Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious side dish, but only if they are fresh. If you’re not sure how to tell if your sweet potatoes are bad, don’t worry! In this article, we will discuss tips for checking the quality of your sweet potatoes. We’ll also provide some information on how to store them so that they stay fresh for as long as possible.
If you’ve ever bought a box of sweet potatoes and wondered if they’re bad for you, read this article. We’ll show you how to spot a bad one. Look for dark spots, pithy (holes), and oozing white sap. If you spot any of these signs, they’re not good for you. Fortunately, there are easy ways to identify a bad sweet potato and get a fresh, delicious one.
Observing the skin
If you are suspicious of your sweet potato’s spoilage, you can examine its skin for signs of spoilage. While sweet potatoes should be firm and white, the skin will start to become soft and mushy after a while. Other signs of bad sweet potatoes include black or brown spots, discoloration, suspicious odors, or mold growth. If you see any of these signs, throw away the sweet potato.
While sweet potatoes are good for a couple of weeks at room temperature, they will last about three months in the fridge. They can also be frozen to extend their shelf life. While sweet potatoes will last for a few weeks, they can quickly spoil if they are stored in warm or damp areas. It is not uncommon for sweet potatoes to develop a distinct smell and turn dark when they get old, which is an important sign of food spoilage.
When you buy a sweet potato, make sure you do not peel it unless it is ready for consumption. The skin of a sweet potato contains ten times more antioxidants than the flesh. This makes it comparable to blueberries. However, baking a sweet potato can reduce its antioxidant content by up to two-thirds. On the other hand, boiling or microwaving can cause up to 80% less vitamin A.
Before purchasing sweet potatoes, be sure to carefully inspect the skin of each one. Purchasing “ugly” sweet potatoes is fine, but avoiding bruised ones is a big no-no. Besides, cuts on the skin may expose the flesh to bacteria, which accelerates the process of spoilage. Moreover, a bruised sweet potato is likely to taste bad when cooked.
Observing the dark spots
Observing the dark spots on sweet potatoes can help you determine if they are rotten or not. Those black spots are usually caused by internal bruises or high concentrations of sugar and are an early warning sign of decay. If you notice brown spots on sweet potatoes, then they are spoiled and should be discarded. Brown spots on sweet potatoes may also indicate mold or rottenness. If they have shriveling, they should also be discarded.
To tell if sweet potatoes are bad, look for black or brown spots. Look for a shrivelled, browned, or moldy area on the skin. It may also have a white or grey bloom. If this occurs, remove the sweet potato immediately and discard. However, if the rotting spots are still visible, it is not necessarily a bad sign. Sweet potatoes that have these marks may also have a distinctive smell. The rotting sweet potato will smell first of all sweet, then sour, and then like compost.
Another important thing to keep in mind when selecting sweet potatoes is to keep them away from other vegetables. If they are planted near other vegetables, the risk of diseases spreading will increase. Keep sweet potatoes away from other vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, or cauliflower. They are prone to developing a number of diseases, including bacterial and fungal infections. Keeping your sweet potatoes in a cool place can help them keep fresh for longer.
The best time to buy sweet potatoes is between October and January, when they are in season. If they are too pithy, it is most likely too late. Pithy sweet potatoes will eventually become hollow, lose their flavor, and eventually rot. If you see the dark spots, cut off the affected part or make it into puree. This will help preserve the quality of the fruit and prevent spoilage.
Observing the pithy (holes)
Observing the pithy (holey) on sweet potatoes is an important process to ensure that you get the best possible flavor from your tubers. If the holes are soft or dark, you’ll probably want to discard them. However, it’s important to note that some sweet potatoes are still good to eat if they have these holes.
To determine if sweet potatoes are bad, look for discoloration and mold. If they appear moldy, you can cut them out and save the rest. Otherwise, if the moldy areas are just a few, it’s safe to eat the pithy portion. But you should also keep in mind that black rot is a serious infection caused by fungus. The organism is called Ceratocystis Fimbriata and is one of the major causes of death in cattle. This type of infection can spread to other plants by insects and soil.
