Roasted sweet potatoes or steamed sweet potatoes, which of the two common ways to cook sweet potatoes is better? The answer is not consistent. Some people like the burnt taste of roasted sweet potatoes, while others think that steamed sweet potatoes retain the nutrients of sweet potatoes better. In fact, scientists have really studied this issue.
First of all, let's take a closer look at what is so special about the taste of roasted sweet potatoes. During the roasting process, the sugar content of sweet potatoes undergoes a series of chemical reactions, such as Maillard reaction and caramelization reaction, which produce a large number of furans and terpenoids, such as furfural, 2-furan methanol, etc., which may be related to the sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes.
These compounds give roasted sweet potatoes their unique burnt flavor and give them a richer taste. Compared to roasted sweet potatoes, steamed sweet potatoes have a relatively bland taste and lack that burnt aroma, so they are slightly inferior in taste.
Therefore, we can conclude that the reason why roasted sweet potatoes have a richer taste than steamed sweet potatoes is that during the roasting process, the sugar content of sweet potatoes undergoes a series of chemical reactions, producing a large number of furans and terpenoids, which are related to the sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes and give roasted sweet potatoes a unique burnt flavor, making them richer in taste.
Secondly, the color of roasted sweet potatoes is also different from that of steamed sweet potatoes. During the roasting process, the surface of the sweet potato turns golden brown or brown because the starch of the sweet potato undergoes a Maillard reaction at high temperatures. This color will increase the appetite of the person and increase the desire for consumption.
In addition to the taste and color, the nutritional content of roasted sweet potatoes is also different from that of steamed sweet potatoes. During the high-temperature roasting process, some of the water of the sweet potato will evaporate, and some of the starch will be converted into sugar, giving it a sweeter taste. At the same time, roasted sweet potatoes will also increase the content of some vitamin C and antioxidants, making their nutritional value higher.
So, do steamed sweet potatoes have advantages in terms of taste, color, and nutrients? In fact, steamed sweet potatoes have an advantage in retaining carotenoids. Carotenoids are an important class of antioxidants that are very important for human health. During the steaming process, the carotenoids of sweet potatoes can be well retained.
So, why do baked sweet potatoes taste better than steamed sweet potatoes? This may be related to the following aspects:
1.Maillard reaction and caramelization reaction: During the roasting process, the sugar content of sweet potatoes undergoes a series of chemical reactions, such as Maillard reaction and caramelization reaction. These reactions produce large amounts of furans and terpenoids, such as furfural, 2-furan methanol, etc., which may be related to the sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes. These compounds give roasted sweet potatoes their unique burnt flavor and give them a richer taste.
2.Palate: Roasted sweet potatoes have a sweeter taste than steamed sweet potatoes because some of the starch is converted into sugar during the roasting process.
3.Color: The surface of roasted sweet potatoes will turn golden or brown because the starch of sweet potatoes undergoes a Maillard reaction at high temperatures. This color will increase the appetite of the person and increase the desire for consumption.
4.Nutrients: During the high-temperature roasting process, some of the water of the sweet potato will evaporate, and some of the starch will be converted into sugar, making it sweeter. At the same time, roasted sweet potatoes will also increase the content of some vitamin C and antioxidants, making their nutritional value higher.
To sum up, roasted sweet potatoes and steamed sweet potatoes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Roasted sweet potatoes have a better taste, brighter color, and more nutrients, but they are not as good as steamed sweet potatoes in terms of retaining carotenoids. Steamed sweet potatoes are relatively bland in terms of taste, color, and nutrient content, but have advantages in retaining carotenoids.
The choice of cooking method depends on individual tastes and needs. For people who prefer a rich, nutritious taste, roasted sweet potato may be a better choice; And for people who want to retain carotenoids, steamed sweet potatoes may be a better option.
Here, let us emphasize once again that whether they are roasted or steamed, they all have a high nutritional value. The nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes include anti-cancer, laxative, ** improve immunity and anti-aging, etc., no matter which cooking method you choose, the most important thing is to follow your own taste and needs, and pay attention to controlling the amount of food to avoid health problems caused by excessive intake.