Here’s How to Bake Sweet Potatoes to Perfection Every Time

Sweet potato tips
Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on Unsplash

Sweet potatoes are an unsung hero—they pair so well with tons of entrees and when you bake them right, they’re absolutely amazing. Mastering fluffy sweet potatoes like you find at restaurants is tricky, but with these baking tips, you’ll get a perfect baked sweet potato every time.

Dry Your Potato

After washing the potato, make sure you dry it as much as you can. This will help you get a skin that crispy and not soggy.

Knife Instead of Fork

Instead of stabbing your sweet potato with a fork, slash the potato crosswise eight times up and down with a knife. This helps the heat reach the center and it allows moisture to escape, so you won’t end up with a watery potato.

Use Foil or Parchment Paper

Line your baking sheet with aluminium foil or parchment paper to prevent the potato’s sugars from oozing out and caramelizing during cooking, which will lead to the potato sticking to the pan.

Turn up the Heat

Try cooking your sweet potato for longer and on a hotter setting. This will caramelize the sugars and will give a crunchy exterior.