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How to Boil Sweet Potatoes

Learn how to boil sweet potatoes, whole or cubed, to bring out their natural sweetness. Serve as a side dish or use in other recipes.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 1 potato
Calories: 194 kcal
Course: Others
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 sweet potato peeled if desired

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Scrub and wash the sweet potatoes. Leave the potato whole or trim the root ends and cut into either 2-inch cubes or 1-inch cubes.
  2. Place the potatoes with cold water in a large pot. Add salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue cooking the sweet potatoes until fork tender: 40 minutes for whole, 25 minutes for 2-inch cubes and 15 minutes for 1-inch cubes.
  3. Drain carefully in a colander. Enjoy warm on its own as a side dish or use as desired in a recipe of choice.

Notes

  • Storage: Allow the sweet potatoes to cool completely. Then, transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. For cubed sweet potatoes, consider lining the bottom of your container with a paper towel to absorb any moisture.
  • Tips:
  • Consistent size. If boiling sweet potatoes whole, try to find potatoes that are all similar in size. And if you're cutting sweet potatoes in cubes for faster cooking, keep them as uniform as possible to ensure even cooking. Check out this quick guide for tips and tricks on how to cut sweet potatoes.
  • If boiling sweet potatoes whole, try to find potatoes that are all similar in size. And if you're cutting sweet potatoes in cubes for faster cooking, keep them as uniform as possible to ensure even cooking. Check out this quick guide for tips and tricks on
  • .
  • Cold water start. Always start with cold water. This helps the sweet potatoes cook from the inside out without overcooking the outer layers.
  • . Always start with cold water. This helps the sweet potatoes cook from the inside out without overcooking the outer layers.
  • Simmer, not boil.After bringing the water to a boil, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Boiling too vigorously can cause the sweet potatoes to break apart or cook unevenly.
  • After bringing the water to a boil, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Boiling too vigorously can cause the sweet potatoes to break apart or cook unevenly.
  • Don't overcrowd. If you need to boil a lot of sweet potatoes, consider cooking them in batches, so they have enough space in the pot with water to cook evenly.
  • If you need to boil a lot of sweet potatoes, consider cooking them in batches, so they have enough space in the pot with water to cook evenly.

Nutrition Information

Calories 194kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 45g (15%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 0.1g (0%) Saturated Fat 0.04g (0%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.03g Sodium 124mg (5%) Potassium 762mg (22%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 32063IU (641%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 68mg (7%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1potato

Amount Per Serving

Calories 194

% Daily Value*

Calories 194kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 45g 15%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 0.1g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.04g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.03g 0%
Sodium 124mg 5%
Potassium 762mg 16%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 32063IU 641%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 68mg 7%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.