Chinese yam is a very common food in daily life. It is rich in nutrients, tastes good, and has a great texture, making it very popular. So, the question is, can you eat Chinese yam without peeling it?
Answer: Yes, you can eat Chinese yam without peeling it.
The Chinese yam is a treasure, and even its skin is nutritious. The skin of the Chinese yam has high nutritional and medicinal value, can prevent fat deposition in the cardiovascular system, and has always been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a drug for preventing and treating atherosclerosis. Therefore, cooking and eating Chinese yam without peeling it is the correct way to eat it; peeling it can easily damage its nutrients.
However, eating Chinese yam without peeling it can have a muddy and astringent taste, which affects the texture. But the skin of the Chinese yam is truly edible, and a small amount is beneficial to the human body because it contains alkaloids, which are effective for skin beauty. However, it should not be eaten in excess. Some people are allergic to alkaloids, so if there is an allergic reaction, the skin of the Chinese yam should not be eaten. Therefore, the skin of the Chinese yam is like the skin of an apple; some people eat it, and some don't.
Tips for Peeling Chinese Yams Without Itchy Hands
1. Slightly heat over a flame
The saponin in Chinese yam, which is easy to cause allergies, is sensitive to heat. Therefore, if you are afraid of allergies and itchy hands, after peeling or cutting the yam, you can wash your hands and then hold them over a flame for a moment to relieve the itching. Although this method is effective, it is a bit dangerous.
2. Wash with vinegar
After peeling the Chinese yam, you can pour a small amount of vinegar into a washbasin, soak your hands for 5 minutes, which can break down the saponin on the yam skin that causes itching. This method is not dangerous, but the effect is not as significant.
3. Wear gloves
To prevent problems before they happen, it is recommended to wear gloves or put a plastic bag on your hand when cleaning and peeling the Chinese yam to avoid direct contact between the skin and the mucus. This is an absolutely good method worth learning from.
4. Steam first, then peel
You can steam the Chinese yam with its skin on before peeling it, which will prevent the saponin from causing itching. This method is very good if you are not planning to eat the yam with a crispy texture, but rather for dishes like stewed or braised yams.