How to Cook Sweet Potatoes {3 Ways!}

Learn the best ways to cook sweet potatoes with these 3 delicious and easy recipes! Try them mashed, fully loaded or baked in the oven.

How to cook sweet potatoes

1. Wash the sweet potatoes.
2. Cut or chop them up depending on the recipe.
3. Cook them in the oven or boil them in water.
4. Prepare any toppings.
5. Add on your desired toppings.
6. Serve and enjoy!

Sweet potato recipes 3 ways

Sweet potatoes are very versatile. You can cook them a number of ways, including the three recipes below.

• Fully loaded: whole baked sweet potatoes with lots of toppings
• Mashed sweet potatoes: boil the diced sweet potatoes and mash them with a fork or potato masher
• Roasted: diced sweet potatoes roasted in the oven with a few seasonings

Fully loaded sweet potatoes

Mashed sweet potatoes

Roasted sweet potatoes

How many calories are in a sweet potato?

There are about 100 calories in one medium-sized sweet potato. Each of these recipes has a different calorie count but they’re all lower in calories than their regular potato alternatives.

Are sweet potatoes healthy?

Definitely! Sweet potatoes are a great option if you’re craving some fries or creamy mashed potatoes. While they have a similar calorie and carb count as regular potatoes, sweet potatoes contain more antioxidants (including vitamin A) and won’t make your blood sugar spike like regular potatoes can.

How to cut and peel sweet potatoes

The skin of a sweet potato is edible and will soften as you cook it. If you are dicing or mashing the sweet potatoes, you will want to remove the skin first. Your sweet potatoes will cook faster after peeling.

Follow these steps to make your job easier:

1. Wash the sweet potatoes.
2. Peel from root to tip – use a serrated knife or vegetable peeler.
3. Make long even strokes and turn the potato as you go.
4. Find a flat part of the potato to set on the cutting surface. It’s easier to cut if it doesn’t roll.
5. Cut the pieces as evenly as possible so they cook equally.

How long do sweet potatoes last?

Raw sweet potatoes will normally last out on the counter or in your pantry for one to two weeks. When you cook them they can last in the fridge for up to five days or up to three months in the freezer in an airtight glass container.

How do you store sweet potatoes?

When choosing sweet potatoes, pick small to medium-sized sweet potatoes. These are sweeter and creamier than the larger potatoes which can sometimes taste more starchy. Find ones that are firm to the touch.

Raw sweet potatoes should never be stored in the fridge. Being exposed to the cold temperature will produce a hard center and a bitter taste. Instead, store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, like a root cellar.

Stored this way, they will last for about two weeks. When they start to shrivel or grow roots, it’s time to get rid of them.

Storing and reheating

Your storing technique will change depending on how you prepared your sweet potato.

For baked sweet potatoes, when they are completely cooled, you can store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Leave them whole, without the toppings.

That means you can meal prep these recipes. Bake the sweet potatoes in advance and you will only have to make the toppings the day you want to eat them.

You can reheat baked sweet potatoes in the microwave or in the oven.

Roasted potatoes can be stored similarly in the refrigerator. To keep them crispy, reheat them in the oven. These are great for breakfast with eggs. You can just reheat them in the microwave as well but you will be losing some of the crunch.

Mashed sweet potatoes can be stored in a plastic bag or glass meal prep container and reheated in the microwave in the next 4 to 5 days.

Freezing sweet potatoes

Whole baked sweet potatoes can be frozen for up to 3 months.

To freeze roasted sweet potatoes, put them in the freezer on the tray first. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. This way they won’t stick together.

To freeze mashed sweet potatoes, put them in a freezer bag and squeeze out all the air. You can freeze them flat to save space. Add a little bit of lemon to the mashed sweet potatoes to keep them from turning brown.

The best way to thaw sweet potatoes is in the refrigerator overnight. However, if you need them quickly, you can thaw them in the microwave from frozen or in a bowl of cool water.

More sweet potato recipes

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Lentil Chili

Meal prep tools for this recipe

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning sweet potatoes into your weekly lunches.
• Use these Ziploc bag holders if you're freezing the sweet potatoes in freezer bags
• Get a Y-shaped peeler to peel your sweet potatoes
• Freeze these recipes in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months

*Nutritional info is for fully loaded sweet potatoes