Cutting and chopping sweetpotatoes
Sweetpotatoes are dense, so a thin-bladed knife can help, along with gentle but firm pressure. Ideally, cut a slice from one long side first, creating a flat side to sit on the cutting board for successive cuts. Watch a video on how to cut sweetpotatoes.
basic cooking instructions
Read instructions for many basic sweetpotato preparations below or click to watch these videos:
How to cut sweetpotatoes
How to bake sweetpotatoes
How to make sweetpotato fries
How to grill sweetpotatoes
Baked sweetpotatoes
Watch a video on how to bake sweetpotatoes
or
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pierce the sweetpotatoes a few times with a fork or knife, and then bake until tender, 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the sweetpotatoes.
For quicker baked sweetpotatoes, microwave on high for 4 minutes, then bake at 400°F until tender, 10 to 20 minutes.
Enjoy baked sweetpotatoes as they are, or stuff them, or scoop out the flesh and mash them. Or try one of these recipes:
Stuffed Sweetpotato Skins
Loaded Southwestern Quinoa Sweetpotatoes
Healthy Loaded Sweetpotatoes
Roasted sweetpotatoes
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss diced or sliced sweetpotatoes with oil, arrange on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until tender, 15 to 30 minutes depending on the size and amount of the pieces.
Enjoy them as they are, or try roasted sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
California Cobb Salad
Southwestern Sweetpotato Quinoa Bowl
Sweetpotato, Sorghum, and Pomegranate Salad
Chipotle Sweetpotato Enchiladas
Sweetpotato Breakfast Pizza
Steamed sweetpotatoes
Place diced or sliced sweetpotatoes in a steamer set over about an inch of boiling water. Cover and steam until the sweetpotatoes are tender, 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the size and amount of the pieces.
Enjoy them as they are, mash, or try steamed sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
Healthier, Tastier, Creamier Sweetpotato Mac and Cheese
Boiled sweetpotatoes
Place diced or sliced sweetpotatoes in a pot of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the sweetpotatoes are tender, 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the size and amount of the pieces.
Enjoy them as they are, mash, or try boiled sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
Sweetpotato “Potato” Salad
Southwest Sweetpotato Salad
Lemon Herb Sweetpotato Salad
Sautéed sweetpotatoes
Heat cooking oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced, sliced, or grated sweetpotatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the size and amount of the pieces.
Enjoy them as they are, or try sautéed sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
Breakfast Strata with Sweetpotatoes, Chile, and Goat Cheese
Spicy Sweetpotatoes and Peas
Microwaved sweetpotatoes
Place whole, sliced, or diced sweetpotatoes in the microwave and cook on high until soft, 2 to 8 minutes depending on the size. For whole sweetpotatoes, it can help to turn them halfway through cooking, and wrapping them in a damp paper towel can help keep the skin soft.
Enjoy microwaved sweetpotatoes as they are, or stuff whole ones, or scoop out the flesh, if whole, and mash.
Mashed sweetpotatoes
Bake, boil, steam, or microwave sweetpotatoes as directed above until very tender. If whole, scoop out the flesh. Then mash with a fork or potato masher to desired consistency.
Enjoy them as they are, or try mashed sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
Savory Sweetpotato Casserole with Herbs, Walnuts, and Brown Butter
Sweetpotato Biscuits
Savory Sweetpotato Waffles with Garlic Crème Fraiche
California Sweetpotato Latte
Sweetpotato puree
Bake, boil, steam, or microwave sweetpotatoes as directed above until very tender. If whole, scoop out the flesh. Then mash with a fork or potato masher until very smooth—or for the smoothest puree, press the sweetpotatoes through a ricer. If the puree seems too thick or sticky, stir in a little cooking liquid or water.
One pound of sweetpotatoes, steamed, will yield about 1 1/2 cups of puree.
Enjoy it as is, or try sweetpotato puree in one of these recipes:
Sweetpotato Crostini with Red Wine California Figs
Ultimate Sweetpotato Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Summer Fruit Cobbler with Sweetpotato Cake Topping
Banana Sweetpotato Smoothie
Sweetpotato fries
Watch a video on how to make sweetpotato fries
or
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut sweetpotatoes into sticks and toss with oil. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until tender, 10 to 25 minutes depending on the size and amount of the sticks. (Use two baking sheets if necessary to avoid crowding—plenty of room around the sticks means crispier fries.)
Grilled sweetpotatoes
Watch a video on how to grill sweetpotatoes
or
For whole sweetpotatoes, preheat a grill to medium-high heat (or medium for larger sweetpotatoes). Pierce the sweetpotatoes a few times with a fork or knife, wrap in foil if desired, and place the sweetpotatoes on the grate or directly in the coals. Grill until tender, 40 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the sweetpotatoes, turning halfway through.
For quicker grilled whole sweetpotatoes, microwave on high for 4 minutes, then grill as directed above until tender, 10 to 20 minutes.
For grilled cut sweetpotatoes, preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Toss diced or sliced sweetpotatoes or sweetpotato wedges with oil, arrange on skewers if desired, and grill until tender and lightly charred, 5 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the pieces, turning occasionally.
Enjoy them as they are, or try grilled sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
Grilled Sweetpotato Tacos with Queso Fresco and Cucumber-Tomato Salsa
Grilled Lamb and Sweetpotato Kabobs with Quinoa, Garlic, Lemon, and Mint
Sweetpotato toast
Cut sweetpotatoes lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices, place in the toaster just like you would a slice of bread, and toast on the most well-done setting until tender. (You might have to toast the slices two times.) For sweetpotato toast bites or crostini, use a toaster oven.
If you don’t have a toaster or toaster oven, make roasted sweetpotato slices in the oven as directed above.
Enjoy it as is, or try sweetpotato toast in one of these recipes:
Sweetpotato Toast Galore
Sweetpotato Toast Bites with Figs, Blue Cheese, Flaked Salt, and Honey
Spiralized sweetpotato “noodles”
Drop spiralized sweetpotatoes in a pot of boiling water and cook until the sweetpotatoes are al dente, 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces.
Enjoy them with your favorite pasta preparation, or try spiralized sweetpotatoes in one of these recipes:
