Sweet potatoes are the fall staple we never get sick of and with good reason: Their mildly sweet interior is soft and melty, and they are equally delicious when loaded with toppings or served simply with nothing but a pad of butter. Not only that, but these orange tubers are healthy too. Aside from being a rich source of dietary fiber, the sweet potato is also packed protein and vitamins. Not sure how to cook a sweet potato? No problem. Our step-by-step guide to the (exceedingly easy) process guarantees a satisfying sweet potato every time.
food
How to Cook a Sweet Potato for Fluffy Goodness with Every Bite
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Oven
Much like its plain cousin, sweet potatoes can be cooked in a variety of ways but the most fuss-free method of them all is baking. The classic way to bake a sweet potato is in the conventional oven and the process is completely foolproof. Here’s what the sweet potato experts at the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission say to do.
Step 3: Prep The Potato
Pat the potatoes dry, grab a fork and start poking them. Yep, in order to avoid an exploding sweet potato scenario, it is recommended to pierce the skin with a fork five to six times before sending them to the oven. (Note: For extra crispy skin, we suggest rubbing the potatoes lightly with olive oil, but this step is optional.)
Step 4: Bake The Sweet Potato
Once your oven has preheated, it’s time to start cooking those puppies. Transfer each punctured potato to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake them on the middle rack of the oven. The potatoes will be done in approximately 45 minutes, but you’ll know for sure that they’re ready when a fork slides easily into the flesh.
How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Microwave
The oven method is a breeze, but it does take a bit of patience. If you’re hungry and want a sweet potato stat, turn to your trusty microwave. We got the scoop from Candace Davidson, author of The Easy College Cookbook and expert on microwave cooking, on the best way to nuke a sweet potato.
Step 3: Cook The Potato
Once the sweet potato has been bundled in a wet blanket, place it on a plate and let the microwave work its magic. Your veg will be cooked after roughly 4 to 5 minutes of nuking, but the fork test is a surefire way to tell if it is tender and ready to eat.
How To Boil Sweet Potatoes
Want to use your spuds for a creamy, dreamy mashed potato dish? Here’s how to get your sweet potatoes ready for mashing.
7 Delicious Sweet Potato Recipes
Now that you know how straightforward it is to cook a sweet potato, the only thing left to do is decide how you want to enjoy it. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.