Secret To Roasting Sweet Potatoes So They’re Perfect Every Time

By: VidJovanovic
Date: October 19, 2022
Time to read: 6 min.

The one thing about sweet potatoes that often gets overlooked is how delicious they can be when roasted in an oven.

Roasting gives these root vegetables a wonderful flavor and texture that transforms them into comfort food perfection.

So if you love sweet potatoes as much as I do (or even if you’re just curious), read on for my tips on how to make the perfect roasted sweet potato every time.

Key Takeaways

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Cut sweet potatoes into even slices and spread them on a baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and other desired spices.
Roast in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Enjoy.

roasted sweet potatoes — Secret To Roasting Sweet Potatoes So They’re Perfect Every Time

Table of Contents

How To Roast Sweet Potatoes In An Oven?

Roasting sweet potatoes is easy, and they’re so much better than the canned version. I like to roast them whole and then slice them up when they’re done, but you can also roast them in slices. Either way, it’s going to be delicious!
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) to make roasted sweet potatoes.
Wash the sweet potato under cold running water until all dirt is removed from its skin. Discard any soft or rotten potato parts, as this could lead to a bitter taste when roasting it. If they aren’t too far gone, you may want to throw these pieces away or compost them instead.
Once your sweet potato is clean and dry, poke holes into its flesh using a fork or skewer so that steam can escape while cooking—this will help prevent burning around the edges of your spud.

Preheat The Oven To 425 Degrees Fahrenheit

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Set the timer for 45 minutes and put the sweet potatoes on a baking pan, then check on them every 10-15 minutes after that until they are soft (about 30 minutes total).

Line A Baking Sheet With Parchment Paper

potatoes on a parchment paper — Line A Baking Sheet With Parchment Paper

To ensure that the sweet potatoes are crispy and not soft or mushy, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, place an oven-safe pan or skillet on the parchment paper.

This way, when you flip the sweet potatoes over halfway through cooking time (more on later), they’ll slide right off into the pan and onto your plate instead of sticking to your baking sheet.

If you don’t have any parchment paper on hand, simply spray some nonstick cooking spray onto your baking sheet first.

Once you’ve lined your baking sheet for roasting, it’s time to prep those sweet potatoes.

Cut The Sweet Potatoes Into Even Slices

Slice the sweet potatoes uniformly using a sharp knife.
Cut them no thicker than 1/4-inch to ensure that they cook evenly and don’t dry out in the oven.
Don’t make them too thin, either—if you did that, they would likely be undercooked when you pull them out of the oven (and we wouldn’t want that).

Spread The Sweet Potatoes On The Baking Sheet And Drizzle With Olive Oil

You’ll need a baking sheet and some olive oil. (I know, this sounds like a lot of work.) I use a pastry brush to spread the oil evenly, but if you’re lazy or don’t have one handy, just drizzle with your hand and hope for the best.

Roast For 20-25 Minutes, Flipping Once Halfway Through

Sweet potatoes are a terrific addition to any meal. Still, you might be surprised to learn that roasting them is pretty easy! Here are the basic steps:

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Cut the sweet potatoes into halves or quarters, depending on their size and how many people you’ll serve.
Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, if desired (I recommend it).
Arrange a single layer on a baking sheet—you want them touching each other as little as possible so they get nice and crispy on all sides.
Roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through—this will help keep them from cooking unevenly and burning too quickly toward one side of your pan. Adding more time to the roasting process will make them more tender; this also makes it easier for me because I sometimes have trouble sneaking bites without getting burned.

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Roasted Sweet Potatoes?

Bake sweet potatoes with some delicious toppings. — What Are the Benefits Of Eating Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Roasted sweet potatoes are a fantastic food to eat. They’re healthy and delicious and can be prepared in many different ways.

They’re very popular in the United States, especially during

Thanksgiving or other holidays. Roasting is one of the most common ways to prepare sweet potatoes because it gives them an appealing flavor and texture.

Sweet potato nutrition facts include:

A serving contains only 112 calories but is rich in vitamins such as A and C and minerals like manganese, copper and potassium. It also packs plenty of fiber while low in fat — less than 1 gram per serving.

How Long Do You Bake Sweet Potatoes in The Oven?

How long do you bake sweet potatoes in the oven? It depends on how big your sweet potato is. Still, generally speaking, it should take about 45 minutes to an hour for a medium-sized orange variety.

You can tell when your sweet potato is done cooking by inserting a knife into the center of it and seeing if it’s soft. If not, keep cooking.

If you want your sweet potatoes to be crispy on the outside, cook them for longer than 45 minutes, but keep an eye on them, so they don’t burn.

How Do You Make Baked Sweet Potato Healthy?

If you’re looking to make sweet potatoes healthier, it’s important to remember that they are a healthy choice.

They are rich in vitamins A and C, contain ample amounts of fiber, and have a low number of calories.

Sweet potatoes also contain potassium, which can help reduce inflammation and aid in weight loss.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a few simple steps to ensure that your sweet potatoes come out perfectly every time.

It’s important not to overdo it with sugar and spices as they will overwhelm the natural flavor of this delicious vegetable.

You also want to ensure that you don’t cut them too small so everyone at the table can enjoy them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I adjust the cooking time, so they’re done exactly how I want them?

It depends on the size of your sweet potatoes and how firm they are when you insert a knife into the center. Sweet potatoes cooked for 45 minutes should be perfect, but if they’re not done after an hour, cook them for a little bit longer until they reach your desired consistency.

What should I do if my sweet potatoes turn out burnt or blackened?

This can happen if the potatoes are overcooked or covered in spices or sugar. If this happens, place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake them for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are cooked.

How can I prevent my sweet potatoes from sticking to the pan and ending up mushy?

One way to avoid this problem is to use oil or butter when cooking sweet potatoes. Another option is to add ¼ cup of water per baking dish before baking.

Is it necessary to peel sweet potatoes before cooking them?

No, it is not necessary to peel sweet potatoes before cooking them. However, if you choose to peel them, cut the potatoes into thin slices so they cook evenly and don’t end up being too tough.

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.