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Learn how to Microwave Sweet Potato in just 5 minutes, it turns out perfect every time. Cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave is by far the quickest and easiest way to bake potatoes without having to turn on the oven.
This is the recipe you’ve always wanted. After you learn how to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave, you won’t go back anymore. It’s such a quick and easy cooking method that doesn’t require more than 5 minutes of your day. The best thing is that microwaved sweet potatoes are as tender and tasty as the ones you bake or steam. A great dish for so many occasions!
Hands up if you also think that the microwave is a life saver. I use it every morning to make my microwave oatmeal, and almost every night to reheat leftovers. Perfect for time poor people like me. If you relate, then you will absolutely love this easy recipe.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Sweet potato. You only need one ingredient, a medium size sweet potato with a weight of approximately 7 to 8 ounces. Try to avoid large potatoes, as they won’t cook through. There is no need peel it, and you shouldn’t actually. You should microwave a whole sweet potato with skin on.
Optional ingredients. After cooking, you can cut the sweet potato in half and serve it with a tablespoon of butter, kosher salt and a bit of ground pepper. But of course, these are optional ingredients. From nourishing bowls to sweet potato muffins, the ways how you can use it are endless.
How to microwave sweet potato?
Prepare sweet potato. Wash the potato under running water to remove any dirt and impurity. Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and pat it dry. Do not remove the skin. With the help of a fork, poke three to four holes on each side of the sweet potato. Piercing ensures that the steam is released and prevents it from bursting.
Microwave. Transfer the potato over a clean microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 3 minutes. With the help of a kitchen tong, flip it on the other side and microwave for 2 to 3 minutes more. Check for doneness using a fork, it should be tender when poked.
Let cool and serve. Let your microwaved sweet potato cool for 2 to 5 minutes, the cut into half lengthwise. Serve it with melted butter, salt and pepper, or use it as a source of carbs in your favorite dishes.
Storage directions
After you cook sweet potato in the microwave, let it cool completely to room temperature. Once it has cooled, transfer to an airtight container with lid and refrigerate for a maximum of 4 days. To reheat, place the potato over a microwaveable plate and cook on medium power for 1 to 2 minutes. As an alternative, you can also use it in stir fries or mash and make potato fritters.
Microwave sweet potato recipe tips
- When you cook sweet potatoes in microwave oven, it is important to select a medium size potato. This ensures that the it cooks through and becomes tend, as if it was baked in the oven or boiled.
- You should not remove the skin before microwaving. Wash your potato very well under cold water, pat it dry and then pierce its skin. You’ll want to cook it with skin on to ensures a soft and tender inside.
- Make sure you pierce sweet potato skin before baking it in the microwave. The pokes allow all steam to exit and ensure that the potato won’t explode while it is cooking.
- Microwave for 3 minutes, then turn it on the other side and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes more. Flipping it is key to ensure that the potato cooks through and gets tender.
- After you have baked sweet potato in microwave, let it cool a bit and then serve with your favorite toppings. Stuff it with a dollop of sour cream, crumbled feta or pulled pork for a savory meal. Or top it with a drizzle of peanut butter, cinnamon and some Greek yogurt for a sweet breakfast.
Serving ideas and variations
A microwaved sweet potato is just like any other potato, but with the difference that it is cooked in a microwave in just 5 minutes. This is such a versatile recipe, it is perfect for so many dishes. Here at home we usually eat it for dinner, as a side for grilled chicken or as an alternative to air fryer sweet potato fries. But sometimes we end up having it for breakfast, with a drizzle of peanut butter and an omelette. Here are some more serving ideas, variations and toppings for you to try.
- Mashed potato – Cook in microwave, then mash it and combine with olive oil, butter, cheese and your favorite seasonings. A great classic, made easier.
- Loaded potato – Cut your microwave sweet potato in half and stuff it with minced meat or vegan meat, baked beans, cheese and homemade salsa.
- Soup – Cook until soft, then blend potatoes with vegetable or chicken broth, coconut milk, and spices like ginger, cumin, and garlic.
- Nourishing bowl – Assemble a bowl with fresh vegetables, air fryer tofu or chicken, avocado and sweet potato for a balanced meal that is healthy and satisfying.
- Breakfast bowl – Let the sweet potato cool, then pair it with Greek yogurt, peanut butter and fresh berries or banana for a protein packed breakfast.
- Sweet potato casserole – Mash cooked sweet potatoes and mix with brown sugar, cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla. Scoop out into a baking dish, top with chopped pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, and then bake.
Cooking medium sweet potato in the microwave requires about 5 minutes, 3 minutes on one side and 2 to 3 minutes on the other side. If you microwave small sweet potato, cooking time will be less. And if you microwave large sweet potato, cooking time will be more.
When you cook a sweet potato in the microwave, it is steamed from the inside out, which doesn’t allow the skin to crisp up as it would in an oven. The skin won’t be as crisp as if it was baked, but at the same time it will also not be as soft as if you were to boil it.
The best way to cook a sweet potato in the microwave is cooking one at the time. This ensures it cooks through and does not remain hard in some parts. If you want to make more, I recommend microwaving in batches.
Microwave Sweet Potato
Equipment
- microwave oven
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato, 7 to 8 ounces
Optional Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash the sweet potato under running water to remove any dirt and impurity. Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and pat it dry. Do not remove the skin.
- With the help of a fork, poke three to four holes on each side of the sweet potato. Piercing the potato ensures that the steam is released and prevents it from bursting.
- Transfer potato over a clean microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 3 minutes. With the help of a kitchen tong, flip the potato on the other side and microwave for additional 2 to 3 minutes. Check for doneness using a fork, it should be tender.
- Let microwaved sweet potato cool for 2 to 5 minutes, the cut into half lengthwise. Serve it with melted butter, salt and pepper on top, or use it for your favorite dishes.
Notes
- Cooking times may vary depending on the size of your sweet potato. Larger potatoes will require more time.
- Microwave one sweet potato at the time, do not cook in batches.
- Use a microwave-safe plate so that it won’t break.
Sweet potato yummy, one of my favorite to add in the soup or eat alone??
Hey dear Liza,
many thanks for your kind comment 😉 I completely agree, sweet potatoes (or camote or boniato in Spain) are so good! I love them alone, with almond butter and cinnamon on top 😉 It’s so quick to make them in the microwave!
Have a great day,
Matteo