Baked sweet potatoes

[ny biker]

Are the instructions for baking sweet potatoes the same as for white potatoes?

I often have a baked (white) potato for dinner. I make it in the microwave using instructions I got from Nancy Clark's book --

- wash and prick with a fork, then wrap in paper towel
- cook for 7-8 minutes, turning over (top to bottom) once halfway through
- remove from microwave, wrap in dishtowel, let sit for ~ 5 minutes to finish cooking.

I'd like to switch things up and have sweet potatoes instead, so I was wondering if they cook the same or if there is something about them that requires less/more baking time.

Thanks!

[indysteel]

That's how I cook them. I give them a squeeze at about 6 minutes to see how close they are to being done. They're delish!

[Sky King]

Sweet Potatoes don't need as many minutes. We actually roast sweet potatoes and white potatoes and then carry them on rides. Wonderful snack and a high glycemic index so good fuel for the muscles without worrying about what other ingredients may be hidden in some of the "energy" foods we are always being pushed to buy

[GLC1968]

I've never cooked a baked potato in the microwave, but I do cook sweet potatoes and white potatoes side by side all the time in the regular oven. My H only likes sweet potatoes so it's a common thing in our house. He likes them really, really mushy, so they take the same amount of time to cook. If you don't like them so soft, I'd agree that they cook slightly faster than the same sized white potato.

[Crankin]

I haven't cooked a potato in the oven since 1980...
I exclusively eat sweet potatoes and they are quicker to cook. Sometimes I pre-cook about 3/4 way in the microwave and then cut up and stir fry in olive oil. Delicious.

[Pedal Wench]

Sweet Potatoes don't need as many minutes. We actually roast sweet potatoes and white potatoes and then carry them on rides. Wonderful snack and a high glycemic index so good fuel for the muscles without worrying about what other ingredients may be hidden in some of the "energy" foods we are always being pushed to buy

How do you keep them safe? I've heard that potatoes become dangerous to eat very quickly at room temperature.

And, I really prefer my sweet potatoes cooked in an oven, unwrapped. They get kinda carmelized and super yummy - less mushy and more intense flavor.

[azfiddle]

Our new way to eat them is to heat up pineapple in orange juice and spoon it over the top...

[bmccasland]

How do you keep them safe? I've heard that potatoes become dangerous to eat very quickly at room temperature.

And, I really prefer my sweet potatoes cooked in an oven, unwrapped. They get kinda carmelized and super yummy - less mushy and more intense flavor.

I've eaten cold roasted sweet potatoes and lived. Of course they are better warm, with butter.

That's the way I roast my sweet potatoes, just the potato on the oven rack.

I miss good southern sweet potatoes. Mississippi mud is good for something.

[indysteel]

Potatoes baked in aluminum foil that are left to cool to room temperature while still wrapped in the foil apparently pose a risk of botulism, but potatoes in general do not. You shoulf either eat them immediately or refrigerate them. I don't care for baked potatoes, so that's not an issue for me.

[Sky King]

No issues with getting sick. We roast the night before, refrigerate overnight. Then put in ziploc baggies for the ride. So perhaps they are 3 hours on the ride before consumption and we toss anything that doesn't get eaten. My digestive system can't handle power bars, luna bars et al. I can eat about 1/4 of a cliff bar at best so am always open to ideas on easy to pack, high energy food for long rides.

[Melalvai]

Sweet potatoes are a really good choice. They have a lower GI than white potatoes.

[ny biker]

So, I just got back from the grocery store, and have another question.

The russet potatoes I buy generally weigh about 1 pound, and I get two meals out of each potato. I slice it lengthwise after cooking, put one half on the plate and the other half in the fridge. Topped with shredded cheddar, each half is a main course for me.

Anyway, I cook the ~1 pound potato for 7.5 minutes.

Tonight most of the sweet potatoes in the store were smaller. I found one that weighed just under a pound, and bought two others that weighed about .5 pounds each.

So, for cooking time, 6 minutes for the larger one and 3-4 for each smaller one? There would only be one in the microwave at a time.

(I will not be topping them with cheddar -- I'm going to try both vanilla yogurt and cream cheese, to see which I prefer, plus I have some cinnamon, walnuts and raisins to sprinkle on top. I want to go with something on the sweet side, but not too sweet.)

[PamNY]

Aren't microwaves different in power? I'd just experiment -- keep squeezing till it feels right. I agree sweet potatoes take a little less time than white potatoes.

[ny biker]

But how much time for a 1/2 pound potato vs a 1 pound potato? Half the time?

[angelaslc]

I'm new here and new to cycling but one thing I know is nutrition and cooking healthy foods.

I got rid of my microwave because it makes everything taste....blah...plus I notice my digestion is better with non-microwave foods and they say it zaps the nutrients from food. I don't miss having one.

The BEST way to cook sweet potatoes is in the oven. I usually get 2 large potatoes and 1 onion. It feeds 2 of us for the week.

1. Heat it up to 425
2. Rinse and scrub skins (do not peel)
3. Slice the sweet potatoes about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
4. Slice up an onion.
5. Mix together with olive oil in a casserole dish - I like the stone cookware.
6. Cook in the oven for about 35 min. Stir - add more olive oil if needed.
7. Cook an additional 10-25 mins.
8. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.

Yum! They are so full of flavor - nice and caramelized. I put the leftovers in the fridge and I usually eat it cold as a snack.

Adjust cooking times, potato thickness to your preference.
My crossfit friends buy sweet potato baby food by the case. They open the jar and drink it as a snack. I tried that once....but...blah.....
It's a lot cheaper and it tastes so much better to cook up a batch of roasted sweet potatoes for the week.

I will try it out as a snack for long rides. I’ve only had my bike for a week and I’ve only gone on 6, 16, 17, and 18 mile rides so far. But I have a 36 mile ride planned for the weekend. I will try it for a snack on my rides - thanks for the tip!