Baked Sweet Potato

Baked potatoes are one of the easiest, crowd-pleasing side dishes. A simple pat of butter and drizzle of honey, or dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of cooked bacon, make the perfect toppings for a baked sweet potato, but if you want to take it to the next level, beef and bean chili, guacamole, or even spicy beans work as hearty, delicious garnishes. 

Is it better to microwave or bake sweet potatoes?

The microwave can certainly help you get dinner on the table faster, but you can’t beat the crispy skin the oven yields, especially when the potato is brushed with oil and sprinkled with coarse kosher salt before baking.

Do sweet potatoes bake faster than regular potatoes?

The flesh of a sweet potato is softer and holds more moisture than something like a russet potato. When baked, there is more steam created inside of the potato, which can help it bake faster. However, it really depends on the size of the potato. If you're working with a large, thick potatoes, it will take longer to bake whether it’s a sweet potato or a regular potato. 

We love picking through the sweet potato bin to find longer, more slender sweet potatoes. Ideally, each one will weigh around 8 to 10 ounces. The center bakes through and stays super moist before the skin gets too dark. 

Should sweet potatoes be scrubbed before cooking?

Absolutely. Sweet potatoes are harvested straight from the ground, and though they may look clean in the grocery store, dirt and dust can definitely get trapped in their skin. A good practice is to scrub them once you get home from the market or store.  Pat them dry with a paper towel and leave them in a single layer at room temperature until the skin is completely dry (remember to turn them over once so that they dry evenly on both sides). Now you have sweet potatoes that are prepped and ready for the oven!