How to Boil Sweet Potatoes

Original Post: https://www.evolvingtable.com/how-to-boil-sweet-potatoes/

Cooked sweet potatoes in a colander after boiling in water.

5 from 25 votes

How to Boil Sweet Potatoes

Learn How to Boil Sweet Potatoes that are whole or cubed, peeled or skins still on. Boiling sweet potatoes is an easy and healthy way to cook them before adding to your favorite mashed sweet potatoes or casserole recipe.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Jennifer Deppa

Ingredients

2-4 lbs. sweet potatoes
Salt optional

Instructions

Prepare the potatoes: Peel potatoes with a potato peeler and cut your sweet potatoes into 1" or 2" chunks. You can also leave them whole and with the skin on, if you prefer.*
Boil Pot of Water: Bring a large pot of water with a pinch of salt to a rolling boil. Make sure you have enough water to cover the potatoes by 1-inch.
How Long to Boil Sweet Potatoes: Carefully add sweet potatoes to the water. Reduce heat to Medium-High and keep a slow boil throughout the duration of cooking. Boil until they are cooked through for the following times:
For 1" cubes: 12 to 15 minutes
For 2" cubes: 20-25 minutes
For large whole potatoes: 40-50 minutes
For small-medium potatoes: 30-40 minutes
Remove and Drain: Drain sweet potatoes in a colander or remove using a slotted spoon and use in your favorite Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Pie, or Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

Notes

Make sure you have enough water so the sweet potatoes are covered by at least 1 inch of water. It's best to err on the side of more water rather than not enough.
If leaving the skin on whole sweet potatoes, pierce the each sweet potato with a fork 7-8 times.

Nutrition