Observing the pithy (holey) on sweet potatoes to tell if they’re bad or good is a crucial step in determining the nutritional value of sweet potatoes. While they have a long shelf life, root vegetables will eventually decay and lose quality. As a result, the pithy (holey) areas will appear on the potatoes. If you are worried that the pithy is moldy, you can always try making a cheesy sweet potato cake instead. It’s also worth noting that this pairing is a classic.
When observing the pithy (holes) on a sweet potato, look for softness, wrinkling skin, or brown spots. Oftentimes, the pithy area will sprout and turn black or brown. These are the symptoms of tuber flea beetles that infest sweet potatoes and other root crops. Black rot can spread through the soil and insects, and is best avoided.
Observing the oozing white sap
One way to check for bad sweet potatoes is by looking for an oozing sap on the surface. The sap, made up of sugar and starch, is milky white and indicates that the sweet potato isn’t ripe yet. In most cases, this sap is harmless and can be ignored. Organic sweet potatoes are more likely to have this sap, but it is not always present.
Dark spots on the skin of the sweet potato are not a good sign. While they don’t necessarily indicate a bad potato, they do mean that it’s been damaged by mold. Fusarium is a common fungus that affects plants and soils. While mold doesn’t necessarily mean a bad sweet potato is bad, it is another warning sign. You should discard a bad sweet potato if you find visible mold. Mold will be white or green around holes and cuts. Alternatively, you should cut off the sprouts and discard the potato.
You can also tell if a sweet potato is bad by looking for an oozing white sap. A sweet potato’s white sap is a mixture of water and starch. When you cut the potato, the sap will come out. Usually, it’s watery and not unpleasant to eat. So, when in doubt, throw away the bad one.
Sweet potatoes should be baked instead of boiled. This method will maintain the nutrients. A medium sweet potato can be boiled and sliced, then roasted until brown. You can also use a braising pan to cook the sweet potato until it’s tender and juicy. Then, you can eat it with a drizzle of syrup or draw butter over it.
Observing the rot spots
There are a number of indicators that the rot spots on sweet potatoes are bad. First of all, you should avoid buying potatoes with a rot spot. They will harbor fungi. Observe them closely to find out if they are bad. They will have a black spot on them. If they have a black spot, then throw them away.
Black spots on sweet potatoes are also a tell-tale sign that the rot is getting worse. They may be a bruise or a wound where bacteria can enter and grow. Although these are no big deal, you should cut out any black spots before you cook them. Deep black pits on sweet potatoes are a sign of rot. However, you can’t be sure of the exact nature of black spots.
Fungus growth is caused by the decay of the sweet potato. Several types of fungi cause decay. While many of them are saprophytes, others cause decay. In the case of sweet potatoes, they are often stored at low temperatures. This makes them susceptible to the growth of fungi. When this happens, the potatoes will not be edible. However, if they do, you can still save them for cooking and storing.
Observing the rot spots on sweet potato is not an exact science, but it is an excellent way to determine if the potatoes are bad or not. NMs have several important roles in plants. Some of them promote plant quality after harvest, while others act as anti-pathogenic agents. CuO NM, C60 NM, and TiO2 NM all showed better antifungal activity.
Other Signs The Sweet Potatoes Are Bad
Taste
Sweet potatoes that have begun to rot might have an off-taste, which some people describe as being harsh or acrid. You should throw out your sweet potato if it has a bitter and noxious flavor like this.
Smell
Freshly dug sweet potatoes seldom have an unpleasant odor. However, when they go bad, they develop a putrid smell.
Because of how strong the odor is, it might be difficult to determine whether you have a lone bad potato or a whole lot of them.
However, tasting a slice of the potato and determining whether or not it is poisonous might assist you in clearing your concerns. You don’t have to be concerned if it tastes good. But if it’s terrible, throw it out right away.
Skin Color
Another method to determine whether sweet potatoes are spoiled is to look for any color changes on the skin. Oxidation causes discolored patches on the skin of sweet potatoes. Also, get rid of this sweet potato as soon as possible if you notice them.
