Learning How to Bake Sweet Potatoes is Simple and Easy!
Sweet potatoes are a great addition to your diet, especially when you’re aiming to eat healthier. They are delicious, full of nutrients, and versatile with so many methods to cook them. One of the tastiest and most popular ways to enjoy sweet potatoes is by baking them.
Did you know that they are better alternatives to your usual regular potatoes? For one, sweet potatoes are super food for diabetics. Sweet potatoes lower glycemic index because of their minimal impact on your blood sugar levels, although the way they are prepared is a factor to consider. They are high in fiber, which means sweet potatoes lower blood sugar. Also, sweet potatoes lower triglycerides, the fat from the food that we eat, making them ideal for diabetes management.
It is also said that sweet potatoes lower blood cholesterol because of the fiber content. Adding them to a nutritious diet is a great lifestyle change that may reduce the risks of heart attacks and other diseases. They are a great source of potassium and magnesium, both of which are equally great for your heart’s health. In addition, sweet potatoes lower blood pressure.
For weight watchers or people on a low carb diet, sweet potatoes can be a very useful lower carb diet option. They are a good snack option especially when you’re craving some carbs. They have fewer calories so you may feel full faster even when you eat less. They are high in water content and can boost your metabolism.
Given the amazing health benefits of sweet potatoes, they are a worthwhile addition to your meals. They also go well with so many things, especially when you bake them.
Baked sweet potatoes are really easy to do at home. You can even be flexible and experiment with other kitchen appliances like a microwave if you don’t have a conventional oven. Learn how to bake sweet potatoes today and start enjoying them through these five different ways.
Preparation
Any method you choose to bake your sweet potatoes, it’s important to prepare them first. Start by washing them under cool water and scrubbing them thoroughly with a dedicated vegetable brush or a dishtowel. Potatoes are generally very dirty, and if they’re not cleaned properly, you may encounter specks of dirt when they’re cooked.
Try to choose sweet potatoes with roughly the same size. This helps them cook more evenly together.
Optional: For extra flavor, drizzle your sweet potatoes with olive oil and season them with kosher salt before baking, making sure to cover the entire surface. If you want to eat healthier or lessen the fat, skip this step.
1. Oven: Classic Baked Sweet Potatoes
The classic way to bake sweet potatoes is through your oven. Preheat it to 425°F and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Pierce your clean sweet potatoes with a fork. This step is crucial because they will build up steam and you want to avoid them exploding in the oven.
Place your potatoes on the sheet and bake for 40 minutes until tender. To check, you can poke a fork or a knife through the thickest section of the potato. If it goes through easily, that means they’re ready.
2. Microwave: Baked Sweet Potatoes in an Instant
If you don’t have an oven, microwaves work great in baking sweet potatoes. They also save you more time if you need them immediately. Poke holes through the potatoes with a fork, and wrap them individually in damp paper towels. Microwave for five minutes on high, flipping them over halfway through.
Each unit is different, so if your sweet potatoes aren’t done yet, you can continue microwaving further in 30-second increments until you’re satisfied with their doneness.
3. Air Fryer: Crispy On the Outside, Tender on the Inside
If you like your sweet potatoes to have crispy skin, the air fryer is the best option for you. The important thing to note about how to bake them in this nifty gadget is to not overcrowd it with the potatoes because air needs to circulate properly. Therefore, this method works best if you’re only doing a small batch.
Unlike the other methods on this list, you don’t need to pierce your potatoes with a fork. Spray your tray with cooking spray, then air fry them for 40 minutes at 400°.
4. Slow Cooker: Nice and Slow Does the Trick
For fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes, toss them in your slow cooker for a couple of hours. To help them cook through better, wrap them individually in aluminum foil after you clean and season them.
The bottom of slow cookers can get hotter than everywhere else. If this is a concern for your unit, you can line the bottom with aluminum foil balls before placing your wrapped sweet potatoes in. Cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
5. Instant Pot: Creamy and Tender Baked Sweet Potatoes
Another way to bake sweet potatoes is through your Instant Pot. This method comes in useful when you need to prepare them fast, although it will take a little longer than the microwave.
Place 1 cup of water into your Instant Pot. Pierce your sweet potatoes with a fork, then line them out onto the Instant Pot’s accompanying trivet. Close the lid and seal, then set the timer to 15 minutes on high pressure. Once that’s done, release the steam naturally for 5 minutes, then vent the rest of the pressure before taking your baked sweet potatoes out.
Have Fun with Toppings
The process of baking sweet potatoes is only half the fun of preparing them. The other half comes in the form of what you serve them with.
While you can have baked sweet potatoes on the side for meals such as steak, roast chicken, and barbecued ribs, you can turn it as a meal of its own by cutting it in half and adding toppings.
For a Tex-Mex flavor, sauté onion and carrots in a pan, then add meat and taco seasoning. Stir in tomatoes last, then ladle a generous helping onto a baked sweet potato. Add avocados and sour cream after.
Go with BBQ Chicken toppings for the ultimate comfort food. Toss shredded chicken with some barbecue sauce and garlic, then add onions, jalapeños, and cheese on top. Bake your sweet potatoes further for another 15 minutes, then serve.
Add a twist to your usual Sloppy Joes with a baked sweet potato version. If you have a tried-and-tested recipe, go ahead and use it. If not, take a skillet and sauté onions and garlic. Add ground meat and bell peppers, then season with tomato paste, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cook until done, then stuff into sweet potatoes. Add cheese on top, then bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Otherwise, you can keep it simple with soft cheese, or sour cream and chives with bacon bits. Some people even like just adding cinnamon to it for a tasty snack.
There is no right or wrong way to enjoy baked sweet potatoes, it’s just a matter of finding one that you like. Certainly, you’ll never run out of recipes on how to add them to your meals and enjoy all their health benefits.
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