Baked sweet potatoes are a delicious and versatile side dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. They are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and they can be a healthy addition to any meal.
One of the most important things to consider when baking sweet potatoes is the temperature at which they are cooked. The ideal temperature for a baked sweet potato is between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is high enough to cook the potato through, but not so high that it will cause the potato to become dry or overcooked.
To check the temperature of a baked sweet potato, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the potato. The thermometer should be inserted into the potato about 1 inch deep. If the temperature reads between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the potato is done.
If the temperature of the potato is below 205 degrees Fahrenheit, it needs to be cooked for a little longer. If the temperature of the potato is above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it is overcooked and may be dry or mushy.
Once the potato is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before handling it. The potato can be served with butter, salt, and pepper, or with your favorite toppings.
Tips for Baking Sweet Potatoes
Here are a few tips for baking sweet potatoes:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit before baking the potatoes.
- Scrub the potatoes clean before baking them.
- Prick the potatoes with a fork before baking them. This will help the potatoes to cook evenly.
- Bake the potatoes for 45 to 60 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Let the potatoes cool for a few minutes before handling them.
Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble baking sweet potatoes, here are a few troubleshooting tips:
- If the potatoes are not cooked through, bake them for a few minutes longer.
- If the potatoes are dry, add a little bit of butter or oil to the potatoes before baking them.
- If the potatoes are overcooked, they may be mushy. Try baking them for a shorter period of time next time.
Conclusion
Baking sweet potatoes is a simple and easy way to enjoy this delicious and nutritious vegetable. By following the tips and troubleshooting advice in this article, you can bake perfect sweet potatoes every time.
Autumn brings with it a craving for two things: a big, fluffy baked sweet potato and a bowl of soup. Both are warming, cozy, and healthy. Though I think baking sweet potatoes is my go-to weeknight meal, I do love making butternut squash soup on Sundays. They are incredibly simple to make, with only your oven doing 2095% of the work required. You can prepare the remaining ingredients for your meal, complete your work for the day, or spend time with loved ones while they bake. After that, remove from the oven, top with desired amount of salt, and enjoy a delicious baked sweet potato supper!
Serve your oven-baked sweet potatoes with vegetarian chili or your preferred protein as a side dish. Use butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream as a topping; alternatively, try tzatziki, pesto, guacamole, chipotle sauce, cilantro lime dressing, or a drizzle of tahini sauce.
I believed for a long time that I didn’t enjoy sweet potatoes. They were always only available to me as a casserole when I was a child, covered in marshmallows and brown sugar. As it happens, I’m a huge fan of sweet potatoes—as long as I cook them properly! My favorite kind is fluffy, with crispy skin and caramelized edges. Here’s how I make them:
While a flawless baked sweet potato topped with butter, salt, pepper, and chives is undoubtedly delicious, there are other baked sweet potato recipes you can try. I like to stuff one with a flavorful veggie filling and a delicious sauce to turn it into a full meal. To discover my top 4 stuffed sweet potato fillings, click the image below.
Here, it’s crucial to remember that I DO NOT wrap them in foil. If you do, the skin of the sweet potato will be extremely wet and nearly slimy, but the flesh will still cook. Put the baked potatoes on the bare baking sheet for delicious, puffed up crispy skin and caramelization on the outside!
How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes
Here’s a summary of steps. (Scroll down for the complete printable recipe. ).
- Use uniformly sized potatoes: If you are baking several sweet potatoes at once, make sure they are all roughly the same size to ensure consistent cooking.
- Wash and scrub: Since sweet potatoes are ground-grown, you should thoroughly wash and scrub them to get rid of any dirt.
- Dry them: Use a fresh, lint-free towel to pat dry the potatoes after washing them. Dry skin=crispy baked skin!.
- Apply some oil to them; it adds flavor and helps the skin crisp up. I sometimes coat mine in bacon grease, which is amazing. Additionally excellent are coconut oil, vegetable oil, and olive oil. Rub the potatoes all over before baking, so they’re slippery.
- Season generously with salt – don’t skimp on the seasoning. I like to use coarse sea salt or kosher salt, but table salt works just as well; it’s the salt (and grease) that make you want to eat the skin!
- Make holes in the potatoes to allow steam to escape. Just make about six holes all around with a fork. When you bake a potato, it whistles because there are no holes in it.
- Transfer to the oven, set on a baking sheet covered with foil, and cook in the preheated oven until soft.
- Cut them open as soon as they come out of the oven because the inside will steam and the potato may get dense if you leave them in there too long. Cut a long slit in the top of the cooked potato with a sharp knife, and then carefully squeeze it open.
How To Cook: Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Oven
FAQ
At what temperature are sweet potatoes done?
What should a baked potato temp be?
Is it better to wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking?
Should you poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking?
What temperature should sweet potatoes be baked at?
The perfect temperature for baking sweet potatoes is 450 degrees Fahrenheit. I can’t explain the science, but my sweet potatoes baked at 450 turned out far better than at 400. They’re silky smooth and creamy on the inside, plus they bake more quickly. Even the largest sweet potato (around 12 ounces) was done within an hour.
What is the best way to cook sweet potatoes for nutritional value?
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. However, boiling potatoes can lower their nutritional content like vitamin C and B vitamins if they are boiled without skin. Boiling them with skin can save nutrients that may lost in cooking water. Try to use minimal water like with steaming for maximum nutritional value.
How do you bake sweet potatoes?
Sweet and fluffy on the inside with a crispy skin, these baked sweet potatoes make the perfect side dish for every occasion. Go sweet OR savory – your choice! Preheat oven to 400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Set aside. Wash and thoroughly dry sweet potatoes. Poke several holes in each potato with a fork – I do 8 pokes.
What size sweet potatoes should I bake?
Sweet Potatoes. Look for potatoes that feel firm, with smooth and unblemished skin. You can bake potatoes of any size; I find 8- to 10-ounces is ideal for a single serving. Have more sweet potatoes you need to use? Try Sweet Potato Cornbread. Kosher Salt and Black Pepper. These enhance the overall flavor of your baked sweet potatoes.