How To Bake Sweet Potatoes in The Oven

Learn how to bake sweet potatoes in the oven with a few simple steps to ensure you get that crispy skin on the outside and soft, fluffy texture on the inside!

guide on baking sweet potatoes in the oven

Published: January 25, 2025 by Pamela

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Sweet potatoes are not only delicious but also filled with nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. They’re a great option for almost any meal, especially if you’re looking for something filling yet healthy. For example, if you’re on a low carbs diet and looking for a filling meal, sweet potatoes fit right in.

The best thing about sweet potatoes is that they can be used for both savory recipes and sweet recipes, a sweet recipe I want to try very soon is sweet potato brownies. Have you tried them? Let me know if you did!

For a savory recipe, one of my favorites is Taco stuffed sweet potatoes! It is absolutely delicious, high in protein, low in cards, and very filling. Give it a try, you will love it!

How many types of sweet potatoes are there?

Sweet potatoes come in many types, but they can usually be grouped into four main categories based on their skin and flesh color:

Orange-fleshed Sweet Potatoes: The most common variety, with bright orange flesh and reddish-brown skin. They’re packed with beta-carotene and are great for baking or roasting.
White-fleshed Sweet Potatoes: These have pale skin and white or cream-colored flesh. They’re a bit less sweet and have a drier, starchier texture.
Purple Sweet Potatoes: Varieties like Okinawan and Stokes Purple feature purple flesh, thanks to anthocyanins. They have a mildly sweet, nutty flavor.
Japanese Sweet Potatoes: With reddish-purple skin and white or yellowish flesh, these are sweeter and denser than other types.

Ingredients to make baked sweet potatoes in the oven:

Sweet potatoes
Olive oil
Salt

Measurements are posted in the recipe card below the instructions.

Steps to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes:

Start by washing the sweet potato, I use a regular sponge soaked in water and rub the potato to remove any dirt. Sweet potatoes skin are edible and highly nutritious so don’t forget to wash the potatoes!
Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and baking paper (you can omit the baking paper).
Sprinkle some salt on the sweet potato.

brushing olive oil on sweet potato to bake in the oven

Poke some hole in the potato using a fork, you will need to apply pressure in order to do that because a sweet potato is very firm. This step is very important to allow the pressure from the potato to release during baking (you don’t want your potato to explode). Even a few pokes will be enough.
Bake the sweet potato in the oven at 428F (220C) for 40 minutes to 1 hour. This really depends on the size of the potato. The potato pictured here took a whole hour, but it was pretty large. You will know the potato is ready when you insert a fork and it is super tender on the inside.

poking holes to bake sweet potato in the oven

Is it better to bake sweet potatoes with or without foil?

Do NOT wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking them in the oven. Baking them without foil allows the skin to get crispy, while the flesh stays soft and tender. If you wrap them in foil, the skin stays softer, but you might lose some of that delicious texture. So, if you are wondering “Why are my oven sweet potatoes soggy?”, there’s the answer!

Do you need to poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking?

Always! Poking holes in sweet potatoes lets steam escape while they cook, which helps prevent them from bursting in the oven. A few pokes with a fork are all you need to make sure they cook evenly and avoid becoming soggy.

Check out my Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe! It’s such a nutritious recipe, low in carbs, high in proteins, and very filling! (and delicious of course 😁)

If you tried this recipe, be sure to leave a rating and share your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear your feedback!