We are encouraged to eat foods from all colors of the rainbow, so the brightly colored sweet potato is an obvious option. A complex carbohydrate, the sweet potato can serve as the base of a meal, as a side, or as a snack, and it's healthier than its russet and Idaho potato counterparts.
Short on time? Microwave it.
Like regular potatoes, you will want to wash your sweet potato first. Once it's clean, you'll want to poke holes in your potato with a fork. Be careful, though! You don't want to stab yourself with the fork if the potato slips. On average, it takes about 5 minutes in the microwave, but it could vary depending on the size of your potato.
Poke your sweet potato with a fork again once done. It should be easy to do, and the inside of the sweet potato should be tender. If it's not, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until it's done.
Prefer the texture of an oven-baked sweet potato?
Similarly to microwaving it, you will want to wash your sweet potato and poke holes in it. You'll want to bake it between 45 and 50 minutes in a 425-degree Fahrenheit oven or until tender. Use the fork method like before.
Don't forget to get creative with it!
If you don't want a plain sweet potato, don't have one! Here are a few ideas from our sources:
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato (1)
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potato (1)
Butter, Honey, and Cinnamon Sweet Potato (1)
Bun-less Sloppy Joe (2)
Sweet Potato Casserole (2)
*If you've seen us at a local tabling event, you may have seen our sweet potato muffins!
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