonderful, but there are so many other ways to enjoy this great root veggie! I have made many sweet and savory recipes using sweet potatoes. These are some of my favorite recipes over the years. More in my cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul!
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Sweet Potato Pie
Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet Potato Hummus
Sweet Potato Granola
West African Peanut Stew
Red Lentil Sweet Potato Curry
Maple Mustard Tempeh Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Bisque
Black Eyed Pea Sweet Potato Curry
Yum recipe
While I don’t have a yam recipe of my own, there are plenty of delicious vegan yam recipes out there. I have listed a few below.
Pounded Yam with Egusi Stew (https://www.vegannigerian.com/2013/05/iyan-egusi-soup.html)
African Yam Stew (https://theveganlarder.com/nigerian-peanut-yam-stew/)
Thai Yam Salad (https://healthythairecipes.com/mods-thai-yam-salad/)
Jamaican Yam Mash (https://thatgirlcookshealthy.com/mashed-yam-recipe-vegan/)