How many of you guys watch those overhead square videos, with the disembodied hands making food you think you'll make but never do?
Oh yeah, I love 'em.
I saw one of them make "toast" out of sweet potato planks a while back and thought "No way. There's no way that'll work. It'll ruin your toaster."
Well, of course I tried it!
I even bought a $6 clearance toaster from HEB because c'mon guys. I have a pretty swanky Oster long slice toast-o-matic I wasn't going to sacrifice for the cause.
Things I learned:
- Multiple bloggers suggested 1/4 inch planks. Cut thinner if you can. This is a value-added opportunity for fresh-cut departments, I think, or maybe for those of you who have vegetable butchers on staff;
- Be careful when you cut these suckers, they're starchy and unwieldy. I sliced my finger (not uncommon in my kitchen, unfortunately);
- Par-cook slabs in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, and poke with a fork. This helps keep them from getting burnt edges;
- While the bloggers said rotating too-large slices is fine, either use a long slice toaster or choose the roundest, toast-siziest sweet potato you can find or you'll end up with a burnt middle and uncooked edges.
So, give it a shot for yourself, promote them on social media. Hey, everyone's looking for a way to eat healthier right now. This could be a fun promotion.
Mom tip: just scrape that burnt stuff off and eat the darn toast, already. I do that all the time.
Craving more tips to keep those sweet potatoes rolling through the New Year? See our story from the January issue of Produce Retailer.