Microwaving Sweet Potatoes

When time is of the essence and you wish to avoid using the oven, the microwave is your best friend. Here’s how to achieve a perfectly cooked, fluffy microwave sweet potato every time.

Tips for the Best Microwave Sweet Potato

1. Adjust Cook Time: The given recipe is for a medium sweet potato. Adjust the time accordingly for smaller or larger potatoes and depending on your microwave's strength.

2. Piercing the Potato: Don’t forget to poke the sweet potato several times with a fork prior to cooking. This prevents blowouts.

3. Maintain Moisture: Do not dry the sweet potato after rinsing. Wrap it in a moist paper towel or place it in a covered container to avoid drying out in the microwave.

4. Crisping the Skin: To enjoy crispy skin, lightly brush it with oil and bake for a few minutes after microwaving. This step isn’t as quick but makes the skin pleasantly crispy while keeping the inside moist and fluffy.

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato (around 8-10 ounces)
• 1/2 teaspoon olive or canola oil (optional)
• Salt (to taste)
• Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 1 small pat of butter (optional)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F if you plan to crisp the skin. Wash the sweet potato thoroughly. The remaining moisture from rinsing helps keep the potato moist. Pierce it 3-5 times with a fork.

2. Dampen a paper towel, wring it out, and wrap it tightly around the sweet potato. Position it on a microwave-safe plate. Alternatively, use a microwave-safe container with a lid, slightly cracked.

3. Microwave on high power for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway through if not using a lidded container. Test for doneness by piercing with a fork. If not tender, microwave in 30-second increments until fork-tender. 4. If crispy skin is desired, place the microwaved sweet potato on a baking sheet, brush with oil, sprinkle salt, and bake for 10 minutes at 425°F.

5. Once cooked, split open the sweet potato, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and optionally top with a small pat of butter.

Microwaving sweet potatoes is quick and easy. Following these tips ensures a delicious treat every time, whether you prefer the convenience of a microwave or the extra crispiness from an additional bake.

Earlier, SSP shared a Crispy Corn Recipe.