How to Cook Sweet Potatoes with Delicious Results

Today we're diving into the wonderful world of sweet potatoes and uncovering the secrets to cooking them to perfection. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice to this culinary goodness, let us take you through some easy how-to-cook sweet potato lessons. Get ready to transform these vibrant root vegetables into mouthwatering delights using various cooking methods like air frying, microwaving, and roasting. Let's get started!

Sweet potatoes will mash and purée well. Moreover, they can be baked, roasted, fried, barbecued, steamed, or boiled. They can be mashed to create a great vegetarian filling for foods like falafel and quesadillas. Because of their sweetness, they are also a fantastic choice for baking recipes like carrot cake or brownies.

Buying sweet potatoes: What to look for

While there are also pink, yellow, red, and purple kinds, sweet potatoes often have flesh that is a vibrant orange colour. Pick sweet potatoes that are similar in size and colour when making your selection. They ought to be solid, with smooth, blemish-free skin and no holes or nicks.

Sweet potatoes should only be stored in a cool, dark, dry place for a week at most. This is because they deteriorate more quickly than potatoes. Also, make sure to keep them out of the fridge because the cold changes their flavour.

How Long Do Sweet Potatoes Last?

You can keep your sweet potatoes for one to two weeks at room temperature on your counter. However, if you have access to a cool, dark storage area like a root cellar, they can keep for up to a month.

How to Cook Sweet Potato in an Air Fryer

There's something magical about the crispy goodness of sweet potatoes cooked in an air fryer. To achieve that perfect balance of texture and taste, follow these simple steps:

• Preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature (usually around 400°F).
• Scrub your sweet potatoes clean and pat them dry.
• Cut them into your desired shape, whether it's fries, wedges, or cubes.
• Toss the sweet potato pieces in a light coating of oil and sprinkle them with your favourite seasonings.
• Place the seasoned sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd it.
• Cook them for about 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally for even browning.
• Once they turn golden brown and crispy, they're ready to be devoured!

How Long to Cook Sweet Potato in an Air Fryer

Ah, the eternal question: how long should you cook your sweet potatoes in the air fryer? While it depends on various factors like the size of your sweet potatoes and personal preference, here are some general guidelines to steer you in the right direction:

• For small to medium-sized sweet potatoes, start with 15 minutes and adjust the cooking time as needed.
• Larger sweet potatoes may require 20-25 minutes to achieve that perfect tenderness.

Remember, every air fryer is unique, so feel free to experiment and find your sweet spot!

How to Cook Sweet Potato in the Microwave

Short on time? Fear not! The microwave is here to save the day. Follow these steps for a quick and hassle-free sweet potato fix:

• Wash your sweet potato and poke it with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape.
• Use a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 5-8 minutes.
• Once it's done, carefully remove the sweet potato and let it cool.
• Slice it open and fluff the flesh with a fork. Add toppings like butter, cinnamon, or a sprinkle of brown sugar. Voilà! Your microwave-cooked sweet potato is ready to enjoy.

How to Steam Sweet Potato

Steaming is probably the best method for cooking sweet potatoes as it maintains most of the nutrients. Steamed sweet potatoes are also another excellent ingredient to always have on hand for grain bowls, salads, and soups. For consistently great results, use our recipe for steamed sweet potatoes. To achieve the same cooking time, use whole potatoes that are roughly the same size.

• Scrub 2 medium sweet potatoes
• Put a colander or steamer basket in a big pot and add water until it’s 1 inch below the basket's bottom. Put the sweet potatoes in the steamer basket and bring the water to a boil. 
• Cover the pot once the water starts to boil.
• Steaming sweet potatoes can take up to 30 minutes, but you can check for doneness by pricking them with a paring knife. The less resistance you’ll feel, the more done they are.
• Once they’re ready, make sure to remove them from the pot with a pair of tongs. Cut them lengthwise and add butter or salt, pepper, honey, etc.

How to Bake Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes can be baked whole or cut into cubes or wedges. However, baking them whole in their skin delivers the highest benefit for the least amount of work. Here is a simple method for baking sweet potatoes.

• Preheat the oven to 350°F while you’re preparing the potatoes. 
• Thoroughly scrub the sweet potatoes with a brush then pat them dry. 
• Prick the sweet potatoes 3–4 times with a fork to allow steam to escape while baking.
• Cover your baking sheet with aluminum foil. 
  Place the potatoes on the baking sheet and put it in the oven. 
• Bake each side for 30 minutes or until the middle is tender and cooked through and the outside feels crisp.
• Serve the sweet potatoes whilst hot with your preferred seasonings (such as butter, salt, and pepper). Alternately, chop them in half to let the steam out, and then scoop off the flesh to use in other dishes once cooled.

Roasted Sweet Potato

Roasting sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness and creates a delightful caramelised exterior. Here's how to achieve roasted perfection:

• Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into uniform cubes or wedges.
• In a bowl, toss the sweet potato pieces with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or spices.
• Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are in a single layer for even roasting.
• Roast for about 25-30 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they turn golden brown and tender.
• Once they're out of the oven, give them a moment to cool slightly before serving alongside your favourite main dishes or as a tasty snack.

How to Cook Purple Sweet Potato

Looking to add a pop of colour to your sweet potato creations? Say hello to purple sweet potatoes! These vibrant beauties are just as delicious as their orange counterparts. Here's how to cook them using different methods:

Air Fryer: Follow the same steps as mentioned above for regular sweet potatoes, and watch as the purple hues intensify during the cooking process.

Microwave: Prick the purple sweet potato with a fork a few times, place it on a microwave-safe plate, and cook on high for 5-7 minutes, turning it halfway through. Allow it to rest for a few minutes before cutting into it.

Roasting: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice the purple sweet potato into rounds or cubes, toss them with olive oil, salt, and any desired spices, and roast for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until they become tender and slightly caramelised.

How to Store Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes should be kept in a cool, dry place. However, you should avoid keeping them somewhere too cold (55 degrees or lower), since this can cause the potato's centre flesh to harden. Because of this, you shouldn't keep raw sweet potatoes in the fridge. When cooked, you can keep your sweet potatoes in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Sweet Potato Recipe Collection

Congratulations, you've become a sweet potato pro! Armed with the knowledge of various cooking methods, including air frying, microwaving, and roasting, you can whip up delicious sweet potato creations to impress your taste buds and friends. Here are some more recipes to add to your sweet potato culinary journey!

Easy homemade sweet potato casserole with marshmallow recipe

Homemade sweet potato pie

Breakfast Sausage & Sweet Potato Muffins

Easy Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

Sweet potato cheesecake with Belgian chocolate