How To Bake Perfect Sweet Potatoes
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into fries that are 1/2 thick. Fill a large bowl with cold water, add the sweet potatoes, and let soak for at least 1 hour. Drain the water out of the bowl, rinse the fries once more with cold water, then drain thoroughly. Pat dry with a towel. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, and line a baking sheet with foil.
Place the sweet potatoes into a Crock-Pot. Place the lid on top. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Test the sweet potatoes for doneness by carefully removing the largest and inserting a fork to the center of the potato. If the fork doesnt go in smoothly, cook for thirty minutes and then recheck.
How to Bake a Sweet Potato in the Microwave Frequently Asked Questions Step by Step How to Microwave a Sweet Potato . Wash the sweet potato, pierce with fork tines on all sides of sweet potato. Wrap in a damp paper towel and microwave for 5 minutes on one side. Turn the sweet potato in the microwave and microwave for an
What Goes Well With Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be served either as a dessert or as a savory dish. If you have a sweet tooth, sprinkle the potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon. You can also use a dollop of honey instead of brown sugar. If you like the sweet potatoes to have more flavor, you can sprinkle the potatoes with a mix of salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder. You can also sprinkle some chilli powder if you love spicy food. Also, you can dip the sweet potatoes in sour cream, pesto or tzatziki sauce. Their refreshing flavors and rich texture will complement well with the sweet and fluffy spuds.
In addition, you can serve roasted sweet potatoes with a topping. Our favorite one is grated cheese, bacon bits and sour cream. Other yummy toppings you can try include black beans, red cabbage and salsa, quinoa, feta and red onion. To ensure more topping fits on the potato, make a cut lengthwise and slightly stretch out to create a pocket.
Easy Crock Pot Thanksgiving Side Dish
When I cook a holiday dinner, I am always looking for ways to free up oven space the roast turkey takes up all the room! So, anything that can go in the slow cooker, instant pot, or air fryer is a winner.
This year its all about this crock pot sweet potato casserole! Ive taken a baked side dish and turned it into the easiest crock pot side dish. If youve ever made crock pot mashed potatoes, this recipe is a lot like that.
You get those delicious mashed sweet potatoes with the mini marshmallows and crunchy pecans just like the original but, instead of the oven, it all comes together in the crock pot. Its so easy!
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Dont Wrap Your Potatoes In Aluminum Foil
I grew up with my mom wrapping potatoes in foil before baking, but Ive since learned that not only is it unnecessary, it also steams the potatoes and makes the skin soggy and soft rather than crisp the way I like it. I know it feels weird to put a naked potato in the oven, but trust me they taste so much better this way. Its also better for food safety because theres potential for bacteria to grow if you leave the potatoes in foil and let them cool down while still wrapped in the aluminum foil.
Some people will recommend placing the potatoes directly on the oven rack for baking, but I do recommend placing them on a baking sheet . This is especially true when baking sweet potatoes because they tend to release sticky, sugary juice while baking and it can make your oven pretty messy.
Perfect Baked Sweet Potato
Perfectly Baked Sweet Potatoes have a soft, sweet, and fluffy inside with a crispy flavorful outside. One of my favorite easy side dish recipes, theyre packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Perfect for meal prep and delicious serve with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt.
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How To Microwave Sweet Potatoes
Microwaving sweet potatoes is a cooking short-cut, though it should be noted that microwaves tend to heat foods unevenly, which can cause some parts of the sweet potato to cook faster than others. How long it takes for sweet potatoes to cook in the microwave depends on the size of the potato and the make, model and typical cooking times for your microwave. A medium sweet potato will take about 5 minutes to cook in the microwave.
Heres a basic primer on how to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave.
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How Long To Bake Sweet Potatoes In The Oven
Well, this will completely depend on the size of your potatoes.
- Small ones will need to be baked for 35-45 minutes
- Medium ones will need to be baked for 50-60 minutes
- Large ones will need to be baked for 60 to 75 minutes
Always check for the doneness of the sweet potatoes by poking them with a knife in the thickest part of the sweet potato. If it goes in super smoothly, it means your sweet potatoes are baked throughly and ready to eat!
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How To Bake A Sweet Potato In The Microwave
Prepare, wash, and dry the sweet potatoes the same way you would if you bake them in the oven and pierce them 3-4 times with a fork.
