how long to.bake sweet potato

The baking time for a sweet potato depends on its size and the oven temperature. Here’s a general guide:

General Guidelines:

• Temperature: 400°F (200°C)
• Small Potatoes (under 1 pound): 45-60 minutes
• Medium Potatoes (1-1.5 pounds): 60-75 minutes
• Large Potatoes (over 1.5 pounds): 75-90 minutes or longer

How to Bake:

1. Wash and Scrub: Thoroughly wash and scrub the sweet potatoes to remove any dirt.
2. Pierce: Poke the sweet potatoes several times with a fork or knife. This allows steam to escape and prevents them from bursting.
3. Optional: Oil and Season: You can lightly oil the sweet potatoes and season them with salt and pepper or other desired spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, etc.).
4. Bake: Place the sweet potatoes directly on the oven rack.
5. Check for Doneness: The sweet potatoes are done when they are soft and easily pierced with a fork or knife.
6. Let it rest: Remove from oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before handling.

Tips for the Best Baked Sweet Potato:

• Even Baking: For more even baking, try to choose sweet potatoes that are similar in size.
• Aluminum Foil: For easier cleanup, you can wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil before baking. However, some people feel this can make the skin less crispy.
• Crispy Skin: To get crispy skin, bake the sweet potatoes directly on the oven rack, don’t wrap them in foil, and ensure that the skin is dry before baking.
• Microwave (for a quicker bake): In a pinch, you can partially cook a sweet potato in the microwave to speed up the baking process. Microwave on high for 5-8 minutes per potato (depending on size), then transfer to the oven at 400°F (200°C) to finish baking until soft.

Check your sweet potatoes at the suggested timeframes and adjust as needed. Enjoy!