How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Having sweet potatoes in your kitchen can add a sweet, nutritious touch to your every day meals. They are believed to be healthier than white potatoes, and have a nutritional profile to prove it. Sweet potatoes are often called yams in the United States. This is simply a distinction used to differentiate sweet potatoes with orange skin from those with pale flesh. Whatever you decide to call them, learning how to cook sweet potatoes can help you whip up new, tasty and healthy dishes.

Why You Should Know How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are considered to be the healthier alternative because of their vitamin B, C and D content. These essential vitamins are needed to support your immune system, maintain a good metabolism; assist in protein production, slow down aging, improve your mood and many more functions. It is also proven to contain iron and magnesium.

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

If this is your first time learning how to cook sweet potatoes, you’ll be relieved at how easy and quick it can be. These vegetables can cook within minutes and can be combined with a range of ingredients.
Prepping

You should always wash sweet potatoes before cooking them. If you have a brush in your kitchen, give them a light scrub to remove dust, dirt and pesticide residuals.

Boil

Place potatoes in a large pot and fill it with just enough water to cover them. Allow them to boil until they are tender. Pierce the potatoes with a fork in the middle to check if it’s soft or resistant. Cooking can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your preferences. Drain and set aside to cool before serving.

Bake

If you like the taste of baked vegetables, learning how to cook sweet potatoes in an oven will be time well-spent. Just preheat your oven to 375F and make sure your potatoes are dry and ready. With clean hands, pour a little oil on your palms and fingers, rubbing potatoes to coat them with a little oil. Prick each potato with a fork a few times and cover completely with foil. Bake for half an hour.
Keep checking every 15 minutes if potatoes are soft and tender by inserting a knife into them. If the knife goes through with ease, they’re done. Add flavor with butter, salt, pepper, garlic and any choice of seasoning.

Microwave

Some might think it’s not a good idea to learn how to cook sweet potatoes in a microwave. However, if you’re pressed for time, it’ll come in handy. To microwave, prick sweet potatoes with a fork about 5 times at different points. Place inside an open dish and cook on high for 10 minutes. Make sure you monitor potatoes every 3-4 minutes and turn them if necessary.
When done, slice them and squeeze the sides gently to push the flesh up and a bit out of the skin. Sprinkle your choice of seasoning and serve.

When cooked correctly, sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and healthy vegetables. You can use them to make snacks, desserts and everything in between. Boiled or baked, they blend in well with other dishes and are just as tasty eaten alone.