I’ll show you exactly how to cook a sweet potato in the microwave, so the insides stay soft and ready to be loaded with your favorite toppings. It’s the fastest way to cook them and saves you 45 minutes.
Microwave Sweet Potatoes
Microwaved sweet potatoes are just as delicious as oven-baked potatoes, and if you use my method to cook them, the centers will be pillowy soft, and practically melt in your mouth with butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
When choosing sweet potatoes, opt for ones that are firm, smooth, and without bruises. If you plan to cook several sweet potatoes at once, try to select ones that are the same size so they cook evenly.
Wet Paper Towel Method
Most recipes for microwave sweet potatoes cook them directly on a plate. However, I’ve found that wrapping the potatoes in a damp paper towel keeps the centers moist and prevents the edges nearest the skin from drying out.
If you’re a sucker for crispy sweet potato skin with caramelized edges, you might want to bake them instead. The microwave steams the potato to keep it from shriveling up due to the high wattage.
How to Cook a Sweet Potato in the Microwave
Here are the easy steps, plus a video in the recipe card to see all the details:
- Wash.
Gently give the sweet potatoes a good scrub with warm water. Pat dry with a kitchen towel. - Prick.
Using a fork, prick the skin of each potato and wrap with a damp paper towel. - Cook.
Place the wrapped sweet potatoes onto a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 5 minutes, rotating halfway through, or until the potato is tender and easily pierced through a fork or knife.
- Serve.
Make sure to use oven mitts when removing the potatoes from the microwave; the extra steam is HOT. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
How Long to Cook a Sweet Potato in the Microwave
The thickness, or height, of the sweet potato determines how long it will take to cook. In my experience, a medium sweet potato only takes about 5 minutes in a high-powered (900-1100w) microwave. Additional potatoes will add more cooking time. See the recipe card below, for information on microwaving 4 sweet potatoes at a time.
| Size | Time |
|---|---|
| Small (3″ tall) | 4 minutes |
| Medium (4″) | 5-6 minutes |
| Large (5″) | 7+ minutes |
Lower-wattage microwaves will need additional cooking time. If you’re potato(es) still aren’t fork tender after the estimated time, continue to microwave in one-minute increments until it’s done.
More Ways to Cook a Sweet Potato
Instant Pot | Baked | Crockpot | Air Fryer
Recipes to Serve Microwave Sweet Potatoes
Serve these sweet potatoes with pan-fried chicken for a satisfying meal or turn them into a savory-sweet breakfast, topped with almond butter and berries. More healthy ideas are:
- Shredded buffalo chicken + Blue cheese + Ranch dressing
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Baked Sausage & Peppers
- Topped with a fried egg + sliced avocado
- More sweet potato topping ideas here
How to Microwave a Sweet Potato
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
Instructions
Prep:
- Using your hands or a scrub brush, gently wash the sweet potatoes with warm water. Pat dry with a kitchen towel.
- Using a fork, prick the skin of each potato and wrap it with a damp paper towel.
Cook:
- If cooking one sweet potato, cook it for 5 minutes, flipping it over after 3 minutes. Continue cooking it until the potato feels soft when pierced with a fork through the thickest part.
- For 4 sweet potatoes, you'll need 11 to 13 total minutes of cooking time. Remember to rotate and flip the sweet potatoes halfway through and remove them when they're tender and pierce easily with a fork.
- Using oven mitts, remove the potatoes from the microwave and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can microwave multiple sweet potatoes at once, starting with 5 minutes for the first potato and adding 2 to 3 minutes for every additional potato.
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DK says
Great tips! Now I can make sweet potato in the microwave every night!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dinner tonight and it was a savory success! Quick, easy and inexpensive; the perfect dinner for a busy weeknight, indeed!
Gianne says
The process was incredibly quick and easy, and the result was a perfectly tender and delicious sweet potato in just minutes. It’s now my go-to method for a speedy, nutritious side dish or snack!
Erik says
So helpful! Just cuz it’s hot doesn’t mean I don’t still want a baked potato.
Ann says
This is so handy. Some people don’t like microwaves but I just need the convenience. Thankyou!