How To Bake A Sweet Potato Without Aluminum Foil (And Why You Should)

By: VidJovanovic
Date: December 1, 2022
Time to read: 4 min.

Here are the steps to bake a sweet potato without using aluminum foil:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wash your sweet potato thoroughly and dry it with a clean towel.
3. Pierce the sweet potato several times with a fork or sharp knife.
4. Place the sweet potato on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
5. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the sweet potato is cooked and soft when pierced with a fork.
6. Remove from oven and enjoy.

In addition to being delicious, sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin A.

Key Takeaways

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Wash sweet potato, and pierce several times with a fork.
Place sweet potato on a baking sheet.
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
Remove from oven, and enjoy!

Table of Contents

Here’s The Answer To How To Bake A Sweet Potato Without Aluminum Foil

Sweet potatoes can be baked in numerous ways. Still, refraining from using aluminum foil is one of the most crucial things to remember.

Aluminum foil can leach into your food and cause health problems.

Preheat Oven To 400 Degrees F

Check the internal temperature of the meat using a meat thermometer and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s not at least 375 degrees F, you’ll have to turn on the oven for a bit longer.

Use the correct oven rack position—you want gentle heat from all sides to bake evenly. An easy way to ensure your sweet potato is evenly baked is by rotating it every 15 minutes so that all sides get cooked evenly.

Wash Sweet Potato And Dry It Off

Remove any dirt, debris, or skin from the sweet potato.
Wash it with water and a vegetable brush.
Let it air dry.

Pierce The Sweet Potato A Few Times With A Fork

You’re probably used to baking sweet potatoes in foil, but this cooking method is inferior. Foil doesn’t let steam escape and can trap moisture in the sweet potato, making it soggy instead of crispy.

Your best bet is to bake your spud without any protection at all. What should you do if your oven has a smaller capacity than it takes to fit a full-size sweet potato? Simple: pierce the spud several times with a fork before cooking it.

This will allow excess moisture (and flavor) to escape while giving you that yummy roasted sweet potato taste we all know and love.

Rub The Sweet Potato With Olive Oil Or Vegetable Oil

Rub vegetable or olive oil on the sweet potato’s skin before baking. This will help the sweet potato cook more evenly and prevent it from drying out.

If you’re baking without foil and don’t have time for this step, that’s OK! Make sure to give your sweet potato a good wash before baking it.

If the skin appears to be too dry, you can also apply a few drops of water to it. Don’t go overboard—too much moisture will cause your potato to steam instead of roast.

How Do You Prepare The Sweet Potato For Baking?

Washing and drying your sweet potato is the first step in maximizing its use. I always do this in the sink, as I prefer to wash my sweet potatoes before I bake them. That way, any excess water can drip away before entering the oven.

Another crucial point to remember is that your sweet potato needs to be forked to prevent it from bursting during baking. If you don’t have a fork (or don’t want to use one), try piercing it with another sharp object, like a skewer or toothpick.

Finally, rub each side of your baked sweet potato with olive oil or vegetable oil before cooking—you can use all-natural oils if that’s what works best for your diet.

How Long Does It Take To Bake A Sweet Potato?

Baking time depends on the size of your potato. A two lb/1 kg sweet potato will take 15-30 minutes in an oven heated to 400°F/200°C.

Check that your sweet potato is soft through with a fork and if you prefer crispy skin, leave it in for a few more minutes.

What Are Some Other Methods Of Cooking Sweet Potatoes?

Baking is the most common method of cooking sweet potatoes, but you can also roast them in the oven or on a grill.
If you want to cook your sweet potato in the microwave, cut it into equal-sized chunks so that they cook evenly.
You can also boil or steam your sweet potatoes if you prefer not to use aluminum foil. Boiling takes about 15 minutes per pound of potato, while steaming takes about 10 minutes per pound.
Cooking time depends on how big your sweet potatoes are—larger ones will take longer than smaller ones—so keep this in mind when deciding which method works best for you.

In Conclusion

In summary, you can bake a sweet potato without aluminum foil by poking holes in it, wrapping it in a paper towel, and microwaving it for 5-7 minutes.

Additionally, you can bake it in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip your sweet potato over halfway through cooking to make sure it cooks through evenly.

For more tips on how to cook sweet potatoes, check out our other articles or ask us questions on our social media channels.

Author

I’m Vid Jovanovic and I’m 36 years old. I’m a teacher by profession and my passion lies in baking. I have been baking since my early teens, when my grandmother taught me how to make a simple cake that you can find in any supermarket. My passion for baking grew as I got older and I started experimenting with different ingredients and recipes.