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Yams Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to yam products
About yams
Yams, also known as sweet potatoes, play a starring role in many a Thanksgiving feast. There's much more to this vegetable. However, that makes it a worthy kitchen standby all year round.
Yams are often referred to interchangeably as sweet potatoes. True yams are widely available in Latin American, African, and Caribbean countries, where over 150 varieties grow. The vegetables that are marketed and sold as yams in the United States are, more often than not, sweet potatoes, a different variety of vegetables with very different coloring, flavor, and texture.
The yams you will find in the grocery stores are typically fresh and whole or are canned. Canned yams are pre-cooked and easy to mash, making them popular for pureeing for inclusion in sweet potato pies, casseroles, and mashed sweet potatoes.
One of the most common varieties of yams is the Beauregard, which has purplish-red skin and a bright orange flesh on the interior. If you see an option simply labeled 'sweet potato,' it is likely that it is a Beauregard. The flesh of this variety is juicier and a bit stringier than other varieties, making it an excellent candidate for mashing or including in desserts. Jewels are another popular variety of yams that have similar properties to Beauregard.
Garnet sweet potatoes have dark orange-red skin and a deeper orange-colored flesh. Garnets are bright, juicy, and flavorful, and retain their beautiful orange coloring even after they have been cooked.
Yams are incredibly versatile and flavorful and can brighten up a table in any number of dishes. Simple and delicious, roasted sweet potatoes pick up a caramelized flavor that makes them truly addictive. Cut them into long strips and place them in the oven or air fryer for some heavenly sweet potato fries. Diced and boiled, yams can be an unexpected surprise in salads or grain bowls. And of course, they have a comfortable home in casseroles where they can be dressed with traditional marshmallows or pecans, brown sugar, pineapple, and other toppings.
How to pick out yams
If you are selecting fresh yams from the produce department, look for small to medium-sized ones that are not as starchy as larger yams. Look for skin that is smooth and firm, and that doesn't have any cracks or holes.
How to store yams properly
Yams stay freshest when they are stored somewhere cool and dry. Depending on your kitchen, this may be a cupboard or pantry that is sufficiently far from a heat source like an oven or stovetop. The storage location should ideally be dark, as exposure to light can cause them to sprout.
Avoid storing yams in the refrigerator where the colder temperatures will impact the starchiness and make them hard and less flavorful. An exception is if you have already peeled your yams and want to save them for later, in which case they should be tightly wrapped and refrigerated. When stored properly, you can expect your yams to last up to a month.
Yams Near Me
Buy your favorite Yams online with Instacart. Order Yams from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about yams
It is common to see small nodules, or eyes, on yams, indicating that the yam has been exposed to moisture or humidity. This means that the starch has started to convert to sugar. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, if the skin is still firm, simply dig out the eye until you don't see any discoloration and proceed with preparation as normal. The skin of the yam is very high in nutrients but can also be peeled if this is an easier method by which to remove eyes or other blemishes before cooking. If the skin has also become saggy and wrinkly, this likely indicates that it has lost its nutrients and is best not to eat.
Yams, or sweet potatoes, are often referred to as a 'super food' for their nutritional pedigrees. Low in sodium and high in fiber, yams are high in antioxidants, which have been linked to reducing the risks of cancer and heart disease. Yams offer an amazing amount of vitamin A, which bodies use to help with the immune system, vision, and reproduction. Vitamin A also plays an important role in maintaining a healthy heart, lungs, kidneys, and other internal organs. Vitamin A has also been shown to increase gut health, which can lower the risk of intestinal disease and illnesses. Studies have also shown a positive relationship between yams and heightened brain activity and immunity.
Whether you are preparing a winter feast for 30 people or trying out a new summer recipe for you and your partner, you can focus on your culinary mastery when you let Instacart deliver everything you need for a memorable meal. Order online for same-day delivery of your groceries directly to your doorstep!