Sweet potatoes are a superfood, which means they’re a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.
And it’s no surprise.sweet potatoes have over 80 nutrients. They’re high in vitamin B6, vitamin A, carotene, and potassium. They’re rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E. And they’re a great source of dietary fiber, which may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer as well as helping you feel satisfied at the end of a meal.
How to Store
Once you get them home, store your sweet potatoes a cool, dry place, ideally with some ventilation. About 55°F is perfect. Don’t store them in the refrigerator—it can produce a hard core at the center and unpleasant flavors. It’s always better to store them warmer than colder.
Don’t wash your sweet potatoes until you plan to use them. And for the best texture and flavor, use them within a week or two.
Basic Cooking Instructions
There are many ways to cook sweet potatoes. Here are a few basic ways
Baked sweet potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pierce the sweet potatoes a few times with a fork or knife, and then bake until tender, 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the sweet potatoes.
- For quicker baked sweet potatoes, microwave on high for 4 minutes, then bake at 400°F until tender, 10 to 20 minutes.
Roasted sweet potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Toss diced or sliced sweet potatoes 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.
Mashed sweet potatoes
- Bake, boil, steam, or microwave sweet potatoes as directed above until very tender. If whole, scoop out the flesh. Then mash with a fork or potato masher to desired consistency.
Sweet Potato fries
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut sweet potatoes 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 sweet potatoes
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Toss diced or sliced sweet potatoes or sweet potato 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.
Sweet Potato toast
- Cut sweet potatoes 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.)