This step by step guide will teach you how to cook sweet potatoes in the oven, in an air fryer, or in the microwave. Using these easy tested and perfected recipes will give you the perfect baked sweet potato every time, no matter which appliance you bake it in!
Sweet potatoes have such an amazing natural sweetness and flavor, they don’t even need to be dressed up. However, there’s nothing better than a piping hot sweet potato, topped with butter and sprinkled with flakey sea salt!
Sweet potatoes can be served as an entree loaded with toppings. They can also be served as a simple side dish, or incorporated into a variety of sweet potato recipes!
Not only are sweet potatoes delicious, they’re healthy too. Sweet potatoes are a good source of potassium, fiber and even give you a little plant-based protein!
I love to roast sweet potatoes in the oven or air fryer for fluffy insides and crisp skin, but it’s also great to know how to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave when you’re in a hurry. Keep reading to learn each method so you can have them any time!
Arrange the yams/sweet potatoes in a circle in a Pyrex or microwave safe dish. Cover the yams/sweet potatoes with a damp paper towel and nuke on high for 5 minutes. Then, rotate the yams and nuke for another 5 minutes. Continue this process until the yams are soft to touch.
Once done to your liking, allow the potato to slightly cool, then cut it in half. The recipe card below provides detailed instructions.
Youll only need one ingredient to make this super-easy recipe – a medium sweet potato. It should weigh about 7 oz. If yours is bigger than this, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power. Sometimes I turn the leftovers into mashed sweet potatoes.
For a medium potato, it takes about 5 minutes. I cook it for three minutes on the first side, then add 2 more minutes on the second side. A bigger potato will take longer, so check for doneness by piercing the flesh with a fork. It should be tender.
I love using the microwave. Its not suitable for everything, of course, but for cooking vegetables, its often just as good as other methods. So I often make microwave cauliflower, microwave spaghetti squash, and microwave broccoli.
How to cook sweet potatoes in an air fryer
An air fryer will give you a similar result to the oven, but in slightly less time.
- Wash and dry the potato.
- Use a fork to poke holes in the sweet potato.
- Add two or three ½ pound sweet potatoes to an air fryer basket, lined with parchment paper.
- Air fry at 400°F for 30 minutes or until fork tender.
After 30 minutes, use tongs to gently squeeze the potatoes. If they’re still hard to the touch, put them back in the air fryer in 5 minute increments, until they’re tender.
The Best and Quickest Baked Sweet Potatoes
FAQ
How do you soften yams?
How do you soften raw sweet potatoes?
Why do you soak yams in water?
Why is my yam so hard?
How do you clean a yam?
Here’s what you need to do: Begin by giving your yam a good wash under cool running water. Make sure to remove any dirt or debris that may be clinging to the skin. Pat it dry with a clean towel, and you’re all set. Take your fork and carefully poke several holes into the yam.
Is yam good for losing weight?
Yam can be a great root vegetable to eat if you are trying to lose weight. Although it is high in carbohydrates, it has a low glycemic index, so the sugar from the yam will be released slowly in your body. This is good because it gives you sustained energy and will keep you fuller for longer. If you want to lose weight these are great properties for a food to have. Remember that weight loss depends on consuming fewer calories than your body burns in a day.
What do you do with boiled yams?
For side dishes, they’re often boiled or baked (peeled or unpeeled). They can be added to soups, stews, and braises. Sometimes, boiled yams are mashed to serve as a side dish or an ingredient in quick breads and pies. Read on for instructions on how to cook yams in various ways so you can enjoy them in your favorite recipes.
How long do you boil yams?
Bring the water to a boil, cover the saucepan and allow the yams to continue a gentle boil for about 20 to 30 minutes. The yams are done when you can pierce them easily with a knife. Avoid overcooking the yams, because they’ll spend time cooking in the oven. Remove the yams from the heat and drain them in a colander.