Sweet Potatoes in a Hurry: Use the Microwave

This orange root is chock-full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A. It's a popular holiday vegetable, especially baked and topped with marshmallows and brown sugar. People either love or hate sweet potatoes—but if you love them, sometimes waiting for the oven is too long. Thankfully, the microwave is going to save the day. Here's how to cook sweet potatoes in a hurry, using the microwave.

Prepare Your Sweet Potatoes

1 medium-sized sweet potato
Fork
Microwave-safe plate
Damp paper towel
Butter
Salt

First, scrub the potato and pat it dry, then pierce it 3 or 4 times with a fork. Wrap the potato in a damp paper towel and put it on a microwave-safe plate. Place it in the microwave and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until your desired doneness. Remove it from the microwave, cut it open, and add butter and salt. Serve hot.

Choosing and Storing Sweet Potatoes

At the supermarket, choose sweet potatoes that are bright, evenly colored, and firm. Store them in a dry, dark, cool place, and use them within two weeks. Additionally, sweet potatoes should not be stored in the fridge unless they are cooked, as they can go hard in the middle and have an unpleasant taste.

What's the Best Way to Freeze Sweet Potatoes?

The best way to freeze sweet potatoes is to first peel and slice them. Then boil them on the stove until tender, approximately 15 minutes. Next, drain and allow them to cool, and place them in a freezer bag. Remove the air and seal the bag. Sweet potatoes can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.

How to Serve Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes can be served plain or with butter and salt. Many people like to sprinkle cinnamon on top with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Furthermore, in the United States, a popular Thanksgiving dish is a marshmallow-sweet potato casserole. This sweet, gooey dish is made with sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, orange juice, cinnamon, and marshmallows. A ham sweet potato casserole is a perfect addition to take to your next potluck evening.

How to Microwave Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave is a time saver and also allows for more cooking space in the oven and on the stovetop. Follow this simple, stress-free microwave sweet potato recipe, and your guests will certainly come back for more.

1 sweet potato
Damp paper towel for each potato
Pinch of salt
Butter (optional)
Cinnamon (optional)
Honey (optional)
Maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

Wash and pat dry the desired amount of sweet potatoes.
Stab the skin of each sweet potato with a fork.
Then, wrap each potato in a damp paper towel.
Place the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 2 ½ minutes; turn them over and cook for a further 2 ½ minutes.
Then, test the potato by stabbing it with a fork. If it is still firm, cook for another minute or two.
Finally, slice the potato in half and fill it with your desired ingredients.

Notes

Note: There is no need to peel the sweet potato. Sweet potato skins are full of beneficial nutrients like manganese, potassium, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and E.