Microwave sweet potato

Two sweet potatoes cut open on a white plate.

Whether you're short on time or simply craving one, microwaving sweet potatoes is an easy technique that retains their natural goodness without the lengthy oven commitment.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword microwave sweet potato

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 8

Total Time 13

Servings servings

Calories 194kcal

Author Tanya Harris

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes about 8 oz each
Oil salt, and pepper (optional)

Instructions

Clean the sweet potato. Use a brush to scrub it under cool running water. Then, use a fork to prick the sweet potato all around.
Place the sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 5-11 minutes, flipping the sweet potatoes halfway through, depending on the wattage of your microwave. See the suggested times below.
Let it rest for a few minutes. It will be extremely hot when it comes out of the microwave, so let it rest for a few minutes to cool down.
Cut it open and season to taste.

Notes

You can rub a little oil, salt, and pepper on the skin of the sweet potato before microwaving if you plan on eating it as a baked sweet potato. You could add a pat of butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or a drizzle of maple syrup for a sweet version.
For a savory version, try a sprinkle of sea salt and cracked black pepper, or a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of olive oil.
I use this method when using mashed sweet potato in another recipe, like sweet potato pie. Just cook in the microwave as instructed, peel the skin, and mash the potatoes before proceeding with other recipes.
After the initial time, check the sweet potato for doneness (it should be soft and easy to pierce with a fork). If it's not done, continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals until it is.
The cooking time of a sweet potato in a microwave can vary greatly depending on the wattage of the microwave and the size of the potato. Below is a rough guide on how long you should initially set the microwave for, based on its wattage.
Microwave Wattage & Minutes
600 Watts
10-11 minutes
800 Watts
8-9 minutes
1000 Watts
5-6 minutes
1200 Watts
4-5 minutes

Nutrition