Description
Learn the simple, reliable method for baking sweet potatoes in the oven until the inside is perfectly tender and the skin is slightly crisp.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
- Coarse salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
- Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly under running water. Scrub the skin well to remove any dirt. Pat them completely dry with a paper towel.
- Pierce each sweet potato four to five times deeply around the sides using a fork or a sharp knife. This allows steam to escape.
- For a slightly crispier skin, rub the outside of each potato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt. If you prefer a softer skin, skip the oil and salt.
- Place the potatoes directly onto the middle oven rack. Do not wrap them in foil; wrapping traps moisture and results in a steamed, soft skin rather than a crisp one.
- Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. The exact time depends on the size of your potatoes.
- Check for doneness by squeezing the potato gently; it should yield easily, or insert a fork into the center—it should slide in with no resistance.
- Remove from the oven. Let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing open lengthwise. Fluff the inside flesh with a fork.
- Serve immediately with your preferred toppings.
Notes
- For a sweeter interior, you can bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack without a baking sheet underneath. Any drips will burn off.
- If you want a twice-baked sweet potato, scoop out the cooked flesh, mix it with butter, brown sugar, or savory spices, and return it to the skin shells to bake for another 10 minutes.
- For a faster method, you can microwave the potatoes for 5 to 8 minutes until soft, then finish them in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes to crisp the skin.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 55 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 medium potato
- Calories: 112
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 70
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 0