Microwave Sweet Potato Recipe
Piercing the skin lets steam escape instead of building up inside and splitting the potato, while microwaving on a paper towel and flipping halfway cooks the dense center through without turning the outer flesh rubbery.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 9 min
- Total
- 14 min
- Servings
- 1
Ingredients
- 1 whole sweet potato, medium (about 8 oz / 225 g)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280
- Protein
- 4g
- Carbs
- 41g
- Fat
- 11g
Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.
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Instructions
- 1Scrub the sweet potato under running water and dry it well, there's no need to peel it.
- 2Poke 6-8 holes all over the potato with a fork, going about half an inch deep, so steam has somewhere to escape.
- 3Set the potato on a microwave-safe plate lined with a paper towel.
- 4Microwave on high for 4 minutes, then flip the potato over.
- 5Microwave for another 4-5 minutes, until a knife or fork slides into the thickest part with no resistance.
- 6Let the potato rest on the plate for 2 minutes before handling, it will keep cooking slightly from residual heat and the inside stays extremely hot.
- 7Slice it open lengthwise, fluff the flesh with a fork, and top with butter and salt.
Tips & variations
- Choose a potato that's roughly the same thickness end to end; a lopsided, tapered one will have an undercooked skinny end and an overcooked fat end.
- For two potatoes at once, add about 3-4 extra minutes total and rearrange them halfway through so both cook evenly.
- Top with a spoonful of Greek yogurt and chili flakes instead of butter for a savory, higher-protein version.
- If the potato still feels firm in the center after resting, microwave in 1-minute bursts rather than guessing at a longer single stretch, dense potatoes go from underdone to mushy fast.
Storage & reheating
Store a cooked, cooled sweet potato wrapped in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat whole or halved in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, or split and reheat cut-side down in a hot skillet for a few minutes to bring back some texture on the flesh.
Tips from the Tulo kitchen
- A potato left whole and unpierced can genuinely pop in the microwave from built-up steam, the fork holes matter even though they seem like a minor step.
- Resting time isn't optional if the potato is still firm when the timer ends; carryover cooking finishes the job without drying out the skin.
FAQ
How long does it take to microwave a sweet potato?
A medium sweet potato (about 8 ounces) takes 8-10 minutes total on high power, flipped halfway through. Larger potatoes over 10 ounces may need 12-13 minutes.
Do I need to wrap the sweet potato in plastic wrap or a wet paper towel?
No wrapping is needed. Setting it on a dry paper towel on a plate is enough to catch any drips; wrapping tightly can actually trap steam unevenly and make the skin soggy.
Why is my microwaved sweet potato still hard in the middle?
This usually means the potato is thicker than average or the microwave is lower wattage than 1000W. Continue microwaving in 1-minute increments, checking with a knife each time, rather than assuming it's done at the original time estimate.
Can I microwave a sweet potato without piercing it?
Piercing it is important. Without vent holes, steam builds up inside the dense flesh and can cause the potato to burst, which is messy and can also damage the microwave.