How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Tap to Read ➤ Loveleena Rajeev

The yummy sweet potato is an amazingly versatile vegetable that can be cooked in a number of ways. Get to know the methods that one can use to cook this tasty tuber.

Sweet potatoes can be baked and/or grilled in an oven, cooked in the microwave or on burners, and used for making a wide variety of meals. Before you get down to cooking potatoes, a word about its selection.

Choose small to medium-sized ones if you plan to cook them whole, else large ones for frying chips and wedges, and making mashed potatoes would be perfect. Select potatoes that are firm and rounded or oblong with unblemished skin.

Avoid potatoes that are soft or squishy to feel, and ones with green sprouts, they tend to poison the potatoes. Before cooking sweet potatoes, scrub the skin well to remove all dirt. Cut or peel all bruised or sprouted portions. Once the selection and cleaning is done, it's time to cook them in a few different ways listed here.

In a Microwave

When using a microwave, wash sweet potatoes and pat them dry completely. Leave the skin on and pierce each potato a couple of times with a fork. Piercing is essential to ensure that the steam has a let out and the potatoes do not explode in the microwave.

Place a baking sheet on a microwave dish, and arrange the potatoes on it, ensuring that they do not overlap each other. Microwave them on for about five minutes, turning them over once in-between cooking time.

Peel potatoes or use them for cooking after letting them stand for a couple of minutes, this will soften them while holding them firm. If you plan to mash them, microwave them for two extra minutes on high.

In a Crock Pot

Crock pot or a slow cooker is a great way to cook food for those who are short on time. You can leave the food cooking on for hours without burning it, or worrying about it becoming nutrition deficient.

Take the same-sized peeled or unpeeled potatoes, wash them well, without drying them. Place them in the crock pot and cook on high for about three to four hours depending upon their size. One can add seasoning, herb garnishes, or gravy to the sweet potatoes to enhance their taste while getting a meal ready.

In a Conventional Oven

Sweet potatoes can easily be baked in a conventional oven without worrying about it burning. Preheat the oven to 350°F. After washing the potatoes, prick the skin several times. This will help the steam to escape, as the potatoes are getting baked.

In an oven proof dish, place a baking sheet with potatoes spaced out or wrapped in an aluminum foil. Bake for an hour, turning them over once. Remove from oven, and place on a wire rack to cool them off. One can even bake a potato casserole completely with seasoning and other vegetables.

Cooking sweet potatoes also includes boiling them in hot water for half an hour, as well as frying them in hot oil.