Best Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes baked to perfection until their natural sweetness caramelizes beautifully, and their flesh takes on a rich, darker hue. Using a low and slow baking method passed down from mom, these are the best Baked Sweet Potatoes, with an unbelievably delicious taste and texture.

Serves: n/a
Prep Time: 1 minute – Cooking Time: 2 hours – Total Time: 2 hours

Helpful equipment

• Small toaster oven

Instructions

• Scrub the potatoes to remove any dirt, then pat them dry. 
• Preheat the oven to 280F. Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray.
• Bake for 2 hours or more until they are soft and yield to gentle pressure when touched.

Notes

• The low and slow baking method is suitable for any variety of sweet potato, but is preferred for slim-shaped sweet ones. Examples include:
• Orange flesh sweet potatoes like Jewel, Red Garnet, and Beauregard
• Yellow/white flesh sweet potatoes such as Japanese White
• Purple flesh sweet potatoes like Okinawan, Stokes Purple
• Our top pick for a sweet potato snack is the Okinawan purple sweet potato. 
• Baking sweet potatoes demands a lot of patience, but the end result is well worth it.
• Instant potting or microwaving sweet potatoes cannot replicate the unique texture and flavor achieved using the low and slow baking method.
• In a small toaster oven, baking temperatures can range from 270F-300F. The baking time varies based on the size and thickness of the sweet potato. When fully baked, the sweet potato should feel soft and "smooshy" to touch.
• Choose smaller, slim potatoes that are firm, smooth, and free of mold, bruises, and lacerations.
• The skin of the sweet potato can be eaten as well.