Learn how to boil sweet potatoes, whole or cubed, to bring out their natural sweetness. Serve as a side dish or use in other recipes.
Learn how to boil sweet potatoes whole, cubed, and with or without the skin. Boiled sweet potatoes are great as a standalone side dish or can be added to recipes like sweet potato chili, breakfast bowl, and, of course, a good old sweet potato mash!
When cooked right, boiled sweet potatoes are smooth, creamy, and so incredibly delicious. Best of all, this humble vegetable isn’t just reserved for a baby’s first food. There are myriad of ways to let sweet potatoes take center stage. But first, you have to know how to boil sweet potatoes without overcooking them. The good news is this quick guide has it all. Learn how to boil sweet potato cubes and the best way to get perfectly tender sweet potatoes without the mushiness. I’ll also show you that boiling sweet potatoes whole with skin is possible. Get ready to let your sweet potatoes shine with this tutorial on how to cook sweet potatoes on the stovetop.
How to Boil Sweet Potatoes Cubes
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 2-inch cubes or 1-inch cubes. Add the cubed potatoes to a large pot of water. Add salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking the sweet potatoes until fork tender.
- Drain carefully in a colander.
Why Learn How to Boil Sweet Potatoes
- Versatile uses. Sweet potatoes are a hearty root vegetable that can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. It’s incredibly delicious, cubed on salads, and equally tasty when mashed and added to pancakes and baked goods. Learning how to boil sweet potato cubes and whole spuds allows you to explore flavorful possibilities.
- Budget-friendly. Sweet potatoes are often affordable and widely available in grocery stores everywhere. Knowing how to boil sweet potatoes whole allows you to create wholesome and budget-friendly meals at home.
- Cooking basics. Learning how to cook sweet potatoes on the stovetop is a basic cooking skill that serves as a building block for more complex cooking techniques. It equips you with the ability to prepare a delicious staple that can be enjoyed in various dishes.
How to Boil Sweet Potatoes
FAQ
How long should I boil my sweet potatoes?
What happens if you over boil sweet potatoes?
How do you know when a sweet potato is fully cooked?
Why are my sweet potatoes still hard after boiling?
How long should sweet potatoes be cooked before boiling?
As a basic guideline, you want to cook whole sweet potatoes for about 40 minutes, 2-inch cubed sweet potatoes for about 25 minutes, and 1-inch cubed sweet potatoes for about 15 minutes. But I always recommend using the fork-tender test instead of strict timeframes. Should you peel sweet potatoes before boiling? That is a matter of preference.
Can one steam cook sweet potato?
Sweet potatoes can be steamed, the skin can be left on to preserve all its vitamins and minerals, or without them. Steam cooking will make it not absorb as much water.
How do you boil sweet potatoes?
Here’s how to boil sweet potatoes: Dice the sweet potatoes in 3/4-inch chunks. Peeling is optional: leave the skin on for added nutrients. Make sure to cut off any dark or black spots. Add to a pot and cover with 1 inch water. Bring the water to a boil. Boil 7 to 12 minutes until fork tender.
Do sweet potatoes need to be boiled?
Drain the potatoes into a large colander and return them to the pot. Use as desired. While boiling makes sweet potatoes tender, it doesn’t help much with their flavor. Most dishes that call for boiled sweet potatoes would be improved if you used roasted or baked sweet potatoes.