Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious addition to many meals, but those pesky strings can sometimes ruin the texture and eating experience. If you’ve ever wondered how do you get the strings out of sweet potatoes, you’re not alone! Luckily, there are easy and effective ways to remove those fibrous strands and enjoy smooth, creamy sweet potatoes every time. In this article, we’ll explore why sweet potatoes get stringy and share practical methods to get rid of the strings for good.
Why Do Sweet Potatoes Have Strings?
Before diving into the solutions, it helps to understand why sweet potatoes sometimes develop strings. These strings are fibrous bundles that can form due to improper curing or storage after harvesting. Sweet potatoes should be cured for about a week at around 85°F with high humidity (about 85%) to heal cuts and convert starches into sugars, improving flavor and texture. If they are stored too warm or too dry afterward, the potatoes can shrivel and become stringy.
Certain varieties are also more prone to strings. Orange-fleshed types like Covington or Jewel tend to be moister and less stringy than white or yellow-fleshed varieties. So, choosing the right sweet potato can reduce the chance of strings in the first place.
How to Get Strings Out of Sweet Potatoes
1. Baking Whole Sweet Potatoes
One of the easiest ways to remove strings is to bake the sweet potatoes whole with their skins on until very soft. Once cool enough to handle, cut them lengthwise. At the pointed end, gently pull the bundle of strings out-most will come away easily. This method works well because baking softens the fibers, making them easier to remove.
2. Roasting Peeled and Diced Sweet Potatoes
If you prefer roasting, peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into dice. Toss with oil and roast as usual. Roasting breaks the strings into smaller pieces, making them less noticeable in the final dish.
3. Boiling and Straining
Peel and cut the sweet potatoes in half, then boil until soft. Use the back of a large spoon to press the cooked sweet potato through a kitchen strainer or sieve. The fibrous strings will be left behind in the strainer, while the smooth flesh passes through. This method is perfect for making stringless mashed sweet potatoes-just blend the strained flesh with butter and milk for a creamy texture.
4. Thick Peeling and Trimming Ends
Most strings are located close to the skin, so peeling the sweet potatoes thickly can remove many of the fibers. Also, the ends of sweet potatoes tend to have more strings, so cutting off the ends before cooking can help reduce stringiness.
5. Using a Mixer or Blender
For sweet potato pie or mashed sweet potatoes, an electric mixer, blender, or hand-held mixer can be a game changer. The blades gather and break down the strings, dissolving them into the mixture. After mixing, you can remove any remaining string bits from the blades and proceed with your recipe.
6. Manual String Removal
If you don’t have a mixer, you can pick the strings out by hand after cooking, though this is more time-consuming. Alternatively, pressing the cooked sweet potatoes through a strainer as mentioned above is a good hands-on method to separate strings from the flesh.
7. Using a Fork to Scrape Lengthwise
Another handy tip is to use a fork to scrape the sweet potato flesh lengthwise. This technique creates long, thin strings that you can then separate from the rest of the potato. It’s a simple way to extract strings without special tools.
Tips for Buying Sweet Potatoes That Are Less Stringy
– Avoid old or shriveled sweet potatoes, as these are more likely to be dry and stringy.
– Choose orange-skinned and fleshed varieties like Covington or Jewel, which tend to be sweeter and have fewer strings.
– Look for firm potatoes without bruises or cuts, which indicates better curing and storage.
Why Removing Strings Matters
Removing strings isn’t just about aesthetics. It improves the texture, making dishes smoother and more enjoyable to eat. String-free sweet potatoes cook more evenly and bring out their natural sweetness better. Whether you’re making pies, mashes, or roasted sweet potatoes, getting rid of strings can elevate your dish’s flavor and presentation.
With these simple techniques, you can say goodbye to stringy sweet potatoes and hello to creamy, delicious results every time. Whether you bake, boil, roast, or blend, a little extra effort goes a long way in improving your sweet potato dishes. Enjoy the naturally sweet, smooth taste without the fibrous interruptions!
Smooth sweet potatoes are just a few steps away-try these tips and enjoy the difference!