sweet potato how long to bake

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

General Guidelines:

• Oven Temperature: 400°F (200°C) is a good temperature for baking sweet potatoes.
• Size and Time:

  • Small (about 6-8 oz): 45-50 minutes
  • Medium (about 8-10 oz): 50-60 minutes
  • Large (over 10 oz): 60-75 minutes or more

• Check for Doneness: The sweet potato is done when it’s easily pierced with a fork or knife. It should feel soft all the way through.

Steps for Baking Sweet Potatoes:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Wash and Prepare: Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly. You can prick them a few times with a fork or knife to allow steam to escape (this helps prevent them from exploding).
3. Optional: Oil and Season: You can lightly brush the sweet potatoes with olive oil or another cooking oil and season them with salt and pepper or other desired spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.).
4. Bake: Place the sweet potatoes directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet.
5. Bake Until Tender: Bake for the time indicated above, checking for doneness.
6. Serve: Let them cool slightly before serving. You can eat them as is, or top them with butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, yogurt, nuts, or other toppings.

Tips:

• Uniform Size: Try to bake sweet potatoes of similar sizes at the same time, so they cook evenly.
• Wrap in Foil (Optional): Some people like to wrap the sweet potatoes in aluminum foil before baking. This steams them and can make them cook faster, but it also prevents them from getting the slightly caramelized, crispy skin. If wrapping, you can reduce the baking time slightly (by about 10-15 minutes).
• Instant Read Thermometer: For very precise cooking, the internal temperature should reach about 205-210°F (96-99°C). But a fork works well for checking doneness.
• Altitude: Cooking times may need slight adjustments based on your altitude.

Enjoy your baked sweet potatoes!