Microwave Your Sweet Potato for a Quick and Easy Meal

Microwave Your Sweet Potato for a Quick and Easy Meal-Sweet potatoes are a popular vegetable due to their sweet, creamy, and vibrant interior. They can be cooked in various ways, such as mashed, fried, steamed, or roasted, and can be served as a main dish or as an addition to a recipe. However, baked sweet potatoes can take a long time to cook through, which may not be ideal for a quick meal. Fortunately, microwaving sweet potatoes is a quick and easy alternative that can be done in less than 10 minutes.

What Kind of Sweet Potato is Best for Microwaving?

While any type of sweet potato can be microwaved, it is recommended to use orange varieties with more moisture, such as Jewel or Garnet. Look for smooth and plump sweet potatoes that are free of bad spots and not shriveled. Old sweet potatoes will take longer to cook and often turn out dry with lackluster texture and flavor.

A Note on Microwaves

Microwave wattage has a big impact on the cook time of sweet potatoes. It is important to be familiar with your microwave's stats, such as the output wattage, which is often displayed on a sticker on the door or interior. A weak microwave will take longer to cook food than a powerful one. For example, a 1,000-watt output is a common wattage for relatively new, medium to large microwaves.

Tips for Perfectly Cooked Microwave Sweet Potato

How to Prepare and Enjoy a Delicious Microwave Sweet Potato

Microwaving a sweet potato is a quick and easy way to enjoy this nutritious vegetable. However, to ensure that it comes out perfectly cooked, there are a few tricks that you can use. In this article, we will share some tips on how to microwave a sweet potato and how to enjoy it in different ways.

Adjust the Cooking Time

The cooking time for a sweet potato in the microwave can vary depending on its size and the strength of your microwave. If you are cooking a smaller potato, it will take less time, and if you are cooking a larger one, it will take more time. As a general guideline, you can microwave a medium-sized sweet potato for 5-7 minutes. However, it's best to check on it periodically and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Poke the Potato

Before microwaving the sweet potato, make sure to pierce it a few times with a fork. This will help prevent any blowouts and ensure that it cooks evenly.

Keep it Moist

After rinsing the sweet potato, don't dry it off. Instead, wrap it tightly in a moist paper towel or nuke it in a covered container to keep it from drying out. This will help the sweet potato retain its moisture and texture.

Crisp the Skin

If you plan to eat the skin, you can brush it with oil and bake it for a few minutes after microwaving. This will give the skin a little bit of crispiness, making the sweet potato even more delicious. The interior will remain moist and fluffy, just like a baked sweet potato.

How to Enjoy a Microwave Sweet Potato

There are many ways to enjoy a microwaved sweet potato. For a quick and easy side dish, simply split it open and top it with salt, pepper, and your favorite toppings, such as butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, chives, chopped bacon, chili, or a combination of these. If you prefer a sweet flavor, you can sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top.

You can also use microwaved sweet potato in other dishes. Let it cool, slice it into thick slices, and pan-fry it for sweet potato home fries. Dice it and use it in home fries, or add it to a vegetarian chili or curry. To use only the flesh, discard the peel, mash it, and use it to make mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato casserole, or sweet potato soup.

Also read : Easy 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes Recipe

Microwave Your Sweet Potato for a Quick and Easy Meal

If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal that’s both healthy and delicious, look no further than the microwave sweet potato. This simple recipe requires only a few ingredients and can be cooked in just a few minutes.

Microwave Sweet Potato

• PREP TIME
  5 mins
• COOK TIME
  5 mins
• TOTAL TIME
  10 mins
• SERVING
  1 serving

The timing for this recipe is based on microwaving a medium sweet potato using a 1,000-watt microwave. If your microwave’s wattage is different, you’ll need to adjust the time accordingly. For a small potato, try starting with 4 minutes; for a large one, start with 6 minutes. Older sweet potatoes also take longer to cook.

Ingredients

• 1 medium sweet potato, about 10 ounces
• 1/2 teaspoon olive or canola oil, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, optional

Method

Prepare the sweet potato:

If you’d like to crisp the skin on your sweet potato, preheat the oven to 425°F.

Give the sweet potato a wash, but don’t dry it off. The residual moisture will help keep the sweet potato moist.

Use a fork to prick the sweet potato 4 to 5 times all over.

Wrap the sweet potato:

Moisten a paper towel with water and wring it out. Use it to tightly wrap the sweet potato and place it on a microwave-safe plate.

Alternatively, you can add the sweet potato to a microwave-safe lidded container. Add the lid, leaving it just barely cracked.

Microwave:

Place the plate in the microwave and cook on high power for 5 minutes. When done, you’ll be able to easily pierce the sweet potato all the way to the center with a fork or all the way through with a paring knife. If your sweet potato is not quite tender enough, re-wrap it and microwave it for another minute.

Once you’ve figured out what size potato and what timing works with your microwave, make a note and do it every time for the best results.

Crisp the skin (optional):

For lightly crispy skin, unwrap the sweet potato, place it on a small baking sheet, and brush all over with oil. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes:

1. Adjust the cooking time for smaller or larger sweet potatoes.
2. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

The microwave sweet potato is a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for busy days. By following these simple instructions, you can make a delicious and healthy meal in just a few minutes. Enjoy!