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Can Sweet Potatoes Go Bad?

Can sweet potatoes go bad? Sweet potatoes are a type of starchy root crop that’s often used in cooking and baking.

Since sweet potatoes have a dense, creamy texture, they have high water content. Usually, foods that have high water content tend to spoil easily. The same thing is true for sweet potatoes!

Not to be mistaken for yams, sweet potatoes are quite versatile in the kitchen. Its naturally sweet flesh makes a terrific ingredient in soups, stews, and even fillings.

If you love sweet potatoes then go ahead and keep these delicious tubers in stock.

Whole sweet potato
Whole sweet potato

Can Sweet Potatoes Go Bad?

Yes, sweet potatoes can go bad especially if they have been cooked and mixed with other ingredients.

Fresh sweet potatoes will keep much longer than mashed or cooked sweet potatoes. How the products were stored will also affect the overall storage life of sweet potatoes.

If you’d like to extend the shelf life of uncooked sweet potatoes, you have to keep the tubers in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight.

Sweet potatoes are likely to develop sprouts if they are kept in the pantry for a long time. You can cut off the sprouts and use the potatoes as usual, but the quality won’t be as good as it was. In other words, it’s better to use sweet potatoes before they sprout.

(The same is true for regular potatoes.)

Sweet potato cubed
Sweet potato cubed

Signs that Sweet Potatoes Have Gone Bad

When it comes to checking if sweet potatoes have gone bad, always check for slight or significant discolorations.

If the sweet potatoes start turning soft or mushy, they have gone bad. The same thing is true for sweet potatoes that turned a deep shade of brown to black.

Check for weird growths through the skin or the presence of mold. If the sweet potatoes have developed an off-odor, toss the tubers in the trash.

For cooked or mashed sweet potatoes, check for the presence of mold. If the product took on an off-color or flavor, the sweet potatoes are no longer safe to eat.

Sweet potato cubes closeup
Sweet potato cubes up close

How to Store Sweet Potatoes?

Uncooked and uncut sweet potatoes are best stored in the pantry. Place the product in a well-ventilated area. Keep the sweet potatoes away from sources of heat and moisture.

When kept in the pantry, uncooked sweet potatoes will stay fresh for 1 to 2 months, depending on the season.

Unopened cans of sweet potatoes are also best stored in the pantry. They should last there for 12 months or so.

As for cooked sweet potatoes, it’s best to store them in the fridge. Place the product in a sealed container for optimal results. They should keep for a week or so.

Sweet potato, beets, and chicken
Sweet potato, beets, and chicken

Can You Freeze Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze uncooked and cooked sweet potatoes to extend their shelf life. Just place the product in a freezer-safe container and stick in the freezer.

Sweet potatoes will keep indefinitely in the freezer so this is a great storage option if you have no plans of using up your supply in the near future.

Our advice is to split the sweet potatoes into manageable portions so thawing is much less of a hassle for you.

Sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamon
Sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamon

Summary

Sweet potatoes add an extra kick of flavor and nutrients to your daily meals. These tubers are low in calories and high in antioxidants so stocking up is always a great idea.

Can sweet potatoes go bad? Yes, they can go bad at some point. But as long as you stored the product properly, you don’t have to worry about the spoilage at all!

Sweet potato ready for par boiling
Sweet potato ready for parboiling