How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in a Microwave

Posted on September 7th, 2009 by Elaine

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading ...

No Comments (Post Comment)

Republish

Sweet potatoes are yummy, starchy root vegetables that go well with numerous food items, as well as in savory desserts and dishes. It’s just as yummy as a regular potato, and can be cooked just as easily. Many people like to boil, fry or roast these, but if you’re in a hurry, you can use your microwave oven.

What You’ll Need:

Sweet potatoes
Paper towels
Microwave-safe dish
Microwave oven
Fork
Butter
Salt and pepper
Other toppings (sour cream, cheese, bacon bits broccoli, peppers)

Procedure:

Go to the grocery (or your garden, if you grow these veggies) and pick out several sweet potatoes. You can either get the dry yellow variety or the orange ones with a moist texture. Make sure the potatoes are firm and do not have any decaying parts. There must be no wrinkles or bruises on the vegetable, too.
Wash the sweet potatoes. Like regular potatoes, they are usually grimy and their skin covered with dust or dirt when you pick them out. Run them under warm water, rubbing their skins slightly, to remove the grim. When done, use paper towels to dry them completely.
Use a fork to pierce the potatoes. This will allow their insides to cook more thoroughly later on.
Put the potatoes inside the microwave, on a microwave-safe dish. As much as possible, cook only one or two pieces at a time. If you don’t have a microwave-safe dish, you can just wrap the potatoes inside a wet paper towel.
Put the potato inside the microwave. Most models have a potato button, so just press yours. Cooking time usually takes 4 to 7 minutes, depending on the microwave model and the potato’s size.
Halfway through the cooking process, turn the potatoes to the other side.
When time’s up, check if the potatoes are done, by poking them with a fork, If the inside is moist and tender, your potatoes are cooked.
Take it out and use a knife to cut it in half. Slather on some butter, then add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add other toppings if you want.

Some Tips

Handle sweet potatoes carefully, so they won’t bruise.
Don’t wash sweet potatoes if you don’t plan on cooking them. These can spoil easily when they’re wet and bruised. Store them in a dry, cool place. Don’t refrigerate them, too.
Sweet potato comes in different varieties, but if you’re looking for the most nutritious type, then settle for the orange ones.

A sweet potato can definitely make any meal sweeter and more appetizing, but make sure you cook it thoroughly first. With the help of your microwave, this won’t be very difficult.