Perfect Microwave Sweet Potatoes
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When dinner needs to happen fast and the oven already has something else in it, being able to microwave a sweet potato is the shortcut every busy mom needs! In about 10 minutes you’ll have a soft, fluffy potato, with no oven space needed and barely any cleanup.
Between homeschooling three boys and keeping my businesses running smoothly, I don’t have time to spend an hour in the kitchen just to make a side dish for dinner. Once I realized the microwave could do the same job as an oven, in a fraction of the time, there was no going back!
Now it’s the method I use most nights that we are having sweet potatoes, whether they’re going out plain with butter or getting stuffed with white bean chili to make a complete meal.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Wow! So easy to do and came out perfect! Thank you so much, for a guy that just dabbles in the kitchen this made me look like a chef (look but I’m not lol) I so appreciate your help and my wife loved it. made me look 👀 skillful!
–Michael
Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
This method works whether you’re serving sweet potatoes as a quick side tonight or cooking a batch for meal prep for the week.
Sweet potatoes are super versatile, too. You can serve it with cinnamon butter for the kids, load it up with toppings for a heartier meal, or use it for another recipe you’re already making.
That kind of flexibility is why this is the version I come back to over baking one in the oven. You get the same soft sweet potatoes without the wait, and it fits whatever the rest of dinner looks like that night.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are a few tips that will help your sweet potatoes turn out right every time.
- Check for doneness with a knife or fork, not just the clock. Cook times vary by microwave and potato size, so slide a knife into the center. It should go in easily. If it meets resistance, give it another minute or two.
- If you’re microwaving the potatoes directly on the turntable, wipe it down first. Any leftover food residue on the turntable will transfer onto the potatoes.
- Use potatoes that are close to the same size. A smaller potato will finish cooking before a larger one, so matching sizes means everything comes out tender at the same time.
If you want to put your sweet potatoes to work in another dish, use them to make a sweet potato casserole or a sweet potato breakfast hash.
How to Microwave a Sweet Potato
For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Wash and poke holes. Give each sweet potato a good scrub to get any dirt off, then dry it. Use a fork to poke a few holes all over the skin.
- Wrap in a wet paper towel. Wet a paper towel and wring it out so it’s damp, not dripping, then wrap it around the potato.
Cook Time by Size
Small Potato (2-3 inches thick): 8-9 minutes on high
Medium Potato (4 inches thick): 10-11 minutes on high
Large Potato (5-6 inches thick): 13 minutes on high
- Microwave. Lay the wrapped potatoes on a microwave-safe plate with a little space between each one, then cook according to the size guide above.
- Check and serve. Once the time is up, let the potatoes sit for a minute so they're cool enough to handle. Slide a knife in to check that it's tender all the way through, then slice it open and add your toppings.
Sweet Potato Topping Ideas
Once your sweet potato is cooked, it's ready for whatever direction you want to take it.
For a savory plate, try sour cream, chives, salsa, black beans, or shredded cheese.
If you want to turn your sweet potatoes into a full meal, just add protein! We love them topped with Crockpot pulled chicken, chili, bacon, buffalo chicken, and pulled pork.
For something sweet, go with maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, mini marshmallows, or chopped fruit and nuts. My boys are big fans of this idea!
Make it kid friendly
If you're loading up a stuffed sweet potato, all those toppings piled together can feel like a lot to a little one.
Try setting the topping options out in separate bowls. They can pick out what they want and watch you add it to their potato, or put the toppings on themselves.
Storing and Reheating Sweet Potatoes
Leftover sweet potato keeps well, so this is an easy one to make ahead. Scoop the flesh out of the skin before storing so it reheats more evenly, then keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat, microwave it in short bursts, about 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until it's warmed through. This keeps it from drying out or cooking unevenly the way one long stretch in the microwave can.
Recipe FAQs
While there are sweet potatoes sold in microwave-safe plastic wrap, I do not recommend using them. There may be harmful chemicals in the plastic, so it's best to wrap it using a paper towel instead.
This recipe is written for four potatoes at once, so if you're only cooking one, cut the time down. Start with about 4 minutes for a small potato or 5 minutes for a medium one, then check for doneness and add more time in short bursts if needed.
Yes, after scrubbing and cooking, the skin is completely edible—and a great source of fiber. Some people like the texture while others prefer to scoop the flesh out, so really, it's a matter of preference.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Perfect Microwave Sweet Potato
Video
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Use a fork to poke a few holes in each of 4 medium sweet potatoes. This allows the steam to escape without exploding your potato in the microwave.
- Wrap a wet paper towel around each potato. You don't want it to be dripping wet, but it should be much more saturated than damp. This helps keep them from drying out in the microwave.
- Lay the wrapped potatoes on a microwave safe plate, spacing them out a little. You can skip the plate and lay them directly on the microwave turntable, but then you'll need to use tongs or potholders to remove the hot potato.
- Microwave sweet potato on High power for 10 minutes for medium-sized potatoes (follow time directions noted below). Test for doneness by poking sweet potato with a knife. It should easily slide through to the middle of the softened potato. Remove the plate from the microwave and set aside until potatoes are cool enough to handle.
Equipment
- microwave
Notes
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Wow! So easy to do and came out perfect! Thank you so much, for a guy that just dabbles in the kitchen this made me look like a chest (look but I’m not lol) I so appreciate your help my dear at 61 I need all the help I can get and my wife (loved it) made me look 👀 skillful!
I’ll be back soon 🙂 for other tips and recipes (if you’re don’t mind)
Hi Michael! I’m thrilled to hear that! Thank you for your kind review and enjoy!! Please let me know if you try any other recipes here. 🙂 -Laura
The ends burned.
I think that tongs would work better for moving hot sweet potatoes than thongs. 😉
Hi Dolores, Why yes, you’re quite right about that! Typos make me laugh, hah! -Laura