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Home » Side Dish Recipes

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Published: Nov 7, 2021 Last Updated: Aug 6, 2022 by Marye 1283 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Baked sweet potato with text overlay for pinning to Pinterest.

Baked sweet potatoes are delicious, easy to make, and healthy, too! Learn how to bake them to perfection in the oven, microwave, and air fryer. Be sure to read the expert tips, too!

Baked sweet potato on a white plate.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🎥 Video
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 🍠 How to choose sweet potatoes
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
  • 📞 The last word

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Cooked sweet potatoes are the basis of many holiday foods.
  • They're nutritious with plenty of vitamin A and fiber.
  • Super simple side dish!

These delicious vegetables (actually tubers) can be cooked almost any way but baking is really the easiest - especially if you are going to be using them in a mash or a cake. No need to peel them!

They're the perfect side dish for busy weeknights.

🧾 Ingredients

You don't really need anything but the main ingredient!

Overhead view of raw sweet potatoes.

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  • sweet potatoes

🎥 Video

Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).

Click to go to YouTube video.Cover image for the sweet potato YouTube video.
Click to begin the YouTube video.

🥫 Storage

Here's how to store this delicious root vegetable.

Raw, fresh sweet potatoes

  • Don't wash them before you store them. Damp, wet sweet potatoes are more likely to rot or mold.
  • Don't store fresh sweet potatoes in the refrigerator because they'll develop a weird flavor and texture.
  • Always store them in a cool, dry place that's well ventilated.
  • They'll be fine at room temperature for at least a week after you buy them.
  • They'll last for 6 months or so in a root cellar or basement at 55 to 60F.

Cooked

Cooked sweet potato leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You can freeze them, too! Sweet potatoes freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.

🍠 How to choose sweet potatoes

  • Look for firm sweet potatoes with no cuts or cracks.
  • Medium sized are best.
  • If they look wrinkled or like they are shrinking in the skin they're old.
  • Don't worry about sprouts - you just need to trim them off. They don't hurt the potato.

📖 Variations

Sweet potatoes can also be cooked in an air fryer or microwave.

Air fryer

  1. Pierce with a fork and oil the outside of the sweet potato.
  2. Set the air fryer to 400F.
  3. Air fry for 40 minutes and check. You may need to let it go a bit longer to be fully done.

Microwave

Microwaving is usually not the best way to cook them because they are often oddly shaped and can cook very unevenly.

If you are going to microwave be sure to choose sweet potatoes or yams that are oval shaped without big middles and tiny ends.

  1. Pierce with a fork.
  2. Place on a paper towel lined microwave safe plate.
  3. Microwave for 5 minutes on high for a medium sized potato.
  4. If it's not done continue to microwave, checking at 20 second intervals.
A pile of baked sweet potatoes on a napkin.
They're a great source of fiber and vitamin C.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: Sweet potatoes are done when they register 205-210F in the center on an instant read thermometer.

  • Before you get ready to bake or cook a sweet potato wash it really well - gritty sand is gross in most recipes so make sure you get it all out!
  • Don't wrap in foil to bake them! The skin is not like a white potato skin and it will sometimes get slimy.
  • Some people oil the skin on the outside of the potatoes before baking because they believe it helps keep moisture in.
  • If you're serving baked sweet potatoes oil the skin and sprinkle with kosher salt before baking.
  • Use aluminum foil to line the baking sheet - parchment paper can catch fire at a high temperature.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Why do you need to poke holes in the sweet potato? 

It allows the steam to escape and keeps the whole sweet potatoes from exploding.

How long do baked sweet potatoes last?

Up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

How long to cook sweet potatoes?

Depending on the size 45 minutes to 75 minutes.

How do you know when sweet potatoes are cooked?

They feel soft if you squeeze them gently (protect your hands!). If you put a knife into the center it will move right though without any resistance.

How do you know if the sweet potato has gone bad?

Look for signs of discoloration, soft spots, mold, or rotting - plus it will smell AWFUL.

What's the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

Most of what are commonly called "yams" in the United States are actually just different varieties of sweet potatoes. The flesh can range from white to deep orange-red - and some are even purple!
Yams are starchier with a skin that resembles a shaggy bark.

📚 Related recipes

They're a favorite around here!

  • Sweet spicy roast sweet potatoes are delicious!
  • Crispy baked sweet potato fries go great with your favorite burger.
  • Bourbon sweet potato crunch is a must have at Thanksgiving!
  • What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
  • Pasta con Broccoli
  • 41 Sides To Serve With Hash Brown Casserole
  • Crispy Fried Potatoes

🍽️ Serve with...

There are all sorts of ways to serve baked sweet potatoes. Here are some of our favorite mix-ins. Start with butter then add -

  • cinnamon and brown sugar
  • maple syrup and marshmallows
  • cayenne pepper and cumin
  • maple syrup and crushed red pepper flakes or chipotle powder to taste
  • salt and chili powder
  • smoked paprika

We like them with...

  • Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Pork Chops is such and easy dinner because it simmers in your crock pot all day!
  • Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs I love slow cooker meals and this is a favorite. The ribs come out SO tender!
  • Slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken is a delicious family dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights.
  • Salsa Chicken brings a little Tex-Mex flavor to the table. They take just 30 minutes!
Overhead view of baked sweet potato on plate with more sweet potatoes on tray.
I could easily eat these as a main dish!

How to Bake Sweet Potatoes

Time needed: 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Learn how to bake sweet potatoes perfectly with this step by step guide! Once they're baked they're ready to be eaten or used in any sweet potatoes recipe.

  1. Preheat oven

    Preheat your oven to 425F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil to catch any of the juices that might drip out.A woman's hand turning oven on.

  2. Wash

    Always wash the sweet potatoes and scrub gently with a vegetable brush to get off any dirt.Overhead view of washed sweet potatoes.

  3. Poke holes

    Use the tines of a fork or sharp knife to firmly poke holes through the skin in the thickest part of the potato.A fork stuck in a sweet potato.

  4. Poke holes in several places

    You want to make sure that the steam can escape so poke holes in several places.Close up of sweet potato.

  5. Bake

    The cooking time will depend on the size of the sweet potatoes. 45 minutes to an hour or so is about right. Cook time will vary by size of the potato - you'll need to check them to see if they're "squishy" and add more baking time as needed. When they are finished the internal temperature will be around 205 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit.Baked sweet potatoes on a baking sheet.

  6. Serve

    Let cool a few minutes then cut a line down the center of the sweet potato and squeeze the ends to open it up. Add a little butter and other favorite toppings as desired or use in your recipes... And enjoy!Overhead view of a baked sweet potato on a white plate.

📞 The last word

There are so many ways to serve these delicious but under-used root vegetables!

It's the perfect base for so many different toppings from sweet to savory. Plus, when you bake them you don't lose any of the nutrients or flavor if you're planning on using the creamy flesh in a sweet potato casserole or mash.

Budget friendly, easy to make, they taste great... there's just not much to dislike!

More Legendary Southern Side Dish Recipes

  • What to Serve with Baked Ziti
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  • Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers
  • Creamed Cabbage
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About Marye

With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

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