Sweet potatoes are delicious, healthy foods that many people enjoy – but what happens if you find that your sweet potato is very stringy inside? It may not be particularly enjoyable, but is it still safe for you to consume? If you’re looking to reduce food waste, let’s find out!
A stringy sweet potato should still be safe to eat, provided that it has not gone off. If it tastes and smells fine, a bit of stringiness will not be a problem, and you can still safely cook and eat the potato. Stringiness is often caused by being stored improperly after harvesting.
Today, we’re going to find out why sweet potatoes turn stringy, what to do with stringy sweet potatoes, and whether this makes them unsafe to eat – or whether you can still tuck in!
Can You Eat A Stringy Sweet Potato?
On its own, stringiness is not a sign that a sweet potato has become unsafe to eat. It does indicate that the potato has been subjected to less-than-ideal storage conditions, or that it was grown in a poor environment (e.g. heavy rains and low-quality soil can cause this).
A stringy sweet potato isn’t always the pleasantest thing to consume, but you should still be able to eat it. However, you should look out for other signs that the sweet potato has gone bad.
For example, if your sweet potato has any of the following signs, you need to be cautious about eating it:
- Brown spots in the flesh
- Sprouts appearing on the “eyes” of the potato
- Large holes in the surface that may allow mold to get inside
- A sweet or sour odor
- A mushy texture inside
- Visible mold on the surface of the potato.
In some cases, like the brown spots, you may simply need to use the sweet potato up as soon as possible. However, if you can see mold on it, or if the scent of the potato has changed, you will need to throw it away, because this indicates that it has started to rot.
The presence or absence of strings doesn’t usually tell you whether the sweet potato is safe to eat, so make sure you use these indicators to help you instead.
What Causes Stringiness In Sweet Potatoes?
Quite a few things can cause your sweet potatoes to come out stringy. The growing conditions are often at fault for this. If the sweet potato is subjected to heavy rains, it’s likely to become fibrous inside as a result. Similarly, poor soil that lacks the right nutrients for the plant to grow can cause strings inside the vegetable.
If you are growing your own sweet potatoes, make sure they can drain thoroughly, and that you are giving them the right fertilizer.
Poor storage conditions can also be an issue. Most sweet potatoes should be cured for a week to 10 days after they have been harvested. During this time, they need to be kept between 80 and 85 degrees F, at a relative humidity level between 80 and 90 percent. This improves the flavor and helps any minor bruises to heal.
After curing, they need to be stored between 55 and 60 degrees F. Storing them at a higher temperature will make them fibrous and stringy, and may cause them to shrivel up.
It’s also worth noting that some sweet potato varieties are more prone to stringiness than others. If you don’t like the strings, consider choosing early-harvest potatoes, which tend to be softer and smoother. The Georgia Jet and the Beauregard potatoes are often the best options.
Late-harvest varieties, such as the Yellow Jersey, are more likely to be stringy.
Can You Reduce Stringiness?
There are a few things you can do to reduce the stringiness of a sweet potato. Firstly, don’t microwave the potato when you are cooking it; this tends to make them more fibrous.
You should instead boil your sweet potatoes. Once they are soft, allow them to cool, and then use a sharp knife to remove the skin. As you pull the skin away from the potato, some of the strings should also pull free. You may be able to pull more out by hand. This will give you a better texture.
If your potatoes are still too stringy, consider beating them with an electric mixer for a few minutes on the medium setting. This will cut through the remaining strings and should give you a pleasant, fluffy texture even from stringy sweet potatoes.
Conclusion
Stringy sweet potatoes should be perfectly safe to eat, yes. However, if you are unsure, look out for signs like changes to the color, smell, and texture, and check for any mold growth. Stringy potatoes can be made nicer by removing some of the strings after cooking, or by using an electric mixer to improve the texture.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
