how long to bake a sweet potatoes

The baking time for sweet potatoes can vary depending on their size, shape, and desired level of doneness. Here are some general guidelines:

Small to medium-sized sweet potatoes (1-1.5 pounds):

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until they’re tender when pierced with a fork.

Large sweet potatoes (1.5-2.5 pounds):

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 60-90 minutes, or until they’re tender when pierced with a fork.

Extra-large sweet potatoes (over 2.5 pounds):

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 90-120 minutes, or until they’re tender when pierced with a fork.

Check for doneness:

• Insert a fork or knife into the sweet potato. If it slides in easily, it’s done.
• Check the internal temperature. A cooked sweet potato should be at least 205°F (96°C).

Tips:

• Wrap sweet potatoes in foil to retain moisture and promote even cooking.
• You can also bake sweet potatoes at a lower temperature (375°F/190°C) for a longer period, but this may result in a slightly drier texture.
• To speed up the cooking process, you can microwave the sweet potatoes for 3-4 minutes before baking. This will help to soften them and reduce the baking time.

Remember, the key to perfectly baked sweet potatoes is to cook them until they’re tender and caramelized. Enjoy!