It is dinner time, and you are prepared to cook a meal for your family, but you don’t want it to take forever. You can spend a long time in the kitchen cooking if you don’t find easier and simpler ways to cook certain foods. Nothing is worse than the meal taking too long to be made, because you want to make a healthy side like sweet potatoes.
Many people spend time baking sweet potatoes. You have to pre-heat the oven, dirty a large baking sheet, and then wait almost an hour! Why bake, when you can microwave? Sweet potatoes can be cooked in the microwave so that you can save time making dinner for the family. You can just pop the potato in the microwave!
It is much easier and quicker than baking, and there are several different ways that you can microwave sweet potatoes. So now that you know that there is a short cut to cooking sweet potatoes. You are probably wondering how can you microwave sweet potatoes?
#1 Way is to Poke, Plate, and Microwave It!
Microwaving sweet potatoes is a very simple process. The first thing you do is clean the sweet potatoes under running water. I use lukewarm water and scrub each potato with my fingers to get any and all the dirt off. After that, you need to poke each potato. This helps the steam that builds up from the moisture in the potato escape during the cooking process.
Don’t skip this step; because believe it or not, there is a slight possibility that a potato can explode from the pressure that builds inside of it. You can use a knife or fork as long as you poke the potato around 4-6 times. Then you sit the potato on a plate safe for microwaving, and then you microwave for 5-10 minutes. If you’re microwaving more than one potato, add 2 extra minutes per potato.
Once it is done, I check it by poking it with a knife to feel how tender it is. If it is too firm, I pop it back in the microwave and keep microwaving for 1-2 minute increments. Once, I can poke it with a knife and it cuts through easily, it is done cooking. Then, you wait 5 minutes for it to cool and enjoy it!
#2 Way is to Steam the Sweet Potato in the Microwave
Another easy method and my personal favorite way of microwaving sweet potatoes is steaming them. This method requires you to use plastic wrap. You start the same as the previous method. You want to clean the sweet potato under running water; scrubbing it with your fingers until it is clean. After that, poke the potato with a knife or fork 4-6 times.
Then, wrap the potato with plastic wrap. I usually cover the entire potato like I was closing and folding a wrap or burrito. Once you’ve got it wrapped, you can place it on a plate and throw it in the microwave. Microwave on high for 5-10 minutes until the potato is done. Again, you can add an extra 2 minutes for each potato if you’re microwaving more than one at a time. Check it for tenderness and keep microwaving it in 1-2 minute increments as needed.
Once it is finished, let it rest for 5 minutes before unwrapping it. Then, you will be ready to serve a delicious and healthy microwave steamed sweet potato.
#3 Way is to Microwave Your Sweet Potato in Water
This method is just as effective as the previous ones. It is another form of steaming the sweet potato without plastic wrap. You will need a microwave-safe container with a lid. First, you want to clean the sweet potato in running water, and then poke the potato 4-6 times with a knife or fork.
Then, you place the sweet potato in the container and fill it with water until the water line is halfway up the sweet potato. Cover the container and place it in the microwave. Depending on the size of the potato, you will want to microwave it for 5 minutes before you check on how tender it is. Add 2 extra minutes for each extra sweet potato you are microwaving. Just like before, you can microwave it in 1-2 minute increments until it is done.
The water will evaporate as you microwave it. Once it is finished, wait 5 minutes for it to cool. This method is great to use if you want to steam the sweet potato, but don’t want to use plastic wrap or don’t have any on hand. Either way, you end up with a delicious microwave steamed sweet potato for your meal or to use for other recipes.
Microwave Sweet Potato Mash
Now that you know how to microwave sweet potatoes, you will find that you can make all kinds of things with them! You can eat them plain, add butter, sugar, cinnamon, or anything else you want! You can load your sweet potato with a bunch of toppings too if you want a healthy alternative to a loaded potato.
However method you choose, sweet potato mash is one of my favorites. It is very easy to make! After you’ve microwaved your sweet potatoes, you can separate the sweet potato from its skin by scooping the inside out with a spoon. Place the inside of the sweet potatoes in a bowl and start to mash the sweet potatoes with a fork or potato masher. You can add butter or sugar to make it more savory or eat the sweet potato mash plain.
Either way, microwave sweet potato mash is an easy side you can make with microwaved sweet potatoes. You can take it even one step further, and make something with the microwave sweet potato mash! For example, you can use it to bake recipes like sweet potato pie or sweet potato souffle. Sweet potatoes are very popular for holiday sides and desserts. The sky is the limit with what you can do with a microwave and sweet potatoes!
Can you Microwave Sweet Potatoes? The Answer is YES
Now you know that you can microwave sweet potatoes. How can you microwave sweet potatoes? In several different and easy ways. This is all you need to know to never want to bake a sweet potato ever again! You will not waste time using the oven or get baking pans dirty; now that you know these 3 ways you can microwave sweet potatoes to save time. You can just pop the sweet potato in the microwave, you can wrap it in plastic, or you can place it in water.
All 3 ways work perfectly to fully cook sweet potatoes. Cooking dinner with sweet potatoes won’t be time-consuming. Time is precious, and you don’t want to waste any of it baking! In 10 minutes or so, you can have a fully cooked sweet potato that you can eat plain, topped, or mashed. Regardless of which method you choose to microwave your sweet potatoes; you will have a sweet, healthy, and delicious side for your meal!