Place the potato on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 5 minutes, turning halfway through. Check for doneness by poking with a fork. If it isnt fork-tender, continue to microwave at 30-second increments until cooked through.
Toppings For Baked Sweet Potatoes
When it comes to topping sweet potatoes, Ive learned that there are some definite strong opinions on what does and doesnt count as a good topping. For some, its only ever sweet, with a sprinkling of sugar for others, anything goes. Personally, in the UK, we went through a health spree a few years back where everyone was swapping out their regular spuds for sweet potato with no change in how we top them.
That being said, here are some of my favorite baked sweet potato toppings. Let me know in the comments what yours are!
- Homemade butter& a sprinkle of salt or herbs like thyme.
- Butter, cinnamon, and sugar
Note: Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which is a fat-soluble antioxidant. This means that eating the potatoes with some fat will help us absorb the nutrient.
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Caramelized Sweet Potato Wedges
Caramelized sweet potato wedges are a delicious, easy-to-make side dish. First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Next, wash and slice your sweet potatoes into wedges. Then, toss the wedges with olive oil and a little bit of salt. Next, place the wedges on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they are tender and caramelized. Enjoy!
Sweet potatoes with herbs are a delicious addition to classic sweet potato casseroles, which are refined and reinvented with savory but sweet caramelized sweet potatoes. I discovered that this recipe is extremely simple to prepare and delicious. It can be saved on the Dish Foods board. On Pinterest, you can find additional great tips, ideas, and recipes. Traditional sweet potato casseroles are similar to caramelized sweet potato wedges, which are cooked with butter and brown sugar. My sisters food blog contains a recipe, but it is also available on her website. For you today, the only thing I can offer is one tip. I lied , but I forgot the second tip.
Don’t Overcrowd Your Baking Sheet
The secret to crispy sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don’t touch. This is especially important if you’re making a big batch of fries. Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches. If they’re all crammed onto one pan, they’ll steam instead of bake, and you’ll end up with soggy fries.
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Secrets To The Best Sweet Potatoes In The Oven
With their natural sweetness, crispy outsides, and meltingly creamy insides, roasted sweet potatoes are quite possibly one of the easiest vegetables to adore. Discerning adults and picky eaters alike can rally around them. And theyre good for you too!
We eat roasted sweet potatoes often and were perfectly happy with them , so I didnt think my technique needed improving. Then, one night, I was in a hurry and I tried something new.
I cut the sweet potatoes into large chunks.
GAME CHANGER.
Do You Need To Peel Sweet Potatoes
This is a personal question depending on what results youre after. Sweet potato skins are edible and become crispy in the oven while roasting, just like regular potatoes.
The beauty of roasted sweet potatoes is that they can be cooked either way and still be absolutely incredible. You can always adjust this recipe to suit your taste.
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What Temperature Should A Sweet Potato Be Cooked To
There is no one definitive answer to this question as the ideal cooking temperature for sweet potatoes will vary depending on the individuals preference. However, most people recommend cooking sweet potatoes at around 375 degrees Fahrenheit in order to achieve the desired level of doneness.
Sweet potatoes can be boiled, baked, microwaved, or roasted, and each cooking method produces a different texture and flavor. When boiled, sweet potatoes are soft and have a slightly sweet taste when baked, they are fluffy and have a more intense flavor when microwaved, they are tender and have a slightly sticky texture and when roasted, they are crispy and slightly caramelized.
In general, the firmer the sweet potato, the longer it will take to cook. Small, thin sweet potatoes will cook more quickly than large, thick ones. So, if you are unsure about how long to cook your sweet potatoes, start with a shorter cook time and then increase it if necessary.
Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy
Sweet potatoes are a whole food that pack a powerful nutritional punch. In one medium potato, you get over 400 percent of your daily vitamin A requirement. They are also high in fiber and potassium and are a great source of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that gives orange fruits and vegetables their vibrant color.
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How To Make Perfect Baked Sweet Potatoes
Baking sweet potatoes is crazy simple. You dont need to slice or chop them, just wash, season and bake!
Prep your potato rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to pat dry. Use a fork to polk holes in each potato I usually do 4-8 holes depending on how big the potato is.
Add oil and salt Rub a little bit of oil on each potato and sprinkle with salt. You can totally skip the oil and sea salt if you want. The skin wont be as crisp, but the baked sweet potatoes will still be delicious.
