how long to bake a sweet potato

The baking time for a sweet potato can vary depending on its 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 potato with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape.
• Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender when pierced with a fork.

Large sweet potatoes (1.5-2.5 pounds):

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

Extra-large sweet potatoes (over 2.5 pounds):

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

You can also check for doneness by gently squeezing the sweet potato. If it’s tender, it should yield to pressure.

Tips:

• Wrap the sweet potato in foil to retain moisture and promote even cooking.
• If you’re baking multiple sweet potatoes, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• To speed up the cooking process, you can microwave the sweet potato for 3-4 minutes before baking.

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