How To Microwave A Sweet Potato

In a sea of new, flashy kitchen gadgets, it’s so easy to overlook the humble microwave. It’s possibly the least sexy cooking tool of all, but I say it’s time to praise the microwave for what it does best: cooking sweet potatoes. Yes, you can finally skip turning on the oven— microwaving a sweet potato is by far the fastest and easiest way to get a healthy side on the table. No more waiting on that pesky oven to preheat, all you need is 5 minutes, a few simple tips, and the result is practically the same as a baked sweet potato. Whether you're looking for an easy, healthy side or the base for a delicious quick lunch, microwaving a sweet potato is a quick and easy start to an amazing meal.

What People Are Saying:
"Pairs so well with butter, pure maple syrup, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. I have always considered brown sugar and butter the only way to go but I was wrong! Try it you’ll love it." - klf6043

"My coworkers laugh at me cause I bring a whole sweet potato to work every day for lunch! Little salt and pepper, and a scoop of chickpeas on top. Its so quick, easy. and healthy!" - vegangirl88

How To Microwave A Sweet Potato

INGREDIENTS

• Sweet Potato: The starchy star of the show here, sweet potatoes are so versatile and make for an easy side any night. Especially when I’ve had one too many twice-baked potatoes, sweet potatoes add a bit of earthy sweetness that makes them so easy to put into sweets or as the base of a healthy dinner.
• Butter: To really let the sweetness of your sweet potatoes pop, I like to add a pop of salted butter for contrast. By all means, feel free to swap in unsalted butter if you’re watching your sodium, or your favorite plant-based butter.
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: As opposed to flaky sea salt, kosher salt is my go-to salt as the granules are more uniform and thus a bit easier to salt to taste. Along with the floral spice of freshly ground black pepper, it makes this humble side a bit more complex. By all means, feel free to get creative with seasoned salts, just be mindful if you’re also using salted butter for topping.
  

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

First, don’t forget to give your sweet potatoes a bit of a scrub and pat them dry, they did grow underground after all. Then, pierce the potato 3 to 4 times with a fork. Don’t skip this! This is key to allowing steam to escape the sweet potatoes as they cook.

Place the potato on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 4 minutes, turning the sweet potato over when halfway through.

Depending on the size of your sweet potato, you might need to increase the cook time in 30-second increments until fork-tender. Once it’s fully cooked, split the potato down the middle, season with salt and pepper and top with a pat of butter. By all means, go wild and stuff them with your favorite toppings—I personally love taking them in a taco-inspired direction, or mixing up a maple-miso sauce in the style of our melting sweet potatoes.

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• What are the best sweet potato toppings? I love topping sweet potatoes with a mixture of protein, vegetables, and cheese to make them a full meal. Try out some of my favorites, like taco-stuffed sweet potatoes and sloppy Joe sweet potatoes. But if you're looking for an easy side, you can't go wrong with a little butter, honey and cinnamon (or even our Texas cinnamon butter 😍) if you're feeling sweet, or just a pat of butter if you don’t want to distract from the sweet potato.
• How long does it take to microwave a sweet potato? It all depends on the width and length of your sweet potato, but after around 4 minutes, microwave in 30-second increments until it's fork-tender.
• How do I know when it's cooked through? You're looking for the inside to be completely tender. To test, use a paring knife to pierce all the way through the skin to the center of the potato. If there is some resistance, keep cooking. If it glides through to the center, it's ready to eat!
  

Microwaved Sweet Potato Variations

• Sweet Potato Rolls: These honey-butter topped rolls are what every dinner table is missing. Just simply microwave, peel, mash, mix, bake, and you're on your way to the best salty-sweet invention since sliced bread.
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Got a few extra minutes? Mash those potatoes! Once cooked thoroughly, remove the skins and mash the sweet potatoes to your desired consistency. Then, blend the potatoes with plenty of butter and half-and-half, which makes these easy mashed sweet potatoes super creamy while being just sweet enough.
• Sweet Potato Gnocchi: Russet potatoes in gnocchi are so last year. Trust me, once you make our sweet potato gnocchi (and toss them in that maple-bacon sauce), you'll be forever Team Sweet Potato Gnocchi.
• Sweet Potato Pie Bars: Possibly my favorite reason to microwave a few extra sweet potatoes during the week, these bars take a classic sweet potato pie and make it potluck-friendly.
  

Storage

Microwave too many sweet potatoes? It happens, especially since these spuds make for easy meal prep for the week. Simply allow the potatoes to cool and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they'll keep for up to 5 days.