How to Boil Sweet Potatoes: 5 Easy Steps

Sweet potatoes are a rich source of vitamin A. It is also a source of potassium, fiber, and a variety of other nutrients. This makes them tasty and healthy foods, and you can serve them in a variety of preparations. They are easy to prepare, as you will see in this article.

Boiling sweet potatoes is appropriate if you’re filling tacos or enchiladas with them or if you want mashed sweet potatoes as a side dish. This preparation is also excellent for maintaining the moist and eating tasty and tender sweet potatoes. The best is to use seasoning to enhance the taste, and we’re also covering that in the article.

We will not only tell you how to boil sweet potatoes. We’re also providing a few ideas to create tasty dishes after you’re done. So, let’s get to it, and we hope you enjoy the preparations for this famous starchy vegetable.

How to boil sweet potatoes, step by step

If you boiled regular potatoes before, then you probably know how to boil sweet potatoes, too. But we will walk you through it step by step, and after you have them ready, we will tell you what to do with them. In the end, the preparation will look like this:

Here’s your step-by-step recipe:

Step 1: Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into smaller pieces

 First off, peel the sweet potatoes before taking them to a boil. Some would prefer to eat them with the peel, but this is the right moment to do it if you’re planning to remove it. After peeling the sweet potatoes, we recommend cutting them into small pieces. Doing so reduces boiling time and helps you achieve a homogeneous texture.

Step 2: Take water and a pinch of salt to a boil

Now prepare a pot with water and salt. Ensure the water is enough to cover the sweet potatoes without spilling over when you take them in. Take the pot to a stove and wait for it to start boiling.

Step 3: Once boiling, add the sweet potatoes

When the water is boiling, it is time to add the sweet potatoes you cut. You can use kitchen clamps or do it carefully to avoid burns.

Step 4: Stir and let it boil until the texture is soft

Stir the sweet potatoes for a short while and let it boil for as long until the texture of the sweet potatoes is soft. You will notice that it is initially hard, but when you’re able to pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork using no effort, it is the right moment to take them out.

Step 5: Remove, strain, and serve

When the texture of your sweet potatoes is soft, you can remove them from the boil. You can either drain the excess water and take them out with a fork, remove the sweet potatoes using kitchen clamps, or use a strainer or colander to take out the water. Now you have them ready to serve, and we recommend using some butter and chopped chives to enhance the flavor.

How to boil sweet potatoes in the microwave

If you prefer to boil your sweet potatoes in the microwave, replace step two with:

2. Make sure that your sweet potato pieces are small: Chop them in very small pieces to reduce the boiling time and the impact on your electricity bill.
3. Add water to a microwave-safe bowl and cover: Next, take the cubed potatoes to a microwave-safe bowl, add water in level with the sweet potatoes, and cover with plastic wrap. It will keep vapor inside and help with the cooking process. Poke a few holes to let it vent.
4. Take it to the microwave until tender: It usually takes around 5 minutes to finish the preparation in the microwave. However, you can take extra time depending on your device. Take them out, drain the excess water, and serve with butter and chives.

Sweet potato preparations

Now you know how to boil sweet potatoes. You can use them as a side dish in a variety of preparations. It is easy to do and won’t take much time. To use them as a side dish, you can toss some butter and Kosher salt. If you don’t have butter or prefer something healthier, you can also use olive oil.

You can use fresh herbs and spices such as garlic powder, cumin, and maybe some chili powder to give a unique taste to it. If you don’t like chopped chives or don’t have them, you can also use thyme.

But sweet potatoes can also be used in other recipes, for instance:

Recipe	Extra ingredients	What to do
Mashed Sweet Potatoes	Milk, salt, pepper	Take a fork and mash the sweet potatoes with the rest of the ingredients. Make sure that they form a homogeneous blend.
Sweet Potato Enchiladas	Tortillas, guacamole, shredded cheese, black beans	Combine all the ingredients chopped in small pieces in a bowl, and then roll the enchiladas. Take them to the microwave or to a pan to enhance the taste of the tortilla.
Sweet Potato Pizza	Olive oil, Kosher salt, Aurugula, Shallot, cheese, Garlic clove, Pizza dough	Follow the instructions to prepare the pizza dough, take the sliced sweet potatoes along with the rest of the ingredients over the pizza dough and sprinkle with salt. Bake in a preheated oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts.
Sweet Potato-based Calzone	The same as the above plus spinach and mushrooms	The instructions are the same, but this time you will include two extra ingredients in the blend and fold the calzone into a half-moon shape. You can crimp the edges with a fork to secure them and then take them into the oven.
Sweet Potato Tacos	Onion, bell peppers, black beans, chili powder, sour cream, guacamole, tortilla	Prepare the filling of the tacos by bringing the ingredients together. Ensure that the vegetables are roasted beforehand. Then, warm the tortillas on the stove and assemble the tacos with the ingredient blend.

It is also useful to remember some variations to the original recipe laid down above. After boiling your sweet potatoes, you can use several sauces, seasonings, and toppings. Some people like them with honey or maple syrup, while others prefer to pair sweet potatoes with tarragon or sage. You can even find recipes with cinnamon and other creative toppings. A lot of recipes you can also find here.

There’s no right or wrong way to do it, so try different options and find the one you like the most. Now you know how to boil sweet potatoes, and how to season them is up to you.