Steaming Sweet Potatoes: Water Or Steamer?

Steaming sweet potatoes is a great way to cook them, resulting in a fluffy, pudding-like texture. It's a fast, easy, and fat-free method that preserves the bright orange colour and nutrients of the sweet potatoes. To steam sweet potatoes, you'll need a steamer basket or a metal strainer that fits inside a pot, water, and, of course, sweet potatoes. The process is simple: add water to the pot, place the sweet potatoes in the steamer basket, bring the water to a boil, and then let the sweet potatoes steam until tender. The cooking time will depend on the size of the sweet potatoes, but it usually takes around 15 to 50 minutes. Once they're done, you can top them with butter, salt, and pepper, or get creative with other toppings like sour cream and chives, cinnamon and maple syrup, or even peanut butter sauce and slaw. So, if you're looking for a quick, healthy, and delicious way to cook sweet potatoes, steaming is definitely worth trying!

Can you cook steamer sweet potatoes in water?

How to steam sweet potatoes

Steaming sweet potatoes is a great way to cook this root vegetable, preserving its nutrients and resulting in a moist and tender texture. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam sweet potatoes:

Step 1: Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

Start by selecting medium-sized sweet potatoes, preferably around 8 ounces each. You can also use small or large potatoes, but the cooking time will vary. Scrub the sweet potatoes to remove any dirt, and then peel them using a conventional potato peeler or a sharp knife.

Step 2: Cut the Sweet Potatoes

Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into chunks or slices. The exact size is not crucial, but try to make the pieces relatively uniform in size to ensure even cooking.

Step 3: Set Up the Steamer

Place a steamer basket, metal strainer, or cooking rack inside a large pot. The pot should have enough water in it to reach just below the steamer basket, approximately 1 inch of water or 2 1/2 cups. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a metal strainer or a clean cooking rack instead.

Step 4: Steam the Sweet Potatoes

Place the sweet potato chunks into the steamer basket. Cover the pot and place it on the stove over high heat. Once the water reaches a strong boil, reduce the heat to medium. Maintain a steady boil and steam the potatoes until they are soft and tender. The cooking time will depend on the size of the potato pieces, but it usually takes around 15 to 30 minutes. Check the potatoes for doneness by piercing them with a fork; if the fork slides in easily, they are ready.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once the sweet potatoes are soft, carefully remove them from the steamer basket using tongs or a spoon. Serve them immediately as a side dish or use them in other recipes. Season with butter, salt, and pepper, or get creative with toppings like cinnamon, maple syrup, sour cream, and chives.

Tips and Variations:

• Try adding some onion or garlic to the steamer for extra flavor.
• If you want to get fancy, stuff your steamed sweet potatoes with black beans and salsa or top them with peanut butter sauce and slaw.
• Steaming sweet potatoes is a healthy alternative to other cooking methods, as it uses zero-calorie water instead of added fats.
• Steamed sweet potatoes are great for meal prep and can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Mistakes to avoid when steaming sweet potatoes

Steaming is an excellent way to cook sweet potatoes, but there are some common mistakes to avoid to ensure your dish turns out well. Here are some mistakes to avoid when steaming sweet potatoes:

Not Washing the Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes can be covered in soil, so it is important to wash them thoroughly before steaming. This will ensure that you remove any dirt or grit and prevent it from ending up in your cooked dish.

Improper Storage: If you are storing raw, cut sweet potatoes, do not leave them exposed or store them in the refrigerator. Instead, store them in cold water in the refrigerator to prevent them from drying out. For whole sweet potatoes, store them in a cool, dark place to keep them soft and juicy.

Boiling Instead of Steaming: While boiling is a convenient way to cook potatoes, it can affect the flavour and texture of sweet potatoes. Boiling can make them watery, and it removes some of their flavour and nutrients. Steaming, on the other hand, preserves their sweetness and keeps them moist and fluffy.

Not Checking for Doneness: It is important to check if your sweet potatoes are fully cooked before serving. Undercooked sweet potatoes can be hard and crunchy, so use a fork to test for doneness. If the fork slides in easily, they are ready.

Overcooking: On the other hand, be careful not to overcook your sweet potatoes. Steamed sweet potatoes can deteriorate more quickly than baked ones if left at room temperature, so it is best to steam enough for one or two days' worth of meals at a time.

Improperly Sized Chunks: When cutting sweet potatoes into chunks before steaming, ensure that the pieces are roughly the same size. This will help them cook evenly, so you don't end up with some pieces being overcooked while others are undercooked.

Not Seasoning Properly: Sweet potatoes pair well with various seasonings, and it is a mistake to leave them plain. Try classic seasonings like butter, salt, and pepper, or experiment with garlic, rosemary, olive oil, or ground pumpkin seeds.

Using the Microwave: While the microwave can be tempting for its speed, it can lead to unevenly cooked sweet potatoes, with some spots remaining hard while others become overly soft. A combination of steaming and oven baking is a better option for more consistent results.

