Pick that potato up and give it a gentle squeeze. A good sweet potato should feel firm, like a baseball or a slightly unripe avocado. If it feels soft, mushy, or gives way under your fingers like a marshmallow left in the sun, that’s a bad sign.
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t want to bite into a potato that feels like a water balloon. That squishiness means the inside is breaking down, and it’s time to say goodbye. Trust your hand—it knows what firm feels like.
Wrinkles and Creases: Not Just a Beauty Issue
See those little wrinkles or deep creases on the skin? A few fine lines are normal, like how we all get a bit tired after a long week. But if the skin looks like a crumpled paper bag or has deep, sharp divots, it’s a warning.
Wrinkles happen as the potato loses moisture. A little dryness is okay, but severe wrinkling means it’s been sitting too long. At that point, the inside is usually dry, stringy, and not very tasty. It won’t hurt you, but it won’t delight you either.
Your grandma might call that potato “past its prime,” and she’d be right. Toss it without guilt.
