what is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?

Question

are they the same thing with different names, or is there really a difference?

Answer 1

Popular in the American South, these yellow or orange tubers are elongated with ends that taper to a point and are of two dominant types. The paler-skinned sweet potato has a thin, light yellow skin with pale yellow flesh which is not sweet and has a dry, crumbly texture similar to a white baking potato. The darker-skinned variety (which is most often called "yam" in error) has a thicker, dark orange to reddish skin with a vivid orange, sweet flesh and a moist texture. The true yam is the tuber of a tropical vine (Dioscorea batatas) and is not even distantly related to the sweet potato.

Current popular sweet potato varieties include Goldrush, Georgia Red, Centennial, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, and Velvet.

Answer 2

If I remember correctly, yams have the darker, reddish skin and their texture is more stringy and coarse than the sweet potatoe. The Sweet potatoe has the lighter, tan colored skin and is a bit smoother to eat. They are pretty close though. My friend from Africa says that true yams can be as big as your arm.

Answer 3

I don't know the botanical accuracy of 'yam' vs. sweet potato, but the orange skinned one is sweeter, and tastes great baked, split open and served with butter and some maple syrup......yyyuuummm!

Answer 4

yams aren't as sweet

Answer 5

I dont know they are disgusting and i never eat them i like mashed potatoes,as long as someone else cooks them because i'm a lazy b*tch

Answer 6

The difference is . . . drum roll please . . . yams are more yummy than sweet potatoes. There it is!