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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Potato and Yam?

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The main differences between potatoes and yams are:

  1. Botanical classification: Potatoes belong to the nightshade family, which includes peppers and tomatoes, while yams belong to a plant family of flowering vines that includes grasses and lilies.
  2. Appearance: Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.
  3. Stem tubers vs. root tubers: Potatoes and yams technically have modified belowground stems (“stem tubers”), while sweet potatoes have “root tubers”.
  4. Cultivation and storage: Yams are widely cultivated worldwide, especially in West Africa, where 95% of the crop is harvested. They can be stored for very long periods of time, making them an important crop for seasons when food is in short supply.
  5. Nutrition: Yams are more starchy and less sweet than sweet potatoes.

In the United States and Canada, sweet potatoes are often (confusingly) referred to as “yams.” The USDA requires any label with “yam” to also include “sweet potato”. The popular canned yams seen around the holidays are technically sweet potatoes.

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  • What is the Difference Between Potato and Yam?
  • Comparative Table: Potato vs Yam

    • Comparative Table: Potato vs Yam

    Here is a table comparing the differences between potatoes and yams:

    Feature Potatoes Yams
    Botanical Family Nightshade family (includes peppers and tomatoes) Flowering vines family (includes grasses and lilies)
    Size Typically smaller, seldom weighing more than a pound Can weigh up to 100 pounds and grow to over 6 feet long
    Flesh Color White to yellow, orange, or orange-red White to bright yellow, purple, or pink
    Flesh Texture Smooth and moist (firm varieties) or soft and sweet (soft varieties) Dry and starchy
    Taste Mild and earthy (firm varieties) or sweet (soft varieties) Earthy and neutral
    Skin Smooth and thin, red, purple, or brown Tough, scaly, and difficult to remove, dark brown
    Growth Grows as a root tuber Grows as a vine and produces an underground tuber
    Food Preparation Often baked, mashed, or used in savory dishes Often boiled, mashed, fried, roasted, or baked
    Storage Best stored in cool, dark spots Best stored in cool, dark spots

    Please note that the term "yam" is sometimes used in the United States to describe the soft variety of sweet potatoes, which are not true yams. In this case, the USDA requires that the term "yam" be accompanied by an additional label indicating that it is a sweet potato.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.