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Patty Catalano
Patty Catalano
Patty is a recipe developer and food writer. She worked Alton Brown’s Research Coordinator and podcast producer and in the Oxmoor House test kitchen. She loves maple syrup, coffee and board games. Patty lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children.
updated Oct 4, 2023
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Baking a sweet potato in the oven is great, but requires time. When you need a quicker solution, the microwave is your best friend — we're talking 5 minutes flat!
Makes1 to 2 potatoesPrep2 minutesCook5 minutes to 11 minutesreviews
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The sweet potato is arguably the most versatile veggie in the produce department. It can easily be the star of any meal, from breakfast to dinner and even dessert. And while baking sweet potatoes in the oven can take up to an hour, microwaving a sweet potato takes a mere five minutes. Here’s the very best way to do it, so that you can dig into your tender, steaming sweet potato ASAP.
How Do I Prep a Sweet Potato for the Microwave?
- Poke holes. The only thing you have to do is poke small holes in the potato, which provides a place for the steam to escape. Use a fork or a thin knife to pierce the potato all over four to five times.
- Season the skins. If you’re planning to serve the potatoes whole, you’ll also want to season the skins with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Much of the vegetable’s fiber and nutrients can be found in and just beneath the skin, and seasoning it makes it taste more delicious.
- Skip wrapping them up. Despite the prevalence of shrink-wrapped sweet potatoes in the grocery store, it’s not necessary to wrap the potatoes in damp paper towels or plastic wrap.
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How Long Does a Microwaved Sweet Potato Take to Cook?
1 (8-ounce) sweet potato takes 5 minutes to cook on 100% power. Larger sweet potatoes will take longer — continue to microwave in 1-minute bursts as needed until the potatoes are cooked through. When ready, the potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork or paring knife all the way to the center.
Does a Microwaved Sweet Potato Have Crispy Skin?
Microwaved sweet potatoes have tender flesh and soft skins. If you want the crisp skin of an oven-baked sweet potato, slide the cooked potatoes under the broiler until the skin is dry and crisp.
What’s the Best Way to Store a Microwaved Sweet Potato?
Microwaved sweet potatoes are a great food to meal prep — they can be topped with apples and nut butter for breakfast, pureéd into soup, or stuffed with spicy Buffalo chicken for a super-fast dinner.
To store them, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat them, place them directly on the oven rack in a 325°F oven until warmed through, or microwave until warm.
More Ways to Cook a Sweet Potato
- How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes
- How to Make the Best Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
How to Microwave a Sweet Potato
Baking a sweet potato in the oven is great, but requires time. When you need a quicker solution, the microwave is your best friend — we're talking 5 minutes flat!
Prep time 2 minutes
Cook time 5 minutes to 11 minutes
Makes 1 to 2 potatoes
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 to 2
(8-ounce) sweet potatoes
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Equipment
Clean sponge or vegetable brush
Clean kitchen towel
Paring knife or fork
Tongs (optional)
Microwave-safe plate
Oven mitts
Instructions
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Scrub the potatoes. Use a clean sponge or vegetable brush to scrub 1 to 2 sweet potatoes thoroughly under running water and pat dry. Trim away any blemishes with a paring knife.
Pierce with a knife or fork. Prick each potato four or five times all over with a paring knife or fork to allow steam to escape.
Optional: Rub with olive oil, salt, and pepper. If desired, rub the potatoes with olive oil, then sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper.
Microwave for 5 minutes. Place the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave at 100% power for 5 minutes. If your microwave does not have a rotating turntable, flip the potatoes after 2 minutes for even cooking.
Check the potatoes. When ready, the potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork or paring knife all the way to the center. Continue to microwave in 1-minute bursts as needed until the potatoes are cooked through. Use oven mitts to remove the dish from the microwave.
Optional: Crisp the potatoes in the oven. If you’d like crispier skin, arrange a rack 4 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high while the potatoes are microwaving. Place the microwaved potatoes directly on the oven rack. Broil until the skin is dry and crisp, about 6 minutes.
Serve the potatoes. Use a knife to split the potatoes lengthwise, then fluff the flesh with a fork.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Let the potatoes cool completely and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.
Microwaving 4 potatoes: To prepare 4 potatoes, microwave for 12 minutes. Check the potatoes for doneness, and continue to microwave in 1-minute bursts as needed until the potatoes are cooked through.
Filed in:
Ingredient
Potatoes
Root Vegetables
Side Dish
thanksgiving
vegan
