How to Microwave a Sweet Potato

Need to learn how to microwave a sweet potato easily? In under 10 minutes, you’ll be eating a perfect, melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato with just four simple steps. You’ll get the same nutritional value AND have fun mixing it up with whatever side or main dish for your weeknight dinner, late night snack, or fast lunch.

Air fried baked sweet potato is a healthy vegetable side dish.

Best Way to Microwave a Sweet Potato

It couldn’t be easier to microwave a sweet potato. In just four steps—give it a wash, prick the skin, wrap in a damp towel, and microwave—you have a perfectly soft, steaming spud.

As we dive into the best way (and fastest way) to make a sweet potato in a fraction of the time, you might be wondering… why use the microwave?

To start, you get an easy single serving meal. No need to preheat a whole oven for just one!

It just might be the fastest and easiest meal prepping tool.

It’s a great option for on-the-go lunches when you don’t have access to an oven (hello, break room microwave at work!).

And bonus? This method is a foolproof shortcut for mashed sweet potatoes.

Need I say more?! (I won’t blame you if this easy method gets you going on a sweet potato kick. Here are 20+ Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes to get you started.)

Knowing the best method for microwaving sweet potatoes will have you turning to this root vegetable all the time, whether you need it for an easy side dish or a healthy snack. (Get the low-down on all of the health benefits with this post, Are sweet potatoes healthy?)

Mashed Instant Pot sweet potato on a white plate.

Ingredients

To make a microwaved sweet potato you need:

Sweet potato. The size and shape are totally up to you. Look for sweet potatoes that are firm, and avoid any that are wrinkly or soft. (Wondering about the Yams Vs. Sweet Potatoes? This post has you covered.)
Oil and seasoning (optional). Some kind of oil—olive or avocado oil will all do—can take this to the next level, along with salt and pepper to taste.

How to Cook a Sweet Potato in Microwave

Below, you’ll find basic steps for making sweet potatoes in the microwave:

Give It a Wash

It’s important to wash off all that excess dirt so it doesn’t bake on to the potato as it’s heating up in the microwave. If you don’t have a brush to scrub, using a wet paper towel or kitchen towel will work just fine.

Pat Dry and Prick

Give the potato a good rub to dry them off.

Then, grab a fork and prick the potato. This step is probably the most important because the tiny holes allow the steam to escape from the inside of the sweet potato. Prick deep and often—5-8 times—to really make sure you get an even cook throughout the whole sweet potato.

This is the step where you can also add a thin layer of oil, like olive or avocado oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. But this is totally optional!

Wrap It Up

It’s not completely mandatory to wrap your sweet potato in a damp paper towel, but it’s an easy way to triple check that you’re locking in all the moisture.

It’s the same concept when it comes to reheating rice in the microwave; to ensure that the rice doesn’t dry out, you put a damp paper towel over it (or an ice cube in it) to keep the moisture locked in.

Put your wrapped sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate.

Cook on High Power

The amount of time you cook depends on the size of your sweet potato:

Size:	Time:
Small sweet potato (6-8 oz, 2″ thick)	4-6 minutes
Medium sweet potato (9-12 oz, 2″ thick)	6-8 minutes
Large sweet potato (13-16 oz, 3″ thick)	8-10 minutes
Extra large sweet potato (Over 1 lb, 3″ thick)	12-14 minutes

After the correct time is up, cook at 30-second increments until your sweet potato is fork tender (meaning, it pierces the skin without any give). If you’re wanting to cook 2 sweet potatoes at a time, just double the cooking time until you reach the desired softness.

Air fried baked sweet potatoes are ready to be served as a side dish.

Microwave Sweet Potato FAQs

Do I need to poke a potato before microwaving it?

Yes, poke holes into the sweet potato so you can prevent the potato from exploding.

How long to microwave a sweet potato for?

Usually around 5 minutes will do the trick, depending on the size.

How to know when a sweet potato is fully cooked?

When you can prick your sweet potato with a fork or paring knife without any give, it’s ready to be eaten.

Is it bad to microwave a sweet potato?

Not at all! The microwave allows for a shorter cook time. Using it is a totally pro move!

Can I reheat an already baked sweet potato in the microwave?

Yes. It shouldn’t take longer than 2-3 minutes to fully reheat.

Easy mashed sweet potatoes in a white serving bowl with butter.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Season it up. Rub your sweet potato in olive oil with some salt and pepper before you microwave it.
Poke evenly. Make sure to poke your sweet potato in even increments and the same amount of times on each side.
Stay burn-free. Use oven mitts or kitchen tongs to pull out your sweet potato when it’s ready—it’ll be hot!
Store smart. Use an airtight container to store your microwaved sweet potato for later use.
Get creative. Season your sweet potato with sweets or savories to switch it up!

What to Serve with Sweet Potatoes

You can easily elevate your basic sweet potato with a few simple toppings:

Pat of butter or olive oil coconut oil
Brown sugar
Sour cream
Garlic paste
Black pepper & little salt
Black beans
Sprinkle of cinnamon

And they work so well as a side to many main dishes. For a quick and easy dinner, try a microwaved sweet potato with Air Fryer Chicken Thighs or Air Fryer Steak. Or fancy it up with Baked Lemon Dill Salmon or Glazed Balsamic Chicken!

More Sweet Potato Recipes

When it comes to sweet potatoes, the sky’s the limit! If this method has you excited about exploring more of this creamy spud, try some of these recipes next:

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