Mashed Sweet Potatoes are a perfect side for the Fall Holidays, or even just a side dish in general. Make this delicious, vibrant orange mash with as much Butter & Cream to get the consistency you want, with Salt & Pepper to taste for a simple Sweet Potato mash. Add Warming Spices like Allspice or Pumpkin Spice with Honey, Maple Syrup or Sugar to deliver a comforting Sweet Potato Mash during the Fall and Winter months.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are a tubular root vegetable belonging to the Morning Glory Family. With thin skin and most commonly with a vibrant orange flesh. Although there are other varieties that have a white, creamy, yellow or purple flesh. They also come in various sizes from small to large.

While Sweet Potatoes do contain more sugar than Potatoes, they also contain much more fiber, which causes the Sugar to be released slowly into the blood stream. Because of this, they have a lower GI (Glycemic Index), just the same as squash and more ideal for diabetics.

Did you know that Sweet Potatoes are commercially grown in Ontario, Canada?

How to Store Sweet Potatoes

Store Sweet Potatoes the same as Potatoes. In a cool, dry, dark place, loosely covered bag for air flow. Refrigerating them will dry them out and can cause an unpleasant taste. They will last for about 3–5 weeks.

To store Sweet Potatoes longer, cook them and portion out to freeze, where they can last up to 6 months. The added benefit to this, besides making the Sweet Potatoes last longer, is that when reheated it creates resistant starch. Resistant Starch is shown to be hugely beneficial for your health and in limiting blood sugar spikes. It also improves insulin sensitivity over the long term by ingesting Resistant Starch often.

Yams vs Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are sometimes called Yams or used interchangeably. But these two root vegetables are completely different. Yams have a rough, tree bark skin. The flesh is white and starchy like potatoes. Whereas, Sweet Potatoes have a thin skin and has orange flesh with a flavor more like squash. Although Sweet Potatoes come in different colors like white, creamy, yellow or purple too. The most common being Orange.

How to chop Sweet Potatoes

Chop smaller Sweet Potatoes the same as Potatoes into 1 inch cubes for Boiling or Steaming.

With large Sweet Potatoes, slicing lengthwise is a bit difficult, almost like cutting a Turnip or Rutabaga. Instead, slice the Sweet Potato across the width into 1 inch sections, and then quarter each slice or if they are larger, dice each slice.

How to Steam Sweet Potatoes

Place a Steamer set filled with some water over max heat and wait for it to start steaming. Steam 1 inch diced Sweet Potatoes for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Check the softness and steam longer if needed. Remove the strainer basket and drain out any excess water. Let air dry for a bit, just a minute or so, to evaporate any excess water.

Boiled Sweet Potatoes

Boil 1 inch diced Sweet Potatoes in enough water to cover about 1 inch, with salt for about 15 minutes, or until softened to your liking. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium. Strain and let air dry before mashing.

Boiled vs Steamed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes that are steamed will result in more flavor being retained and not tasting as flat due to the absorption of water. I’ve compared the both of them and find that the steamed Sweet Potatoes are just better in consistency, texture and taste.

Both Boiling & Steaming Sweet Potatoes will retain more nutrients than roasting or baking them due to the shorter cook time. With steaming being the best method in retaining the most nutrients. Since some of it is not lost in the boiling water that is then drained out.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Butter & Cream

Your basic ingredients for Sweet Mashed Potatoes is just a Salt & Pepper blend with Cream & Butter, that’s it, and it’s fantastic all by itself. About 1-2 Tbl or more of both Butter & Cream per 1 lb of Sweet Potatoes. Add less for a thicker consistency, or a bit more for a loose consistency.

Mash with a Potato Masher for a coarse texture, or run the Steamed Sweet Potatoes though a ricer for smooth. For a purée, process the Sweet Potatoes in a food processor. Adjust with Butter & Cream or Milk for the desired consistency.

To this base, there are other spices that can be added to shape the overall flavors. During the Fall & Winter months, warming spices are very nice and follows the theme of staying warm and cozy with comforting foods. A warm spice like Allspice with a bit of Sugar is very nice, or the use of a warm spice blend like Pumpkin Spice.

For an extra buttery kick, add Butter Popcorn Seasoning and adjust the seasoning with the Salt & Pepper blend.

Pumpkin Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin Spice is a warming spice mix that is wonderful with Sweet Potatoes and perfect for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner side dish. Add it to taste with a source of sweetness like Maple Syrup, Honey or even Brown Sugar to taste.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Carrots

Carrots can be boiled and mashed to include with the Sweet Potatoes to add a touch of Sweetness. Carrots will take the same amount of time to steam as the Sweet Potatoes, provided they are sliced at about 1/4 inch thick and the Sweet Potatoes at about 1 inch.

Mashed Sweet Potato Serving

A serving size of Mashed Sweet Potatoes per person is about 228 g as a single side dish or less. About half that amount at 114 g, if pairing up with another side dishes like Boiled Vegetables, Carrots, Waxed Beans, Corn, or other sides and when serving up as a side option for the Holidays.