How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
Ahh!!! The GLORIOUS sweet potato, my absolute favorite veggie. When baked, the natural sweetness emerges and it’s full of nutrients and benefits, so it’s no wonder that it is high on the super food list. I enjoy Baked Sweet Potatoes year-round, so I’ve become quite the expert on baking them to perfection. Even though I use them for many things, eating them baked and plain is my favorite and healthiest way to enjoy.
It’s quite simple to bake sweet potatoes, and if you aren’t consuming this super food in your regular diet, you should consider adding them in. Sweet potatoes are an anti-inflammatory vegetable that is heart healthy and rich in antioxidants and vitamin A to help boost immunity. They are full of healthy carbs for fueling your busy day, (great for brain food also!) Sweet potatoes are also beneficial for your eyes, and have also been shown to aid with anxiety, easing stress and reducing mood disturbances.
Ingredients:
- 4-6 Sweet Potatoes
Selecting sweet Potatoes:
Sweet potatoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Try to find medium sweet potatoes that are similar in size and firm when squeezed with little or no wrinkles.
Wash your sweet potatoes under cold water. I use a wad of paper towel to give them a little light scrub. Dry sweet potatoes, then poke skin with fork all over.
Place on a foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet and put in cold oven. Turn oven on to 400℉ / 205℃ and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn off oven but leave sweet potatoes in closed oven for 15 minutes longer. (Set timer, if needed.)
Why start in a cold oven?
There is a science behind this! The reason to start in a cold oven is for the enzymes to break down the starches to become a sweeter version called maltose. This happens between certain temperatures, therefore giving you a naturally sweeter potato. NOTE: If using very large sweet potatoes, prolong baking time for 15-20 minutes longer.
Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.
You can use a knife to cut skin and enjoy as is, or easily remove skin and just use the sweet potato meat for casseroles, smoothies, cakes, bread or cookies.
Shown is my Sweet Potatoe Pie with Streusel topping. For the recipe click HERE.
For my recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole Cookies click HERE.
How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
Recipe details
- 4-6 servings
- Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 75 Minutes Total time: 1 hr 20 min
Comments
Share your thoughts, or ask a question!
Why does it say to start in a cold oven but recipe says pre heat???
i love sweet potatoes. I put olive oil on the skins before baking because it makes the skins soft, a tiny bit crisp, and very tasty.
just a thought.