How to Boil Sweet Potatoes

Co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano

Last Updated: April 19, 2024 Approved

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Sweet potatoes are a nutritious vegetable that can be added to many dishes. Sweet potatoes contain a variety of minerals and vitamins including calcium, beta carotene, and vitamin C. You can boil sweet potatoes before you eat them. You can either peel them and then boil them, or boil them with the skin still on. Once your sweet potatoes are boiled, you can use them in a variety of dishes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Peeling and then Boiling Sweet Potatos

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You should always wash produce before cooking it. Sweet potatoes are no different. To wash sweet potatoes, run them under cold tap water. Remove any excess dirt or debris from the potato. Make sure the skin is completely clean before you proceed.^{[1]
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2
Peel the potato. You can either use a vegetable peeler or a pairing knife to remove a sweet potato's skin. You should also cut off either end of the potato with a knife.^{[2]
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- If you're having trouble peeling your sweet potato, scrub it with a produce brush first. This should loosen the skin, and make the peeling process easier.
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3
Prepare a pot. Find a pot that's big enough that you can fully submerge your sweet potato, or sweet potatoes, in water. You want to make sure all the potatoes fit comfortably without being crowded. You also want to make sure you have a cover for the pot you choose.^{[3]
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- Once you find a suitable pot, fill it about halfway full with tap water.
- Add your sweet potato, or sweet potatoes, to the pot. Make sure they're all covered with water. If necessary, add a bit more water.
- Bring the water to a boil.
4
Cook the potatoes for 10 minutes and then check them. Add your sweet potato, or sweet potatoes, to the pot. Cover the pot and allow the potatoes to cook for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed, remove the cover from the pot.^{[4]
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- The potatoes should be tender enough that you can pierce the outside of the potatoes easily. However, you should not be able to pass the knife through the sweet potatoes.
5
Cook longer, if necessary. If your sweet potatoes are not tender enough after 10 minutes, cook them for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. You may also want to cook your sweet potatoes longer if you want very soft sweet potatoes, such as the kind you would use in mashed potatoes. These need to be cooked for 25 to 30 minutes.^{[5]
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- When the sweet potatoes are cooked to your desired tenderness, drain them with a colander and set them aside to cool.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Boiling and then Peeling Your Potato

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Run the sweet potato under cool tap water. Wash the surface of the sweet potato. Make sure to remove any dirt or debris stuck to the sweet potato's skin.^{[6]
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Choose a pot big enough to cover all your sweet potatoes with water. You also need a pot with a lid. Fill the pot with water until the sweet potatoes are covered in water. Place the pot over on the stove and cover it with a lid.^{[7]
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Keep the pot over high heat for 10 minutes. Then, remove the lid and take a knife. Use the knife to make a small puncture mark on the sweet potato.^{[8]
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4
Cook for an additional 20 minutes. Once you've punctured your sweet potato, cover the pot again. Allow the sweet potato to cook for an additional 20 minutes over high heat.^{[9]
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- When it's tender, you should be able to place a knife through the sweet potato without meeting any resistance. You may have to cook a sweet potato slightly longer if it's not done after 20 minutes.
Mary-Frances Heck, Chef

To boil sweet potatoes, place them in a large pot and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain the sweet potatoes and let them cool slightly before peeling and using them in your recipe.
Use a colander to pour the hot water out of the pot. Allow the sweet potato to sit in the colander until it's cool to the touch. If you need to cool a sweet potato faster, you can place it under cool running water.^{[10]
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After the boiling process is over, a sweet potato's skin should slip off easily. Use a pairing knife to make an initial slice into a sweet potato's skin. From there, you can simply peel off the skin as if you were peeling the skin of a banana.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Your Sweet Potatoes

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Boiled sweet potatoes can be used on their own as a side dish. You simply need to cut them into cubes. Then, toss them in some butter, salt, and pepper until you get your desired taste.^{[12]
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You can also cut your sweet potatoes into cubes and add them to other dishes. Boiled sweet potatoes can be used in salads, tacos, soups, stews, pastas, and casseroles. If you're looking to add nutrients to a meal, throw in some boiled sweet potatoes.^{[13]
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3
Make mashed sweet potatoes. It's best to peel sweet potatoes first if you're going to mash them. Boil about six sweet potatoes and then use an electronic mixer to add in other ingredients.^{[14]
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- While mixing the sweet potatoes, add in 3/4 a cup of milk, adding it about half a cup at a time.
- You should also add half a cup of butter and 3/4 of a cup of maple syrup.

How Do You Cook Sweet Potatoes?

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Do you have to peel sweet potatoes before you cook them?

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Not at all! You can boil sweet potatoes with the skin on. In fact, the skin of sweet potato is full of fiber and potassium, both of which are very good for you!

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Do you put salt in the water?

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You can put a dash of salt in the water before boiling your potatoes. This may help with the taste.

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How long does it take to boil sweet potatoes to mash?

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If you want to mash the sweet potatoes, you should boil them for about 25 to 30 minutes.

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Tips

Make sure there is enough water in the pot to cover all the sweet potatoes you are putting in it. If there is not, then you may want to stop adding sweet potatoes to the first batch and boil more in a second batch.

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