The most frequent method of cooking a sweet potato is in the oven. If you do not have an oven, you may be concerned that there are no alternative methods to prepare sweet potatoes since you have only seen or heard of them being cooked in an oven.
The good news is that there are several ways to prepare a sweet potato. If you don’t have access to an oven, you can still cook a sweet potato.
Therefore you don’t have to be concerned. Cooking a sweet potato without an oven may be quite straightforward, perhaps simpler than using an oven!
Contents
- How to Tell If a Sweet Potato Is Cooked
- How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes to Be Cooked
- 1 – Microwave
- 2 – Stove
- 3 – Grill
- 4 – Air Fryer
- 5 – Instant Pot
- FAQs
- How to make sweet potato without a oven?
- Is it better to microwave or bake a sweet potato?
- How do you cook a sweet potato by itself?
- Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes?
- Can you make sweet potatoes in a pan?
- How to bake without an oven?
- How long should I put a sweet potato in the microwave?
- What’s the healthiest way to cook sweet potatoes?
- Is it safe to cook sweet potato in microwave?
- How do you boil and eat sweet potatoes?
How to Tell If a Sweet Potato Is Cooked
While cooking a sweet potato, it is critical to be able to detect when it is done. You won’t know you need to cook the potato for longer until it’s too late!
A sweet potato should be tender and mushy. Sweet potatoes may have different textures depending on how they are cooked.
Sweet potatoes roasted in the oven or microwaved may have a little stringy feel to the outer layer of cooked potato. Although this may seem disagreeable, the sweet potato remains soft, as do the few stringy bits of the potato, so it does not feel odd.
When you fried or air fry a sweet potato, the exterior skin becomes crispy and caramelized. The interior of the sweet potato will be mushy as well, depending on how thin the slices of sweet potato that you are frying are.
How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes to Be Cooked
Sweet potatoes must be prepared differently depending on the technique you want to use to cook them.
The skin of the sweet potato should be left on most of the time. You may simply remove it after cooking it, however certain cooking techniques or recipes may need you to remove it before cooking.
You should also avoid storing sweet potatoes in the refrigerator before cooking them. When you refrigerate sweet potatoes and then attempt to cook them, the core of the sweet potato becomes tougher and more thick, making it difficult to cook.
You may store uncooked sweet potatoes on your counter instead of in the refrigerator. This manner, the sweet potato will cook more evenly and won’t deteriorate as rapidly.
1 – Microwave
Heating sweet potatoes in the microwave is undoubtedly the most convenient method.
When you cook a sweet potato in the microwave, it cooks more quicker than it would in the oven. You don’t even need to preheat the oven before putting the sweet potato in!
By cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave rather than the oven, you ensure that more nutrients remain in the sweet potato. Cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave is actually healthier than cooking them in the oven.
Before you do anything with your sweet potato, wash it under running water and then dry it. Scrubbing it with a clean brush or towel can help remove any dirt from the potato’s exterior.
To prepare your sweet potato for microwave cooking, just set it on a microwave-safe tray and poke few holes in the skin.
It is recommended to use a fork to make holes in the skin of a sweet potato. Insert the fork into the sweet potato approximately five or six times, being careful to space the puncture areas equally over the potato.
Next, just microwave the potato for approximately five minutes, or until cooked. This cook time may vary based on the size of your sweet potato; thus, you may need to add additional time to ensure that it is properly cooked.
If you’re cooking more than one sweet potato in the microwave at a time, add two minutes for each additional sweet potato.
2 – Stove
Another fantastic option to avoid using an oven is to cook sweet potatoes on the stove. Cooking sweet potatoes on the stove is still quicker than in the oven, although it takes somewhat longer than in the microwave.
To prepare your sweet potatoes for cooking on the stove, begin by peeling them. Sweet potatoes may be peeled using a vegetable peeler or a tiny knife.
After peeling the sweet potatoes, chop them into little cubes. The size of your cubes is unimportant; just keep in mind that the smaller the cubes, the quicker they will cook.
But, you should be mindful of the size of the cubes you cut the sweet potatoes into. Make sure the cubes are all around the same size so they cook in the same amount of time.
Next, on medium heat, heat a pan or skillet on the stove. While the pan is hot, add some oil to the bottom and wait a minute for the oil to heat up.
The sweet potatoes may then be added. While they cook, be careful to swirl them around in the pan.
Sauté the sweet potatoes on the burner for approximately 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Let the sweet potatoes to sit for approximately 15 minutes, or until they are completely soft.
3 – Grill
Grilling sweet potatoes gives them a beautiful crispy outside layer while keeping them tender on the inside.
