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All You Need Is a Microwave to Make a Soft, Perfectly Cooked Sweet Potato

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While waiting for the oven to heat up, do you ever find yourself wondering how to microwave sweet potatoes? When you’re craving the sweet flavor and soft texture of an orange spud, standing around for 30 minutes can feel like an eternity. That’s why you need to know how to make sweet potatoes in the microwave. 

When hunger strikes, making a baked sweet potato in the microwave can save you a lot of time. Plus, using this convenient kitchen appliance (aka the microwave) not only comes in handy when you want to microwave sweet potato chips but also when you want to microwave sweet potato fries — two all-time family favorites. 

But before you nuke your spud on high, check out what the experts have to say about how to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave. 

How to Microwave Sweet Potatoes

“Can I microwave a sweet potato?” is a common question many of us ask Google, which is typically followed by checking on the details, such as “how long to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave” or the best way to do it.

It runs out, there’s not much of an art to the process — and it’s easy to master! While a quick internet search will give you several responses to “how to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave oven,” knowing the best way to microwave a sweet potato can mean the difference between a fluffy spud and one that ends up exploding all over the place. 

Ready to get started? Claudia Sidoti, head chef at HelloFresh shared with us her general method for how to bake sweet potatoes in the microwave in four easy steps.

  1. Clean each sweet potato under running water and pat dry.
  2. Pierce each sweet potato with a fork.
  3. Wrap each sweet potato in a paper towel. 
  4. Place the sweet potato in the microwave and cook. 

Cooking times for sweet potatoes will vary. But as a general rule, Sidoti says about five minutes is how long to microwave sweet potatoes. However, this applies to microwaving one sweet potato at a time. If you’re cooking multiple sweet potatoes, you will need to add two minutes for each additional potato cooked in the microwave. You can also follow these same steps if you want to know how to soften sweet potatoes in microwave.

microwave sweet potatoes

(Photo Credit: HelloFresh)

How to Steam Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave

Now that you know the basic quick and easy method for how to cook fresh sweet potatoes in the microwave, it’s time to learn how to steam sweet potatoes in the microwave and other tips for ensuring your sweet potatoes turn out and light and fluffy. 

  1. Clean each sweet potato under running water and pat dry.
  2. Piece the sweet potato skin with a fork five to six times. 
  3. Place the sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate.
  4. Microwave for five minutes (five minutes to cook one sweet potato) — rotating the potato at the two and a half mark. 
  5. Check the sweet potato after five minutes to see if a fork can easily spear the potato. If they are still too firm, continue to cook your sweet potato in the microwave in one-minute increments. 

If you’re not up for learning how to microwave sweet potatoes whole, Autmun Boyle, a food and wellness blogger, says she likes to microwave sweet potato cubes when steaming sweet potatoes. 

  1. Cut each sweet potato into large cubes. Boyle cuts about eight pieces per potato. 
  2. Add one inch of water to a covered-microwave-safe bowl.
  3. Place the sweet potato cubes in the bowl. 
  4. Microwave on high for five to 10 minutes.
how to make sweet potatoes microwave

(Photo Credit: HelloFresh)

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave

Do you know how to microwave a sweet potato for mashed potatoes? If you have young kids that love their spuds soft and mushy, it’s a great kitchen trick to know how to make mashed sweet potatoes in the microwave quickly. 

  1. Peel the skin off the sweet potato.  
  2. Pierce the sweet potato with a fork on both sides. 
  3. Microwave on high for five minutes or until tender (add time for more than one potato — see below for more information).
  4. Cool the sweet potato on the counter. 
  5. Place the sweet potato in a medium bowl and mash well with a fork. 
  6. Add desired ingredients like butter, cinnamon, or sugar. 
  7. Whisk until very smooth, then serve the mashed sweet potatoes warm. 
how to bake sweet potatoes microwave

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

How long do you microwave a sweet potato?

Before you start prepping your spuds, make sure you know how long to microwave sweet potatoes — because, let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than serving a firm, sweet potato that requires a hammer and chisel just to cut it up!

The good news: To fix this mistake, all you need to figure out is how long to bake sweet potatoes in microwave. So, if you’re wondering how long to microwave two sweet potatoes or maybe even how long to microwave three sweet potatoes, follow these guidelines:

  • To cook one sweet potato, microwave five minutes. 
  • If you are trying to cook multiple sweet potatoes, then add two minutes of cooking time for each potato. For example, microwave two sweet potatoes for seven minutes and three sweet potatoes for nine minutes. 

And if you’re looking to make your sweet potatoes part of a delicious meal, check out this recipe for Rapid Maple Balsamic Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli.

Bet you never knew your microwave could work so hard — and for a kid-approved food that’ll turn out soft, fluffy, and delicious. 

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