How to Microwave Sweet Potatoes

//cookanyday.com/cdn/shop/files/anyday-photos-basics-sweet-potato-hero-66a922fc0f4b7_360x.webp?v=1722360594 Perfectly cooked sweet potatoes made and served in the glass Anyday dish, providing tender and naturally sweet potatoes. This method ensures evenly cooked sweet potatoes, ideal for mashing, roasting, or adding to various recipes.
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Prep Time

3 mins

Cook Time

9-10 mins

Free Time

to watch a bit of tv

Steaming sweet potatoes entirely transforms their taste and texture. Moist, fluffy, and… well, sweet with notes of caramel, they become nature’s candy in the microwave. We love adding sweet potatoes into the regular weeknight rotation! Serve alongside your favorite protein and leafy greens for a nutrient-rich meal.

When using an Anyday dish, sweet potatoes take a fraction of the time it takes to cook them in the oven. The secret is in the lid — the silicone gasket traps steam to evenly cook the potatoes, rendering them moist and creamy.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work— and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.

Anyday Basics, Anyday Basics, Sweet Potatoes Anyday Basics

What You’ll Need

What You’ll Need

The Medium Deep Dish

The best dish for 1-2 portions of grains, veggies, mac and cheese, ramen, and more.

The Large Deep Dish

Perfect for big batches of rice, one-pot meals, veggies, mashed potatoes, soups, and more.

The Anyhand Mitts

Handle hot Anyday dishes with care with these microwave mitts that double as trivets!
Try Anyday

Select your serving size and microwave wattage in the dropdown. The recipe will change accordingly.

1 medium (340g) sweet potato

Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

[[video-wattage]]

To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

Microwave oven by power - 700w
700w

Recommended 

Dish

The Medium Deep Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 medium (340g) sweet potato

Preparation

  1. Rinse potatoes and cut in half.
  2. Place in an Anyday dish and cover with the lid (knob lifted).
  3. Cook in the microwave for 9-10 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.

Serving suggestions & tips

  • Sesame: Roughly chop and toss with a tablespoon of tahini and sesame seeds.
  • Miso sesame: Mix with miso paste, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
  • Velvety vegan mash: Smash and mix with coconut milk.
  • Brown sugar cinnamon mash: Smash and mix with brown sugar and cinnamon. Top with toasted pecans.

Recipe notes

  • The leftover moisture after rinsing helps the sweet potatoes steam.
  • Is your lid lifting? This happens because steam creates a lot of pressure inside of the dish. This is totally fine! To prevent the lid from lifting, try lowering the power level, which will allow the sweet potatoes to cook more gently.
  • Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.

Microwave Match Up: Sweet Potatoes

See for yourself— microwaving sweet potatoes is simply faster, start to finish.

Appliance Cook Time
Microwave in an Anyday dish 7-8 mins
Oven* 45-50 mins
Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)* 25 mins
Stovetop* 20-30 mins
*Includes preheat time

Step by Step: Microwaving Sweet Potatoes

Cut sweet potato in half lengthwise.

Cover with the lid (knob lifted).

Cook in the microwave.

Sweet potato is done when fork tender.

All you need to know about microwaving sweet potatoes

How long do sweet potatoes take to cook in the microwave?

Ingredient Cook Time
1 medium (340g) sweet potato 9-10
2 medium (680g) sweet potatos 10-11
3 medium (1020g) sweet potatos 12-13
4 medium (1360g) sweet potatoes 13-15
Cook time calculated for 700w microwave

Sweet potatoes take about 7-8 minutes in the microwave for a 1000w microwave. Cook times can also depend on the size and starch levels of the sweet potato. When cooking larger sweet potatoes, consider adding more time or poking the surface of the sweet potato with a fork to better distribute heat. For lower-wattage microwaves, add 1-2 more minutes of cook time for a fully cooked sweet potato. For higher-wattage microwaves, check the sweet potato at the lowest cook time offered in the chart above.

How to tell when sweet potatoes are cooked through?

Sweet potatoes are typically ready when their internal temperature reaches 205-212°. If you don’t have a thermometer, use a fork to gently pierce the surface of the potato. If there is no resistance, the sweet potato should be cooked through. If it’s difficult to pierce the potato with a fork, pop the sweet potato back in the microwave for an additional 2-3 minutes.

How to freeze microwaved sweet potatoes?

Like most frozen vegetables, sweet potatoes need to be cooked prior to freezing. Cook the sweet potato using the directions above and allow it to cool completely. Cut the sweet potato into even cubes (about 1” in size) and lay the pieces flat on a tray without touching each other. Pop the tray into the freezer, and when solid (about 6-8 hours later), transfer it to an Anytime Freezer Tray or freezer-safe storage bag. Store in the freezer for 1-2 months. To reheat the sweet potatoes, simply place the chunks back in the Anyday and microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through.

Is cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave safe?

Cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave is safe, as long as they are properly prepared. It is recommended to pierce the skin of the sweet potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape.

Is there a difference between microwaving sweet potatoes and yams?

Sweet potatoes have a lighter color and sweeter taste, while yams have darker skin and are starchier. Microwaving can affect the texture and flavor of both, but the difference between sweet potatoes and yams remains the same regardless of the cooking method.

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