How to Bake Sweet Potatoes

Publifood November 03, 2021

 

How to Bake Sweet Potatoes

Learn how to bake sweet potatoes with this easy step-by-step method and perfect cook time in the oven - includes baking tips & serving ideas!


Follow this tutorial and learn how to make perfect baked sweet potatoes every time. If you’ve never tried them before, you are in for a treat. Slowly baked, these root vegetables undergo magic in the oven, transforming into savory-sweet, caramel goodness.




SWEET POTATOES HEALTH BENEFITS

There are so many amazing health benefits of sweet potatoes.Here are 5 facts to answer the question of why are sweet potatoes healthy:



  1. Sweet potatoes are considered low on the glycemic index scale – that’s basically a ranking for carbs in food depending that how they affect blood sugar levels. If something has low glycemic index, it means it’s more slowly digested.
  2. Sweet potatoes are high in both vitamin C and beta-carotene which means they help boost your immunity.
  3. Because of their high fiber content, sweet potatoes help to prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.
  4. One medium baked sweet potato with skin has only 103 calories.
  5. They may help support weight loss. About 12% of the starch in sweet potatoes is resistant starch. This is a fiber-like substance your body doesn’t digest, which was found to actually help burn fat after a meal.


PREPARE THE SWEET POTATOES

  • Wash well under running water. Scrub off spots of dirt.
  • Dry the potato thoroughly.
  • Use a fork to make a series of holes all over.

BAKE IN THE OVEN

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to minimize any mess. Put the potatoes on the baking sheet and bake until tender through to the center.
  • When done, the potatoes will be puffed up and a knife should glide easily through.

TIPS FOR BAKING SWEET POTATOES

  1. Make sure to poke holes in the potatoes. The holes are like little steaming vents so that as the sweet potato gets hot and cooks. It also releases steam and helps to reduce baking time.
  2. Let the potatoes bake until soft and collapsing on themselves. This ensures that the baked sweet potatoes reach maximum tastiness.
  3. Beware the drips. These will leak, hence the lined baking tray. If you throw the potatoes on the bare oven rack, protect your oven bottom with aluminum foil.
  4. Pick unblemished potatoes: To guarantee the best texture and taste avoid bruised veggies.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do you store baked sweet potatoes?

Stored in an airtight container or tightly covered, these will last 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

What do you serve with sweet potatoes?

Go sweet (maple syrup, cinnamon) or savory (smoked paprika, 7 Spice, hot pepper.) Top with chili, any type of bean, plain yogurt, or tzatziki sauce. Asian flavors like soy or miso sauce work well, too. Excellent with roasted chicken or sliced into salads.

Does this method work with all different kinds of sweet potatoes?

Yes, definitely experiment with all the varieties of sweet potatoes. The Japanese Murasaki type with purple skin is particularly nice roasted.





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