Sweet potatoes are medium to large in size and are roughly ovate and cylindrical in shape with tapered ends. The flesh is dense and can be white, orange, yellow or orange-red. Sweet potatoes have a sugary flavour and can be firm or soft, with white-fleshed varieties having the firmest, driest flesh and orange-fleshed varieties having a softer, moister texture.

Sweet potatoes are high in potassium and vitamin A and offer some antioxidants, vitamin E, and vitamin C. They are best suited for cooked applications such as baking, steaming, and roasting. Used in both sweet and savory preparations, Sweet potatoes can be sliced thin and sautéed or layered into lasagna or ratatouille.