How To Bake a Sweet Potato in the Oven

Step 1

Preheat oven and wash the sweet potatoes: Preheat oven to 375°F. Scrub the sweet potatoes well and pat them dry with a dish towel.

Step 2

Oil them up: Prepare squares of aluminum foil for as many sweet potatoes as you are roasting. Place each potato on a foil square and drizzle with a small amount of vegetable oil. Using your hands, rub the oil in a thin, even layer all over the potatoes.

Step 3

Prick with a fork, wrap, and roast: Prick each sweet potato several times with a fork and wrap loosely in the foil. Be sure the foil is well-sealed. Place on a baking sheet and put them into the oven to roast.

Step 4

Check for doneness: Depending on the size of your potatoes, it may take between 30 minutes to 1 hour for them to be done. Check at 30 minutes by squeezing one of the potatoes in an oven mitt-protected hand and inserting a sharp knife or fork into the center. They should feel quite soft and the knife should easily glide all the way through. If not, return to the oven and check again in 10 minutes.

Step 5

Enjoy now or save for later: Enjoy your sweet potatoes immediately or store them in the refrigerator for later. For storage, I leave them wrapped in their foil jackets on the counter until cool and then pop them into a plastic bag or glass container and put them into the fridge. They will keep for several days. Reheat in a microwave or toaster oven or use in recipes as needed.