How to serve steamed sweet potatoes

Steaming sweet potatoes is a great way to cook them, resulting in a moist and tender texture. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to serve steamed sweet potatoes:

Step 1: Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

First, select medium-sized sweet potatoes, around 8 ounces each. You can use any type of sweet potato, such as orange-fleshed varieties like Jewel or Red Garnet, or white-fleshed ones. Give them a good wash to remove any soil.

Step 2: Set Up the Steamer

Place water in a pot just below the steamer basket level. You'll need enough water to steam the potatoes without it evaporating too quickly, so use about 2 cups or fill it to a height of about 1 inch.

Step 3: Steam the Potatoes

Place the sweet potatoes in the steamer basket and put the basket in the pot. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and maintain a steady boil. Steam the potatoes for 25-35 minutes, depending on their size. They are ready when tender when pierced with a fork.

Step 4: Serve the Potatoes

Let the potatoes sit for 5 minutes after steaming, then slice them in half. You can serve them as a side dish or stuff them as a main course. Here are some delicious ways to serve steamed sweet potatoes:

• Butter, Salt, and Pepper: This classic combination is a simple yet tasty option. You can toss the potatoes with butter, salt, and pepper, or serve them plain with the condiments on the side.
• Sour Cream and Chives: This combination makes for a great side dish.
• Cinnamon and Maple Syrup: A hint of maple syrup complements the cinnamon nicely.
• Savory Garlic: Add olive oil, chopped garlic, and rosemary to the potatoes, and garnish with ground pumpkin seeds.
• Onion: Steam chopped onion along with the potatoes, or add it after steaming. White, yellow, or sweet onions pair well.
• Spices: Try sweet, pungent spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves. Sprinkle sparingly at first, as you can always add more.
• Brown Sugar Glaze: Baste the steamed potatoes with a mixture of brown sugar and melted butter, then bake in the oven for about 10 minutes.
• Loaded with Black Beans and Salsa: For a hearty option, stuff the potatoes with black beans and salsa.
• Peanut Butter Sauce and Slaw: For a Thai-inspired twist, top the potatoes with peanut butter sauce and slaw.
• Broccoli and Cheese: Sautéed broccoli and cheese sauce make for a tasty and nutritious topping.
• Nacho-Stuffed: Go all out with taco meat, refried beans, cheddar cheese, nacho cheese, salsa, chopped lettuce, and crushed tortilla chips.

The benefits of steaming sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great source of nutrition, packing a good amount of vitamins and minerals into each serving. They are also rich in antioxidants and fiber, which promote a healthy gut and brain. Here are some benefits of steaming sweet potatoes:

Retains Nutritional Content

Steaming sweet potatoes is a great way to retain their nutritional content. Boiling may actually retain more of the antioxidant power of sweet potatoes compared to roasting and steaming. The peel of a sweet potato has nearly ten times the antioxidant power as the flesh, and boiling is a gentler cooking method that preserves these nutrients.

Fat-Free

Steaming is a fat-free cooking method, which is great for people who are dieting or controlling their blood sugar. It is also a healthier alternative to deep frying, which can lead to the formation of acrylamide, a potential human carcinogen.

Efficient and Hands-Off

Steaming sweet potatoes is an efficient and hands-off cooking method that doesn't create a lot of messy pots and pans. It is also a quick and easy way to cook, requiring only heat, water, and a few pieces of cookware.

Moist and Fluffy Texture

Steaming sweet potatoes results in a moist and fluffy texture. This makes them easy to puree, which is ideal for making baby food. The high heat and moisture of steaming give the sweet potatoes a pudding-like, spoonable texture that can be enjoyed by both mother and baby.

Versatile

Steamed sweet potatoes are versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. They can be seasoned with butter, salt, and pepper, or served with tahini butter and a generous shake of sesame seeds. They can also be used in baked goods, adding moisture without fat.

The best types of sweet potatoes for steaming

While you can steam any type of sweet potato, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the best variety for this cooking method.

Firstly, size matters. Medium-sized sweet potatoes, or those weighing around 8 ounces each, are ideal. Smaller potatoes can also be steamed, and larger ones will work too, but they will take longer to cook.

The two main types of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes commonly available are Jewel and Red Garnet. Jewel sweet potatoes have light brown-orange skin, while Red Garnet has red skin and is slightly thinner. Both types are suitable for steaming, but if you want to follow a tested recipe, go for Jewel sweet potatoes.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try steaming white-fleshed sweet potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, or garnet yams (which are technically yams but are often referredised as sweet potatoes).

When it comes to cooking time, steaming is faster than baking. It takes about 30 minutes to steam whole sweet potatoes, while baking usually takes around an hour.

To steam sweet potatoes, place water in a pot just below the steamer basket level and bring it to a boil. Add the whole sweet potatoes to the steamer basket, maintain a steady boil, and steam for 25-35 minutes, depending on their size. Let them sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Steamed sweet potatoes are incredibly moist and tender, making them perfect for topping, stuffing, or enjoying as a side dish. They're also a great staple to have on hand for adding to salads, soups, or as a quick and nutritious side.

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