Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.
Is it better to boil or steam sweet potatoes?
Boiling may actually retain most of the antioxidant power of sweet potatoes, compared to roasting and steaming. … Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.
Does steaming sweet potatoes remove nutrients?
Cooking a sweet potato with water quickly begins to diminish its store of water-soluble vitamins. Boiled vegetables lose up to 30 percent of their vitamin C content and steamed vegetables lose about 20 percent, according to Iowa State University’s “Food Science” publication.
Are steamed sweet potatoes healthy?
Steaming, roasting, baking and boiling all preserve different nutrients in sweet potatoes, some research has found, so all kinds of preparations are nutritious.
What is the healthiest way to prepare sweet potato?
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.
What is the healthiest way to cook potatoes?
Baking a potato is the best way to prepare it, as baking, or microwaving, a potato causes the lowest amount of nutrients to be lost, she said. The next-healthiest way to cook a potato is through steaming, which causes less nutrient loss than boiling.
How do you cook sweet potatoes without losing nutrients?
Microwave them for five minutes on high heat and let them sit for a minute or two. Poke them gently with a fork and, if they’re not cooked through, cook them on high for one minute at a time until soft. This will help retain their nutrients while leaving them fluffy enough to mash.
Are sweet potatoes healthier raw or cooked?
In terms of nutrition, a baked sweet potato is high in vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium and iron. Flavor-wise, it’s like dessert and a savory casserole got married and had a baby. But a baked sweet potato also has twice the glycemic index of a raw sweet potato. Before you panic, don’t.
Is steaming better than boiling?
Researchers found steaming kept the highest level of nutrients. “Boiling vegetables causes water soluble vitamins like vitamin C, B1 and folate to leach into the water,” Magee said. … Steaming is a gentler way to cook because the vegetables don’t come in contact with the boiling water.”
Which sweet potato is healthiest?
According to an article on Livestrong.com, “the purple varieties contain the most antioxidants, and the white-fleshed varieties contain the least of these beneficial nutrients.” But since purple sweet potatoes are hard to track down in the States, between the white and orange sweet potatoes, the orange sweet potato …
How many calories are in a boiled sweet potato?
Nutrition Facts
| Calories 115 | (480 kJ) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Carbohydrate | 26.8 g | 9% |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.8 g | 15% |
| Sugars | 8.7 g | |
| Protein | 2.1 g | |
Is the sugar in sweet potatoes bad for you?
Since sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates, they can spike blood sugar levels. Their fiber content helps to slow down this process. Orange sweet potatoes have a higher GI. This can increase your blood sugar level, compared to other sweet potato varieties.
How long should I Steam potatoes?
Place the potatoes in the steamer basket and bring water to a boil. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.