Sweet potatoes that are yellow, purple, white, block or brown on the flesh are not fit for consumption:
Remember that the colors shown above are only representative of specific sweet potato cultivars, and not all varieties have these colors. If a particular color is uncommon for that strain, you should discard it only as a sign of deterioration.
Texture
Fresh sweet potatoes are always hard and firm to the touch. When your sweet potatoes become soft and squishy, they’ve gone bad. Mushy sweet potatoes will typically blacken or brown. Regardless of the visual indications you observe,
Sweet potatoes wilt as a result of dampness loss. Do not eat them if this happens. Shriveled sweet potatoes should be discarded right away.
Roots
If you discover roots growing in the eyes of your sweet potato, it’s time to harvest. The good news is that the taste of the sweet potato will not be affected, but the quality will deteriorate with each new root developed.
Choose sweet potatoes from your pantry based on their skin texture. The first to go should be those with roots.
Trim the roots before cooking sweet potatoes with roots. Then peel and cook as you would any other potato.
Mold
Molds or black rot are two other telltale signs of spoilage in sweet potatoes. Mold and black rot are both fungi that cause the inside of sweet potatoes to decay, similar to rotting.
Sweet potatoes, like other tubers that develop black rot or mold, have a foul odor when they become rancid or moldy. However, aside from that, you may detect indications such as sprouting, reduction, and cracking.
You can remove smaller portions of mold from the sweet potato’s surface and cook what you have left over. If the moldy spots are broad, however, discard the potato right away.
The common potato (Solanum tuberosum) thrives in cold, damp soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. It can grow over an area the size of a volleyball. Because it lacks resistance and is easily affected by pathogens, black rot stains the potatoes purple or brownish-black and makes them bitter and bland.
How Long Does A Sweet Potato Last Before Going Bad?
The shelf life of a sweet potato is wildly variable, depending on storage conditions, the best-by date printed on the package, and preparation methods.
Fresh sweet potatoes will keep for up to three weeks in a pantry at room temperature. When fresh sweet potatoes are kept in the refrigerator, they can last between two and three months before spoiling.
What Do Sweet Potatoes Gone Bad Look Like On The Inside?
Sweet potatoes that have been in storage for a long time may be drier and more misshapen than usual. Sweet potatoes with damp insides have an odd taste and texture. They are usually dry and unappetizing.
Sweet potatoes don’t fare well in storage areas that are too chilly or hot. As a result, they get holes when they’re stored in a warm environment. When a sweet potato has holes, its delicious taste and texture are lost.
The length of time a sweet potato will stay good is determined by several things, including storage conditions, the best-by date, and cooking method.
Fresh sweet potatoes can last up to three weeks in the pantry at room temperature. Fresh sweet potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place for around two months before they begin to deteriorate.
Sweet potatoes can last up to a week in the fridge if kept correctly. However, use them within a day or two for best quality.
Sweet potatoes kept in a cool, dark place will keep for almost three weeks in the refrigerator. They should be kept frozen to further extend their shelf life.
My Sweet Potato Has White Inside Is it Bad?
Sweet potatoes do not have to be avoided if they have a white interior. As a result, you may be holding a yam if you peel your sweet potato and observe it has white flesh with white exudate or spots. Misclassification of yams and sweet potatoes by supermarkets is probably done for marketing purposes. However, these are two completely
Sweet potatoes have orange flesh and brown skins, whereas yams have purple or white flesh. Sweet potatoes also have a drier texture and are less sweet than yams.
Sweet potatoes that have been sliced develop white spots because of the extra sugar and starch leaking through the flesh. They are safe to consume, and they simply need to be washed away.
Sweet Potato Is Floating Is It Bad?
Sweet potatoes that are floating might not always indicate spoilage. A floating sweet potato might be edible; it just may be on the older side.
The sweet potatoes will float if they are still fresh. The potato is still safe to consume if you do not detect any signs of deterioration, such as blackening or rotting.
Final Thoughts
Sweet potatoes can last in the fridge for up to a week, but use them within a day or two for best quality. As long as you don’t detect any signs of deterioration, such as blackening or rotting, sweet potatoes that are floating might not always indicate spoilage. A floating sweet potato might be edible.
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