Learn how long to boil sweet potatoes so they’re that just-right texture, plus the right way to mash sweet potatoes for all your favorite dishes.
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Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production.
Updated on October 4, 2023
Sweet potatoes are delicious any time of the year, but those orange beauties are in peak season in the fall and winter from October through January. Can you boil sweet potatoes? You can, and it's not a complicated process to get them ready for your favorite Thanksgiving side dish (hello, sweet potato casserole!). Use our Test Kitchen's best method for prepping and boiling sweet potatoes to enjoy mashed sweet potatoes, sweet potato pie, and more.
Can You Boil Sweet Potatoes? Here's How
When purchasing, look for small to medium sweet potatoes with smooth skin that are firm and free of soft spots. Store whole, unpeeled sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place for up to one week (don't refrigerate, or they'll dry out). To know how many sweet potatoes you need for your recipe, one medium sweet potato (about 8 ounces) equals approximately 1 ½ cups when peeled and cubed.
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Step 1: Prep Sweet Potatoes
Wash sweet potatoes by thoroughly scrubbing with a clean produce brush and rinse with cool water. Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to peel sweet potatoes. With a sharp knife, cut off any woody portions and ends. Cut into bite-size cubes, keeping pieces as close to the same size as you can for even cooking.
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Step 2: Boil the Sweet Potatoes
Select a saucepan or Dutch oven large enough to hold the sweet potatoes without crowding them. Add enough cold water to cover potatoes and sprinkle with salt. Bring to boiling, cover, and cook until tender.
How long can you boil sweet potatoes: For one pound of sweet potatoes, cover the pan and cook sweet potatoes in the boiling salted water 20 to 25 minutes or until just tender. You should be able to easily pierce the sweet potato with a fork or knife.
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Step 3: Drain and Use
Remove the lid from the pan and carefully pour the sweet potatoes into a colander to drain. Set sweet potatoes aside until cool enough to handle, or run cold water over them to quick-cool if you're using them immediately.
For an easy side dish, you can simply toss cooked sweet potato cubes with butter, salt, and pepper and serve. Or use the cooked sweet potato (cubed or mashed) in quesadillas, pot pies, and other sweet and savory casseroles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to cook sweet potatoes to eat them?
No, sweet potatoes are safe to eat raw. However, they're more easily edible when cooked, and many of their nutrients are enhanced by the cooking process.
Is it ok to eat the skin of sweet potatoes?
The skin of sweet potatoes is full of fiber, which benefits the digestive system. Just make sure you scrub the skin really well before eating!
What's the difference between dark-skin and light-skin sweet potatoes?
Dark-skin sweet potatoes have a much sweeter flavor than lighter-skin versions. Dark-skin sweet potatoes are better in traditional casseroles and mashed dishes, while the light-skin sweet potatoes are better for baking, similar to a Russet potato.
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