How to Bake a Sweet Potato in the Microwave
How to Bake a Sweet Potato in the Microwave
Learn how to bake a sweet potato in the microwave for a quick and easy side dish that’s ready in just minutes. The microwave is one of the easiest ways to cook a sweet potato when you don’t want to wait for the oven to preheat or spend an hour baking potatoes.
Once cooked, the sweet potato becomes soft and fluffy on the inside. Split it open, fluff the center with a fork, and add butter and a sprinkle of salt for a simple savory side dish.
If you’re craving something sweeter, add butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon instead. Either way, this is an easy cooking method to keep handy for busy weeknights, quick lunches, or anytime you need one perfectly cooked sweet potato.
Why You’ll Love Microwave Sweet Potatoes
Cooking a sweet potato in the microwave is fast, simple, and requires almost no cleanup.
Instead of heating the entire oven for one potato, you can have a tender sweet potato ready in around 5–10 minutes, depending on its size and the power of your microwave.
It’s also incredibly versatile. Keep it simple with butter and salt, turn it sweet with brown sugar and cinnamon, or load it with your favorite savory toppings for an easy meal.
Servings: 1
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5–10 minutes
Total Time: About 7–12 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 1 tablespoon butter, or to taste
- Salt, to taste
Optional Sweet Toppings
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Additional butter
Instructions
Wash the Sweet Potato
Rinse the sweet potato thoroughly under cool running water and scrub the outside to remove any dirt.
Pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
Pierce the Potato
Use a fork to pierce the sweet potato several times on all sides.
This allows steam to escape while the potato cooks.
Place the sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate.
Microwave the Sweet Potato
Wrap the sweet potato in a paper towel. Microwave the sweet potato on HIGH for 5 minutes.
Carefully turn the potato over and continue microwaving in 1-minute increments until it is completely tender.
A medium sweet potato will generally take around 5–8 minutes, while a particularly large sweet potato may take closer to 8–10 minutes.
Microwave wattages and potato sizes vary, so use tenderness rather than an exact cooking time to determine when it’s ready.
Check for Doneness
Carefully insert a fork or thin knife into the thickest part of the sweet potato.
It should slide easily into the center without resistance.
If the potato is still firm, return it to the microwave for another minute and check again.
Be careful when handling the potato because it will be very hot.
Fluff and Serve
Let the sweet potato rest for about 2 minutes after cooking.
Slice it lengthwise down the center without cutting completely through the bottom.
Gently press the ends toward the center to open the potato.
Use a fork to fluff the soft sweet potato inside the skin.
Add butter and sprinkle with salt.
Serve immediately while warm.
How Long Does It Take to Microwave a Sweet Potato?
The exact cooking time depends on the size of your sweet potato and the wattage of your microwave.
A good starting point for one medium sweet potato is 5 minutes on HIGH. Turn it over and check for tenderness.
If necessary, continue cooking for one minute at a time until the center is completely soft.
Smaller sweet potatoes may be finished around the five-minute mark, while large potatoes can take several minutes longer.
How Do You Know When a Sweet Potato Is Done?
A perfectly cooked sweet potato should feel soft when gently squeezed and should be easy to pierce with a fork or knife.
The center should be completely tender and fluffy rather than firm or crunchy.
If you encounter resistance when inserting a fork into the thickest part, microwave it for another minute before checking again.
Do You Have to Poke Holes in a Sweet Potato Before Microwaving?
Yes. Pierce the sweet potato several times with a fork before putting it in the microwave.
Sweet potatoes contain moisture that turns to steam as they cook. Piercing the skin gives some of that steam a place to escape.
It only takes a few seconds and is an important step when microwaving a whole potato.
Should You Wrap a Sweet Potato Before Microwaving?
You don’t need to wrap the sweet potato in foil, and metal foil should never be placed in a standard microwave.
Simply place the washed and pierced sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate.
If you prefer, you can loosely cover the potato with a microwave-safe cover to help contain splatters.
Butter and Salt Sweet Potato
One of the simplest ways to serve a microwave sweet potato is also one of the best.
Once the potato is cooked, split it open and use a fork to fluff the inside.
Add a generous pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt. Let the butter melt into the hot sweet potato and use your fork to mix it throughout the fluffy center.
It’s an easy side dish that works with chicken, pork, steak, turkey, or just about any weeknight dinner.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Sweet Potato
For a sweeter version, add butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
After fluffing the sweet potato, add a pat of butter and let it melt.
Sprinkle brown sugar over the top, followed by a little ground cinnamon.
The heat from the potato melts the butter and brown sugar together, creating a sweet cinnamon-butter topping.
You can adjust the amount of brown sugar and cinnamon depending on how sweet you want it.
More Sweet Potato Topping Ideas
Once you know how to cook a sweet potato in the microwave, you can use the same basic method and change the toppings.
Try butter and maple syrup for a simple sweet version, or add toasted marshmallows and cinnamon for a holiday-inspired sweet potato.
For something savory, try shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, bacon, or seasoned shredded chicken.
A microwave sweet potato can be a simple side dish or the base for an easy lunch.
Can You Microwave More Than One Sweet Potato?
Yes, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time.
Arrange the sweet potatoes on a microwave-safe plate without stacking them on top of one another.
Start with the recommended cooking time and then continue microwaving in short increments until all of the potatoes are tender.
If the sweet potatoes vary considerably in size, smaller potatoes may finish before larger ones. Remove each potato as it becomes tender rather than overcooking the entire batch.
Microwave vs. Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Microwaving is the best option when speed is the priority.
An oven-baked sweet potato develops a drier skin and slightly different texture, but it also takes considerably longer to cook.
A microwave sweet potato has softer skin and a moist, fluffy interior and can be ready in a fraction of the time.
For a quick weeknight side dish or a single serving, the microwave is hard to beat.
Tips for the Best Microwave Sweet Potato
Choose sweet potatoes that are relatively uniform in thickness so they cook evenly.
Always pierce the skin before cooking.
Turn the potato halfway through the cooking time to encourage even cooking.
Once you’ve reached the initial five minutes, cook in short increments rather than adding several minutes at once. This makes it easier to avoid overcooking.
Finally, allow the potato to rest for a couple of minutes before cutting it open. It will be extremely hot when it first comes out of the microwave.
How to Store Leftover Sweet Potatoes
Allow cooked sweet potatoes to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.
Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat the sweet potato in the microwave until hot, then fluff the center again and add fresh butter and your favorite toppings.
An Easy Sweet Potato in Minutes
Once you know how to bake a sweet potato in the microwave, there’s no need to turn on the oven every time you’re craving one.
Wash it, pierce it with a fork, microwave until tender, and fluff the inside with plenty of butter and salt.
Keep it savory for an easy dinner side dish, or add brown sugar and cinnamon for a warm, sweet version. Either way, you can have a soft and fluffy sweet potato on the table in just minutes.