Bake Place the potatoes in a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake at 400ºF for 60-80 minutes, depending on how big your potatoes are. Flip the potatoes over about halfway through cooking. Theyre ready when the flesh is soft. You can test it with a knife!
Meal Prep And Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Sweet potatoes are a great meal prep side dish recipe to have on hand for busy weekdays.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- To Freeze: Seal baked sweet potatoes in an airtight container and freeze for up to 4-6 months.
- To Reheat: It is best to re-warm sweet potatoes in a 275 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or by cutting them in half and heating in the microwave.
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How To Bake The Perfect Sweet Potato
2 PIERCE & PREHEAT. Pierce each potato 5-6 times with a fork. Line a baking sheet with foil and space the potatoes an inch or two apart. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Variation Wrap your potatoes in foil! Instead of lining a pan with foil, you can wrap each potato individually.
Preheat oven to 425º. Prick the outsides of sweet potatoes using a fork so steam can escape. Arrange sweet potatoes on baking sheet. Brush or rub olive oil and garlic on the outside of each sweet potato. Bake for about 45-50 minutes or until a fork or knife can easily poke through the tender flesh of the sweet potatoes.
HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATO FRIES. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Wash 2 large sweet potatoes under cold running water, scrubbing well with a scrubber to get rid of any dirt Cut each sweet potato in half lengthways, cut each half in half lengthways, then each piece in half again so you end up with 8 wedges
Step 3: Roast. We like to roast our whole sweet potatoes at a higher heat so that they come out super tender on the inside with crispy skin on the outside. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, making sure they are spaced out and not touching. Then, roast sweet potatoes at 425ºF for 45-60 minutes .
Theres So Many Reasons To Love Baked Sweet Potato
Who doesnt love a baked sweet potato during the fall and winter months when the weathers cold outside? Its warm, filling, nourishing and couldnt be easier to make. Its also super versatile eat it plain as a side dish with a little pat of butter or jazz it up and turn it into BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potatoes for a filling meal.
And theyre good for you too! Sweet potatoes are a rich source of fiber and theyre loaded with iron, calcium, vitamin B, vitamin C, and beta-carotene, an antioxidant which gives the potato its vibrant orange color.
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How To Cut A Sweet Potato For Roasting
Now that weve got the perfect cubes for roasting, lets talk about the rest of the process.
How To Make Perfect Sweet Potato Chips
If you bake them on a baking pan, do not overlap the slices or moisture will build up. When slices are unevenly arranged, they may end up with a chip that is not as crisp as you would like. Do not use a parboiled sweet potato before roasting it. When baked, potatoes become tender and delicious without having to parboil. In addition, the chickens are roasted at high heat to produce perfectly crispy chicken that is quickly and thoroughly cooked. Before frying sweet potatoes, make sure they are soaked.
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How To Boil Sweet Potatoes
Boiling sweet potatoes is one of the best methods for making mashed or pureed sweet potatoes. Cutting your sweet potatoes into cubes first will help them cook faster be sure to cut the sweet potatoes into the same size pieces to ensure consistent, even cooking. You can also boil whole, peeled sweet potatoes, but to minimize cooking time, opt for medium-sized potatoes.
More Ways To Save Oven Space
Hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner and worried theres not enough room for everything? I have some great recipes for you to try that will save space in the oven:
- Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole is everything you love about the baked version but made in the slow cooker.
- You can make the creamiest Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese and skip the oven for this classic side.
- Use your air fryer to make a quick and healthy vegetable side dish like crispy Broccoli or Asparagus.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
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What Are Other Temp To Roast Sweet Potato In The Oven
A popular temperature for baking sweet potato is 275 degrees F. The spuds turn out unbelievably soft and creamy. You will be surprised to find that you dont even have to chew them because they literally melt in your mouth. At 275 degrees, it takes 2.5 hours to bake the sweet potatoes in the oven. Although it takes a long cook time, the sweet potatoes will come out incredibly flavorful and appetizing. However, if you are a crisp lover, this temperature is not recommended for you. To get a firm crispy crust, you have to do two things. First, heat the oven to 425 degrees, and second, bake the sweet potatoes bare without covering them with foil. This is because the foil will prevent the sweet potatoes from being exposed to the high heat directly and thus they cant acquire the crispiness. Wrapping them in aluminum foil will just result in the skin becoming moist and thin.