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Whether in a pot, in the microwave, or in the oven: Sweet potatoes can be prepared in different ways—but how long do they take to cook until they are done?
Cooking sweet potatoes in a pot – how long does it take?
Sweet potatoes are healthy, mainly due to their beta-carotene content, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. They are often used as an alternative to conventional potatoes. One popular way to prepare them is in a pot. But how long does it take?
- If you peel the sweet potatoes, which is not absolutely necessary, you can either leave them whole or cut them into smaller pieces and cook them.
- To cook sweet potatoes, cover them with water in a pot and add a little salt. Then bring the water to a boil to cook the potatoes.
- How long it takes for the sweet potatoes to be ready also depends on their size. If you cook them whole, you can expect a cooking time of around 30 to 40 minutes. If you cut them into smaller pieces, such as quarters or eighths, the cooking time is reduced to around 10 to 20 minutes.
Sweet potatoes from the microwave – how to do it right
If you’re in a hurry, it’s worth cooking the sweet potatoes in the microwave. This reduces the cooking time considerably.
- Use a fork to pierce the sweet potato on all sides and then place it in the microwave.
- At 850 watts, the cooking time is around eight to ten minutes, which of course also depends on the size of the potato. As a general rule, the smaller the sweet potato, the shorter the cooking time.
How long do sweet potatoes take in the oven?
Sweet potatoes are a real hit in the oven and can also be prepared as an alternative to homemade fries. The baking time is as follows:
- At around 180 to 200 degrees, it takes about 45 to 60 minutes in the oven before sweet potatoes that have not been cut into small pieces are cooked. However, this again depends on the size of the potatoes.
- If you are preparing the sweet potatoes as fries and therefore cut them into wedges and brush them with oil, the cooking time is reduced to around 25 to 30 minutes, also at around 180 to 200 degrees.
- A little tip: if you season the sweet potatoes properly, they will taste especially good.
More preparation tips for sweet potatoes
You can prepare sweet potatoes in different ways. It’s best to get creative so you can try out different dishes.
- For example, you can also steam sweet potatoes. Depending on their size, they take around 15 to 20 minutes to cook in a steamer.
- Alternatively, you can also cook sweet potatoes in a hot air fryer, for example to make sweet potato fries. Depending on their size, this takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
Always store sweet potatoes properly and check that they are still fresh before eating them. You can find out what the color of a sweet potato says about its freshness in another article. - Sweet potatoes are ideal as a side dish, as an ingredient in oven-roasted vegetables, or as delicious fries. If you have any sweet potatoes left over, you can also use them as a side dish in a salad or as a base for soups or stews.
