Knowing how to microwave sweet potatoes is a time-saver for those moments when you’re craving a wholesome and filling snack or side dish. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll have a steamy, soft, and delicious sweet potato ready to go!
Whenever I need a last-minute side dish, I opt for microwave baked sweet potatoes! They could not be easier to make and only take about 5 minutes in total!
Much like steaming, microwaving helps retain the natural sweetness and creaminess of sweet potatoes. And the best part? They can be completely customized with your favorite toppings!
Enjoy them with just a pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt, or load them up with beans, veggies, and your favorite sauces. You can even make a sweet version with nut butter, banana slices, cinnamon, and chopped nuts!
For more information on this sweet treat, check out our sweet potato 101 post!
Here’s What You’ll Need
- Sweet potatoes: Choose medium-sized sweet potatoes for the best results. Ensure they’re firm with smooth skin and no cracks. (Our guide to types of sweet potato here!)
- Toppings: Use your favorites! Think guacamole, beans, tahini, and veggies for a savory option. Cinnamon, butter, brown sugar, or even a dollop of Greek yogurt are all great for a sweet version. The possibilities are endless!
How to Microwave Sweet Potatoes
Step 1: Prep the Sweet Potato
Wash and scrub your sweet potato or potatoes thoroughly. Using a fork, pierce the skin of the sweet potato multiple times. This ensures that steam can escape and prevents it from bursting in the microwave.
Step 2: Microwave the Sweet Potatoes
Wrap the potato in a wet paper towel, then place it in the microwave. Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the sweet potato using tongs or oven mitts to ensure even cooking.
Depending on the size and power of your microwave, you might need to adjust the cooking time slightly. You may also need to increase the cooking time if you’re making more than one sweet potato.
Step 3: Check for Doneness
After microwaving, use a fork to check the softness. If the fork easily passes through the skin and flesh, your sweet potato is ready. If it’s still firm, microwave it in 1-minute increments until it’s fully cooked.
If you want to make microwave sweet potato cubes, place them in a microwave-safe bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe lid or plate, and microwave on high for 4-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until fork-tender. Drain, season, and serve!
What to Serve with Microwave Sweet Potato
If you’re serving your microwave sweet potato as a side dish, try it with some mains like these:
- Crispy Air Fried Tofu
- Roasted Chickpea Kale Salad with Tzatziki Dressing
- Portobello Mushroom Burgers
- 10-Minute Chickpea Salad
- Parmesan-Roasted Purple Cauliflower
Recipe Tips
For perfectly cooked microwave sweet potatoes, keep these tips in mind:
- Size matters: If you’re making more than one sweet potato, ensure they’re approximately the same size for even cooking.
- Cooling time: Let the sweet potato sit for a minute or two after microwaving to continue the cooking process and make it easier to handle.
- Pierce before cooking: Make sure you pierce the potatoes with a fork to prevent the potato from bursting from trapped steam.
- Use a damp towel: Keep the potatoes moist by wrapping them individually in wet paper towels.
Storing Microwave Sweet Potatoes
If you can’t finish your sweet potatoes, here’s what to do:
- Fridge: Keep any leftover microwave sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: You can also freeze cooked sweet potatoes to use later. Make sure they’re completely cooled, then wrap each one in aluminum foil and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Microwave Sweet Potato FAQs
Absolutely! Just pop them back into the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
No, you should not wrap sweet potatoes with anything other than a wet paper towel if you are microwaving them. Also, it’s important to ensure you’ve pierced the skin with a fork to allow steam to escape.
Yes, you can cook multiple sweet potatoes at once, but they should be similarly sized, and you’ll need to increase the cooking time.
This microwaved yam is perfect in any number of sweet potato recipes, but some of our favorites are:
- Sweet Potato Cookies, where the sweet potato puree makes the healthy cookie base
- Sweet Potato Gnocchi, which is best if the sweet potato remains as dry as possible (i.e. microwaving over boiling!)
- Sweet Potato Smoothie, a healthy breakfast smoothie that’s ready quickly with this microwaved sweet potato hack!
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato
Instructions
- Prep: Wash and scrub your sweet potato or potatoes thoroughly. Using a fork, pierce the skin of the sweet potato multiple times.
- Cook: Wrap the potato in a wet paper towel, then place it in the microwave. Microwave on high for about 5 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the sweet potato using tongs or oven mitts to ensure even cooking.
- Check: After microwaving, use a fork to check the softness. If the fork easily passes through the skin and flesh, your sweet potato is ready. If it's still firm, microwave in 1-minute increments until it’s fully cooked.
- Cubes Option: If you want to make microwave sweet potato cubes, place them in a microwave-safe bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe lid or plate, and microwave on high for 4-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until fork-tender. Drain, season, and serve!
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