Often ignored in the US, the stems of the sweet potato are edible and highly nutritious. There are two types of sweet potato stem banchan (side dish) recipes in Korea; one that uses fresh stems and the other uses dehydrated stems, each has its distinctive taste.
What parts of a sweet potato can you eat?
Shakarkandi or sweet potato is a starchy, sweet tasting root vegetable. Its leaves and shoots both are edible though the starchy tuberous roots are most commonly consumed. It can be baked at home as a snack or as a dessert.
Can you eat sweet potato vines?
If you want sweet potatoes to eat, the tubers from your ornamental sweet potato vines are indeed edible.
Is potato stem are edible?
The edible portion is a rhizome (an underground stem) that is also a tuber. The "eyes" of the potato are lateral buds. Potatoes come in white, yellow, orange, or purple-colored varieties. The edible portion is the inner stalk (stem) whose sap is a source of sugar.
Why are potato stems poisonous?
Potatoes have two harmful glycoalkaloids – solanine and chaconine (source). Many other members of the family, including tomatoes, have solanine in their leaves and stems. Humans and all livestock animals are susceptible to solanine poisoning. Luckily, animals are typically smart enough to avoid eating potato plants!
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