The fastest way to cook a sweet potato is to microwave it. You can serve microwaved sweet potatoes in many ways. They are versatile and complement many recipes. In addition to serving them as a convenient side dish, you can also stuff them with toppings or make a sweet and sour recipe with butter and cinnamon sugar. Look for firm sweet potatoes that are free of blemishes and wrinkles when shopping.
Whenever you cook more than one sweet potato at a time, make sure they are roughly the same size, so they cook simultaneously. It is also essential at the same time to understand the microwave well; otherwise, the sweet potato won't cook to perfection. Read our other blog on microwaves to learn everything about their functioning, advantages, and types.
Microwaving sweet potatoes reduces your cooking time by around 45 minutes while preserving their nutritional content. The faster you cook your potato, the more nutrients it will preserve. For example, when the sweet potato is baked in the microwave, it retains considerably more nutrients like folate, vitamins A and C than cooked in the oven.
Is It Bad To Cook A Sweet Potato In The Microwave?
Cooking a sweet potato in the microwave like Commercial Chef is the best way to retain its ingredients and taste. When you microwave sweet potatoes, they absorb the nutrients more easily than when you bake or sauté them. Microwaved sweet potatoes retain up to 92% of their nutritional value.
How Do You Steam A Sweet Potato In The Microwave?
Arrange the sweet potato in a circle in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Remember to cover it with a damp paper towel to retain the water. Rotate it and cook for another 5 minutes. Continue to cook until it is tender to the touch, and you can insert a fork without any resistance.
Do You Have To Stab A Sweet Potato Before Cooking It?
Yes, it is essential to stab a sweet potato before cooking it in a microwave. Stabbing it 6 to 7 times will help the steam escape quickly. It is also easy to remove the skin of the potato if you stab it. Stabbing helps in creating cracks to remove the peel easily. It also keeps the sweet potato from exploding as the pressure inside the potato rises when baking.
How Long Does It Take To Microwave A Large Sweet Potato?
It takes about 6 to 7 minutes to microwave a sweet potato. If the potato is large, it may take up to 8 minutes. The best way to know whether a sweet potato is cooked is to insert a knife. The sweet potato is ready to serve if the knife goes in without any resistance. Take a 30-sec interval and microwave it again for 5 minutes for it to cook to perfection. We have a list of the best microwaves to choose from, in case you are looking.
Does A Microwaved Sweet Potato Have A Different Texture Than A Roasted One?
Cooking in the microwave like COMFEE' CM-M092AAT Retro Microwave takes less time than in a convection oven, but some prefer the texture of an oven-baked potato to a microwaved sweet potato. The microwave causes the skin to wilt, while the punctures in the potato enable the moisture to escape. Ovens can offer a caramelized flavor to the sweet potato, which a microwave cannot do.
Can You Microwave Multiple Sweet Potatoes?
The answer is yes, but it is not advisable. While you may microwave a bunch of sweet potatoes at once, microwaving them one at a time will cook them better. Cooking two sweet potatoes at once takes twice as long as one or even longer. Another appliance that can do an excellent job with sweet potatoes is the air fryer. Read our blog on air fryers or microwaves to know the key differences between them before you choose.
How Can You Tell If A Sweet Potato Is Cooked?
Once cooked, put the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet. Use a fork or a knife tip to poke 4-5 holes in each one. When you insert a fork or knife, there should be little or no resistance.
Microwave Sweet Potato Recipes
The Traditional Microwaving
Microwave the sweet potato until it is cooked thoroughly. After 5 minutes, check the texture. Once the sweet potato is cooked, peel the skin. Cut the sweet potato into uniform cubes and sprinkle some kosher salt, paprika, and thyme for that delicious, flavorful salad you have always been craving.
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Black Bean Tostadas With Sweet Potato And Poblanos
It takes only 35 minutes to prepare this dish. It is full of heart-healthy vegetables such as cabbage, black beans, sweet potatoes, peppers, and fresh herbs. Crema brings it all together, while a dollop of cotija cheese adds a delectable richness.
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe With Sweet Potatoes
If you can't add meat to your vegetarian chili, you can use vegetables like red onions, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. Microwave the sweet potato, followed by all the other veggies. Once the cooking time is done, mix everything with spices like chili and soy sauce and simmer in a cooker for 10 minutes more. Serve it with sour cream, radish, scallions, etc.
Zucchini And Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
You can prepare this fiber-rich supper in only 20 minutes. The black bean filling comes together on the stove while the sweet potato cooks in the microwave. Serve each potato topped with white Cheddar cheese and a lime wedge. Combine the sweet potato and black bean filling. Fill tacos or nachos with this mouthwatering mixture.
Key Takeaway
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin B, calcium, and other vital minerals. The skin's color for sweet potatoes can range between white, yellow, purple, and brown. It is because of the high nutritional value of sweet potatoes that they are often microwaved. Among all other cooking processes, microwaving sweet potatoes can retain their food value the most.
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