How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave — Chef’s Trick for Perfect Results in 5 Minutes

When you’re in a hurry for that sweet, tender taste of a sweet potato, waiting an hour for it to bake can be too long. Learning how to microwave sweet potatoes is the perfect solution, cooking each one to perfection in just 5 minutes. But before you start microwaving, here’s a chef’s tip to ensure they cook evenly. Once they’re soft, add your favorite toppings for a hassle-free meal!

Sweet potatoes, like other potatoes, can be boiled, roasted, steamed, or grilled, but microwaving stands out for its speed and simplicity. This method is ideal for whole sweet potatoes because you don’t need to peel or chop them beforehand. Plus, it preserves their sweet, earthy flavor, whether enjoyed plain or dressed up with toppings.

The microwave’s rapid heat distribution cooks a whole sweet potato in about 5 minutes, saving time compared to the hour-long baking process. It’s especially convenient for cooking one or a few potatoes since there’s no need to wait for the oven to preheat. However, microwaving them correctly is crucial for achieving a fluffy, tender texture instead of ending up with a hard or mushy mess.

To ensure your microwaved sweet potatoes turn out perfectly tender, try this chef’s secret: wrap each potato in a damp paper towel before microwaving. This prevents the skin from drying out and allows the potatoes to steam as they cook, resulting in soft, creamy spuds in no time.

Here’s a simple method for microwaving sweet potatoes:

1. Wash and dry 1 to 3 medium sweet potatoes.
2. Pierce the skin of each potato with a fork.
3. Individually wrap each potato in a damp paper towel.
4. Place a potato on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 5 minutes, rotating it halfway through.
5. Check if a fork can easily pierce the potato. If it’s still too firm, continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals until tender.
6. Once cooked, slice open the potatoes and add your preferred toppings.

Whether you prefer sweet or savory, there are endless possibilities for dressing up your cooked sweet potatoes:

1. Brown sugar and butter with a dash of cinnamon.
2. Baked beans and shredded cheese.
3. Sour cream and chives.
4. BBQ meat and coleslaw.
5. Yogurt and nut butter for a sweet breakfast or snack.

With these simple steps and tasty topping ideas, you can enjoy perfect microwaved sweet potatoes in no time!

Repurposed article originally published in First For Women