Sweet potatoes are a healthy, delicious, and versatile vegetable that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. One popular way to prepare sweet potatoes is by shredding them, which is often done to make dishes like fries, hash browns, latkes, and more. Many home cooks wonder if they can use a food processor to shred sweet potatoes rather than grating them by hand or using a box grater. The short answer is yes, you can absolutely shred sweet potatoes in a food processor!
Benefits of Using a Food Processor to Shred Sweet Potatoes
Shredding sweet potatoes in a food processor has several advantages over hand grating or using a box grater:
Speed and Efficiency
A food processor can shred sweet potatoes much faster than doing it by hand. It only takes a few pulses to shred a whole potato in a food processor, which is a huge time-saver compared to grating multiple potatoes by hand. This makes it easy to shred large batches for meal prepping.
Uniform Shredding
Food processors shred sweet potatoes into even, uniform pieces. Manual grating can result in some uneven shreds. The uniform shreds from a food processor leads to more consistent cooking.
Less Effort and Mess
Shredding sweet potatoes by hand can be tiring and lead to hand cramps when doing large batches. It can also create a mess of potato shreds scattering everywhere. Using a food processor contained the mess and requires less physical effort.
Ability to Customize Shred Thickness
Food processors allow you to control the thickness of the sweet potato shreds by using different slicer/shredder discs. Thinner shreds are great for hash browns while thicker shreds work well for roasting.
Best Practices for Shredding Sweet Potatoes in a Food Processor
While using a food processor is an easy way to shred sweet potatoes, there are some best practices to follow:
Peel Before Shredding
It’s best to peel the sweet potatoes first. The skins can be tough to shred and may lead to inconsistent pieces.
Cut into Smaller Pieces
Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into 1-2 inch cubes first. This prevents them from bouncing around the work bowl too much while shredding.
Work in Small Batches
Don’t overload the food processor. Shred 1-2 medium sweet potatoes at a time for best results. Overstuffing can lead to uneven shredding.
Use a Shredding Disc
Use a disc with large shredding holes, ideally 1/8-1/4 inches wide. The holes need to be wide enough to accommodate the shreds without jamming.
Pulse and Stir
Use the pulse button to shred rather than running the processor continuously. Pulse 5-10 times, then stir and repeat to get even shredding.
Don’t Over Process
Be careful not to over shred the sweet potatoes into a mushy puree. Go for defined shreds rather than a pulp.
Choosing the Right Food Processor
When selecting a food processor for shredding sweet potatoes, look for:
A Powerful Motor
Find a model with at least 500 watts or higher motor power. Sweet potatoes require more power to shred compared to softer foods.
An 8-12 Cup Capacity
Choose a work bowl size of 8 cups or larger to allow room for the sweet potato cubes to move around while shredding.
A Reversible Shredding Disc
Seek out a disc with shredding holes on both sides in varying sizes. One side is ideal for thinner shreds for hash browns while the other can make thicker shreds perfect for roasting.
A BPA-Free Plastic Bowl
Sweet potatoes can stain, so avoid aluminum bowls and opt for BPA-free plastic. Plastic bowls won’t take on stains or odors.
| Food Processor | Motor Power | Bowl Capacity | Shredding Disc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart Elite FP-14DCN | 1450 watts | 14 cup | Reversible |
| Breville Sous Chef 16 | 1200 watts | 16 cup | Reversible |
| Hamilton Beach 10-Cup | 450 watts | 10 cup | Single-sided |
Step-By-Step Instructions for Shredding Sweet Potatoes
Follow these simple steps for shredding sweet potatoes in a food processor:
Prep the Potatoes
Wash, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into 1-2 inch cubes. Having uniform cubes will lead to even shredding.
Choose a Shredding Disc
Select a disc with 1/8-1/4 inch holes. Larger holes prevent the shreds from jamming. Insert the disc into the food processor.
Add the Cubes
Put 1-2 medium cubed sweet potatoes into the work bowl. Do not overfill.
Cover and Pulse
Lock the lid in place. Use the pulse button to shred the cubes, starting with 5-10 pulses.
Stir and Repeat
Remove lid and stir the shreds. Repeat pulsing and stirring until all the cubes are shredded.
Transfer to a Bowl
Transfer the shredded sweet potatoes to a large bowl for further use and seasoning.
Rinse Out the Work Bowl
Rinse the work bowl, lid, disc, and blade right away so the sweet potato starch doesn’t dry on.
Tips for Using Shredded Sweet Potatoes
Once you’ve mastered shredding sweet potatoes in the food processor, here are some tasty ways to enjoy them:
Sweet Potato Hash Browns
Press excess moisture out of the shreds. Toss with oil, seasonings, and optional onions. Cook on a hot skillet into crispy hash brown patties.
Sweet Potato Fritters
Mix shredded sweet potatoes with egg, flour, baking powder, spices, and herbs. Scoop into balls and flatten into patties. Pan fry until golden brown.
Sweet Potato Pancakes
Make pancake batter with the shredded sweet potatoes, eggs, flour, milk, baking powder, cinnamon, and vanilla. Cook like regular pancakes.
Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
Toss shredded sweet potatoes with oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. Roast at 425°F for 25-30 minutes until browned and crispy.
Sweet Potato Soup
Simmer shredded sweet potatoes with chicken or vegetable broth, onions, garlic, and spices. Puree or leave chunky. Garnish with yogurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you shred raw sweet potatoes in a food processor?
Yes, you can shred raw sweet potatoes. Make sure they are thoroughly washed and peeled first. Raw sweet potatoes shred well when firm.
Should you steam sweet potatoes first before shredding?
Steaming is not necessary and can actually make them harder to shred evenly. Raw sweet potatoes have the right firmness for shredding.
What is the best thickness setting for shredding sweet potatoes?
A disc with 1/8-1/4 inch holes generally provides a good shred thickness for most recipes. Thinner shreds work for hash browns while thicker shreds are better for roasting.
Can you shred both orange and white sweet potatoes?
Both varieties can be shredded in a food processor. Orange sweet potatoes may require a little more power to shred due to being denser.
Should you rinse the shreds after processing?
Yes, giving the shreds a quick rinse removes excess starch and prevents them from clumping together before cooking.
Conclusion
Shredding sweet potatoes in a food processor is fast, easy, and convenient. With the right techniques, a good quality processor, and a shredding disc with 1/8-1/4 inch holes, you can get perfect sweet potato shreds to use in all kinds of delicious recipes. Shred away for great hash browns, pancakes, fritters, roasted veggies, soups, and more.