The Kitchen · Ingredient Library

Sweet Potato

In one line

Naturally sweet, deeply satisfying, and it makes a bowl feel complete.

Why I love it

Roasted into caramelized little cubes, they're almost dessert — and they anchor a grain bowl, a sheet-pan dinner or a board with real substance.

Buying it

Firm, smooth and heavy, with no soft spots, sprouts or bruises. Smaller ones cook faster and evenly.

Storing it

A cool, dark, dry spot — a pantry or drawer, never the fridge (cold turns them hard and off-flavored). They keep for weeks.

Using it

Cube and roast until caramelized, mash, or add to a sheet-pan supper. A little olive oil and salt is all they need.

A little nutrition

Rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), fiber and potassium — a complex carb that satisfies and steadies your energy.

Gina's tip

Cut them into small, even cubes and give them room on the pan — that's how you get caramelized edges instead of a soft steam.