First, preheat your grill. Next, while your grill is heating up, begin preparing the sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes should be cut into narrow ovals or circles. Make sure all of your sweet potato slices are roughly the same thickness so they all cook at the same time.
Drizzle the sweet potatoes in olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
After your grill is hot, begin cooking the sweet potatoes. Cook for three to six minutes on each side of the sweet potato.
When the sweet potato is done, it should have excellent grill marks on both sides but not be completely charred. This will give the sweet potato a crunchy taste while keeping the interior mushy.
4 – Air Fryer
An air fryer takes roughly the same length of time as an oven to cook a sweet potato, but it is still a terrific option that results in a crispy outer layer on the sweet potato.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F before frying the sweet potatoes.
The first step in preparing a sweet potato for air fryer cooking is to clean the exterior of the sweet potato with water. Next, using a fork, make a few holes in the skin of the sweet potato.
Season the sweet potato with salt and pepper after coating it in olive oil.
After that, insert the sweet potato in the hot air fryer. Simmer for 45 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender.
After the sweet potato has completed cooking, the outside layer of skin should be crispy, but the center should be mushy. Its texture is similar to how it would be after baking, except the skin is crispier.
5 – Instant Pot
Sweet potatoes take around 30 minutes to cook in an instant pot.
Add water and a steaming basket to the instant pot.
Be care to wash and clean the exterior of the sweet potatoes to remove any dirt that may have accumulated on the surface. Finally, put the sweet potatoes in the instant pot’s steaming basket.
Before you begin cooking, place the cover on the instant pot and fasten it. Pressure cook the sweet potatoes for roughly 15 minutes on high.
After 15 minutes, remove the sweet potatoes from the instant pot and wait for the pressure to return to normal. This will take around 10 minutes.
Even if you leave the sweet potatoes in the saucepan, they will continue to cook due to the steam.
Remove the potatoes from the steaming basket after the pressure in the instant pot has been reduced. Check to see whether they are fully cooked and tender.
They may be served if they are properly prepared.
FAQs
How to make sweet potato without a oven?
Heat a big skillet (cast iron preferred) over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the oil to the pan once it is heated. To coat, swish it about. Sprinkle with salt (optional) and cover sweet potatoes in an equal layer.
Is it better to microwave or bake a sweet potato?
That is, without a doubt, the finest method. Microwaving sweet potatoes reduces cooking time by 45 to 55 minutes while maintaining nutritional content. All cooking techniques cause some nutritional loss in foods, however the faster your potato cooks, the more nutrients it retains.
How do you cook a sweet potato by itself?
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Scrub and wash your sweet potatoes well.
Put the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and use a fork or sharp knife to poke 4 to 5 holes in each sweet potato.
Bake for 60 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Poke them with a fork or knife to see whether they’re done.
Nov 19, 2021
Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes?
Baking may also reduce vitamin A levels by 80%, which is twice as much as boiling. As a result, from a nutritional aspect, boiling rather than baking should be advised for sweet potato preparation.
Can you make sweet potatoes in a pan?
In a large frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved, adding more butter if necessary. Fry the sweet potatoes till golden brown and fork tender, stirring periodically. Serve immediately.
How to bake without an oven?
A cast iron skillet and a gas, electric, or induction burner are two options for baking without an oven. Cast iron skillets are popular because they are long-lasting and constructed entirely of iron. They evenly cook your meal and may be used on the stovetop or in the oven.
How long should I put a sweet potato in the microwave?
Microwave for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through, on a microwave-safe dish. Step 2If your potato isn’t fork tender after 5 minutes, microwave it for another 30 seconds. Cut the potato in half, season with salt and pepper, then top with a pat of butter.
What’s the healthiest way to cook sweet potatoes?
Boiling sweet potatoes preserves more beta-carotene and makes the vitamin more absorbable than baking or frying. By restricting the cook time, such as boiling in a saucepan with a securely closed lid for 20 minutes, up to 92% of the nutrition may be maintained.
Is it safe to cook sweet potato in microwave?
Is it harmful to microwave a sweet potato? No, cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave is not a terrible idea. Some people are concerned that heating food in the microwave would destroy all of its nutrients, but this is simply not the case.
How do you boil and eat sweet potatoes?
pieces of 4 in. Peeling is not required; keep the skin on for extra nutrition.
Cover with 1 inch of water in a saucepan. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
Cook for 7 to 12 minutes, or until fork tender.
Drain and use as desired in recipes.
Sep 4, 2021
Sweet potatoes: How to Boil Them
Cut the sweet potatoes into three pieces.