Why should sweet potatoes and yams be baked instead of cooked in water?

While both sweet potatoes and yams can be cooked in water, baking them offers several advantages:

Flavor:

* More intense sweetness: Baking concentrates the natural sugars in the sweet potatoes and yams, resulting in a sweeter, more flavorful experience.

* Caramelized exterior: The sugars in the potatoes caramelize during baking, creating a delicious, slightly crispy exterior.

Texture:

* Fluffy and soft: Baking allows the potatoes to retain their moisture and become fluffy and soft without becoming mushy, unlike boiling.

* Better for mashing: Baked potatoes have a drier, fluffier texture that makes them ideal for mashing.

Nutrition:

* Preserves nutrients: Baking is a gentler cooking method that helps preserve more of the vitamins and minerals found in sweet potatoes and yams.

* Less water-soluble vitamin loss: Boiling can leach out some water-soluble vitamins like Vitamin B and C. Baking minimizes this loss.

Overall:

* Simple and convenient: Baking sweet potatoes and yams is a simple and convenient method that requires minimal effort.

While boiling sweet potatoes and yams is certainly a valid method, baking offers a more flavorful, textured, and nutritious experience.