Whether you are looking to add sweet potatoes to a recipe or want to try them in a new way, grating them is an option. Grating sweet potatoes can allow you to incorporate them into dishes like hashbrowns, fritters, pancakes, and more. While you can grate raw or cooked sweet potatoes, there are some tips to getting the best results when grating this sturdy vegetable.
Can You Grate Raw Sweet Potatoes?
Yes, you can grate raw sweet potatoes. However, raw sweet potatoes tend to be quite firm, so grating them requires a sturdy grater and a bit of elbow grease. Using the large holes on a box grater or a food processor with a grating attachment will make the job easier than trying to use a fine grater.
When grating raw sweet potatoes, make sure to peel them first. The skin can be quite tough and unpleasant in grated form. Cut the peeled sweet potato into planks or chunks that will fit on your grater. Apply downward pressure as you grate to get long shreds.
Raw grated sweet potato works well for recipes where the sweet potato will get further cooked, like pancakes, fritters, latkes, hashbrowns, and gratins. The heat from further cooking helps soften the raw sweet potato shreds into a more tender texture.
Can You Grate Cooked Sweet Potatoes?
Yes, grating cooked sweet potatoes is absolutely possible. In fact, grating cooked sweet potatoes may be easier and produces a finer, more shred-like texture than grating them raw.
To grate cooked sweet potatoes, first bake, boil, or microwave them until they are soft when pierced with a fork. Allow the cooked sweet potatoes to cool slightly so they are still warm but easy to handle.
Peel off and discard the skins. The cooked flesh should peel off easily. Cut the peeled, cooked sweet potato into chunks that will fit on your grater. Use a box grater or food processor to finely shred the cooked sweet potato.
The soft, warm cooked sweet potato will grate smoothly and easily. Cooked, grated sweet potato works well for recipes like casseroles, soups, salads, and as a substitute for rice or pasta.
What is the Best Grater for Sweet Potatoes?
The best graters for sweet potatoes are sturdy box graters or food processors with grating discs. Here are some top options:
Box Graters:
– Stainless steel box graters with large grating holes – Look for ones with a coarse side for long shreds. Stainless steel is durable enough to grate firm vegetables.
– Microplane box graters – The extra sharp, razor-like grating surface can shred firm produce like sweet potatoes into fluffy bits.
– OXO box graters – OXO makes graters with comfortable handles and non-slip bases for stability when grating.
Food Processors:
– Cuisinart – Their food processors come with shredding/grating discs and a powerful motor to shred even hard vegetables.
– KitchenAid – Quality grating blades and bowl capacity options for larger volumes of sweet potatoes.
– Hamilton Beach – Affordable food processor options that include handy grating and shredding attachments.
Other Options:
– Handheld graters – Good for smaller sweet potato grating jobs. Look for strong, sharp teeth.
– Mandoline slicers with julienne blades – For uniform sweet potato matchsticks.
Tips for Grating Sweet Potatoes
Here are some tips to make sweet potato grating easy:
– Microwave or steam sweet potatoes first to soften them before grating.
– Chill cooked sweet potatoes in the fridge or freezer briefly before grating – the chilled flesh will grate more easily.
– Use a coarse grater – Larger grating holes shred firm items like sweet potatoes best.
– Apply even pressure when grating to get consistent shreds.
– Work in small batches for easier grating rather than trying to grate a whole large sweet potato at once.
– Clean graters thoroughly after use to remove sticky shreds that could cling to the metal.
How to Store Freshly Grated Sweet Potatoes
Here are some tips for properly storing fresh grated sweet potatoes:
– Raw grated sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
– Cooked, grated sweet potatoes should be used immediately or frozen for longer storage.
– Freeze grated sweet potatoes in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag or airtight container.
– Pack grated sweet potatoes in freezer bags, removing as much air as possible before sealing. This prevents freezer burn.
– Grated sweet potatoes can be frozen for up to 6 months before quality deteriorates.
– Label bags with the date and contents before freezing for easy identification.
– Avoid thawing and refreezing grated sweet potatoes for best quality. Use thawed, grated sweet potatoes immediately in recipes.
How to Use Grated Sweet Potatoes
Here are some delicious ways to use fresh grated sweet potato:
Breakfast:
– Sweet potato pancakes or waffles
– Sweet potato hash browns or home fries
– Mix into oatmeal or yogurt bowls
Appetizers:
– Sweet potato fritters
– Sweet potato latkes
– Stuff into empanadas or samosas
Side Dishes:
– Sweet potato gratin
– Loaded sweet potato fries – top with cheese, bacon, green onion
– Mix into macaroni and cheese
Main Dishes:
– Vegetarian sweet potato burger patties
– Grate into casseroles, stews, and soups
– Stuff into ravioli or gnocchi
Baked Goods:
– Add to bread, muffin, or quick bread batters
– Mix into cookie dough
– Fold into scones or biscuits
Smoothies:
– Blend grated sweet potato into smoothies for extra nutrition
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information for 1 cup of raw, grated sweet potato (about 1 medium potato):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Sodium | 65 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 41.4 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugars | 7 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Vitamin A | 13,900 IU |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Iron | 1 mg |
| Potassium | 487 mg |
As you can see, freshly grated sweet potatoes provide a good dose of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Using grated sweet potato is a nutritious way to add this veggie to your diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to grate sweet potatoes raw or cooked?
It is generally easier to grate sweet potatoes after cooking them, as the heat softens them up. However, you can grate raw sweet potatoes if you use a coarse grater and don’t mind putting in some extra elbow grease.
What can I use grated sweet potato for?
Grated sweet potato is versatile. You can add it to both sweet and savory dishes, from pancakes to soups. It can be used as a substitute for rice or pasta in dishes like gratins and casseroles.
Can you freeze grated sweet potatoes?
Yes, grated sweet potato freezes well for future use. Spread out the grated pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze initially, then pack into airtight bags or containers. Frozen, grated sweet potato will keep for about 6 months.
How long does grated sweet potato last in the fridge?
Freshly grated raw sweet potato will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Cooked, grated sweet potato should be eaten immediately or frozen for longer storage.
What’s the easiest way to grate a sweet potato?
Using a box grater with large holes or the grating attachment on a food processor makes quick work of grating even raw sweet potatoes. Partially cooking the sweet potatoes first also makes grating much easier.
Conclusion
Grating sweet potatoes may take some muscle but opens up new ways to enjoy this healthy root vegetable. With the right grater and technique, grating raw or cooked sweet potatoes can be a breeze. Add the shredded spuds to everything from baked goods to soups and salads. Stored properly, freshly grated sweet potatoes will retain their texture and nutrition for several days in the fridge or months in the freezer.