If you have leftover sweet potatoes, there are several options to reheat them. These include the Microwave, Oven, and Air fryer. All of these methods use less oil than traditional frying methods. And the resulting foods are often healthier than traditional fried food. So, if you’re wondering how to reheat sweet potatoes, read on for some tips!
Sweet potatoes are an excellent addition to any dish to add flavor and fullness. Even though sweet potatoes are fairly simple to prepare, it might be difficult to determine how to reheat them. This article will discuss how to reheat sweet potatoes in all of their varieties so that they retain their original delectable flavor.
How to Reheat Sweet Potatoes?
Reheat baked or roasted sweet potatoes simply in the microwave (checking after each interval of 30 seconds) or in the oven until they are heated all the way through. If you don’t want your mashed sweet potatoes to get rubbery, you might choose to reheat them on the stovetop instead of in the microwave.
Using Microwave to Reheat Sweet Potatoes
One of the simplest ways to reheat sweet potatoes is by microwaving them in a microwave. You just need to place them on a microwave-safe plate and slightly overlap them. Microwave them for about four to six minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. If you don’t have a microwave, you can use oven mitts to flip them.
You can also place a second plate upside-down over the sweet potato and remove the original plate. Microwaved sweet potatoes don’t require peeling, so you can eat the skin as well! The skin contains vitamins and antioxidants, so you can eat it without worrying about it destroying nutrients.
Using an Air Fryer to Reheat Sweet Potatoes
If you’re looking for a quick way to reheat sweet potatoes, you can reheat them in an Air fryer. This appliance cooks quickly, and can even reheat leftover fries. Just make sure you don’t overcrowd the potatoes, so they cook evenly. When cooking sweet potatoes in an Air fryer, the cooking time will vary, but it usually takes only about 3-4 minutes per side.
Sweet potato fries can be reheated in an Air fryer, as long as you keep them in batches. However, you must be careful not to overcrowd the fries, or they will steam rather than air fry. It’s also important to make sure they are completely dry before you put them into the Air fryer.
This is because moisture creates steam and keeps sweet potatoes soft. Also, be sure to spread them out in a single layer, so they cook evenly. Also, ensure there’s enough air circulation inside the Air fryer, or else your fries will be soggy.
Using Oven to Reheat Sweet Potatoes
Before you reheat sweet potatoes, you need to remove them from the fridge. This will help them retain moisture and reduce cooking time. Depending on their size, sweet potatoes may take between 3 and 5 minutes.
You can also microwave sweet potatoes if you wish to reheat them quickly. Depending on how soft you like your sweet potatoes, the microwave can reheat sweet potatoes in about one minute. Before cooking, make sure the sweet potatoes are clean and free from bruises or discoloration.
They should also be firm, not mushy. Make sure the potatoes are not too large or too small. It will take longer to roast a large sweet potato than a small one. In a large oven, a sweet potato can take around an hour and 15 minutes.
Using Wrap in paper towel to Reheat Sweet Potatoes
Wrapping sweet potato in a paper towel to reheat will keep it moist during the cooking process. This will keep it from drying out in the microwave and prevent it from burning. Then place it on a microwave-safe plate. Once cooked, remove the paper towel and let it cool for about 5 minutes before cutting.
Wrapped sweet potatoes can be reheated in the microwave for about two to three minutes. However, baked sweet potatoes will take a little longer. Keep an eye on them while heating and be sure to turn them over halfway.
Do Sweet Potatoes Taste Better Baked or Boiled?
Additionally, baking can lower vitamin A levels by 80%, which is twice as much as boiling. So, from a nutritional perspective, boiling is preferred over baking when it comes to preparing sweet potatoes. Compared to roasting and steaming, boiling may actually preserve the majority of the antioxidant potential of sweet potatoes.
Baking and boiling can be compared on a microscopic level, however, boiling helps thin out cell walls and gelatinizes starch, which may increase nutrients’ availability. Although theoretically boiling sweet potatoes is preferable, the best way to cook them is whatever will encourage you to eat most of them. This is because sweet potatoes are so extremely healthful! The one exception is deep frying, which can produce acrylamide, a possible human hazard.
Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy?
Yes! You’ll stay full longer if you eat sweet potatoes, a complex carbohydrate rich in healthy vitamins and minerals. Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of vitamins A and C, have few calories, have more than 6 grams of fiber per serving, and are rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals and shield the body from cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. This vegetable is a key component of a balanced diet and is generally quite nutrient-dense.
Additionally abundant in vitamins C and B6, which are critical for the health of the neurological system and the brain, are sweet potatoes. Additionally, they contain plenty of potassium and magnesium, both of which assist control of blood pressure and hence benefit heart health. They are rich in fiber and antioxidants, which guard your body against free radical damage and support a healthy gut and brain. Additionally, they contain a huge amount of beta-carotene, which is transformed into vitamin A and helps to boost your immune system and healthy vision.
How can you tell if Sweet Potatoes are Bad?
Your sweet potato may be past its prime if you use your senses to assess this. Squeeze the object first. When it’s fresh, it’ll be firm; when it’s not, it’ll be mushy. You should throw out your sweet potato if it is leaking, mushy and squishy, discolored, stinky, or has a lot of sprouts.
You may either plant it or chop off the sprouting section, prepare it, and eat it right away if there are only a few sprouts and the sweet potato is still firm. Discoloration, areas that are black or brown, and odd smells are further warning indicators to look out for. It’s also past its prime if your sweet potato has mold or is dripping juice.
What is the Shelf Life of Sweet Potatoes?
Of course, that depends on if they are kept. At room temperature, sweet potatoes last for a few weeks to a month, while they keep for about three months in the refrigerator. Several variables affect sweet potatoes’ stay at room temperature, so it’s better to store them in a pantry to keep them fresh for 3-5 weeks.
Additionally, sweet potatoes can be frozen for even longer storage or kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 months. Consider freezing them if you wish to preserve their usability for an extended period.
A significant barrier for actors in sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the high perishability of sweet potato roots during storage. Shelf life at 12–15 EC and 85–90% relative humidity can be extended by using the proper pre-storage treatments against microbial degradation and sprouting.
Reference: Quality and Shelf-life of Sweet Potato as Influenced by Storage and Postharvest Treatments
How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes that have been cooked can be frozen whole, chopped, or mashed. Whatever method you select, they’ll keep in the freezer for roughly a year. Refrigerating sweet potatoes is a good way to extend their shelf-life and reheat them easily. If you’ve made more than one serving of these sweet potatoes, store the leftovers in an airtight container or plastic bag. You can also keep cooked sweet potatoes on a plate lined with plastic wrap.
Freezing Entire Sweet Potatoes:
- Clean the sweet potatoes, prick them a few times, and bake them for about an hour at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) (read our definitive sweet potato baking guide).
- You can individually wrap the potatoes in foil, put them in freezer bags with the date written on them, and freeze them after they have cooled completely to room temperature.
To Freeze Sweet Potatoes in Slices:
- Before boiling the sweet potatoes for 35 to 40 minutes, scrub them (start checking them after 25 minutes since the potatoes can vary greatly in size). Before peeling and slicing them, drain them in a strainer and let them cool completely.
- Place the slices in an equal layer on a baking sheet lined with paper, then cover and freeze for one night.
- Place the frozen slices in a freezer bag that is marked with the date and place the bag in the freezer.
When Freezing Sweet Potatoes:
- Cubed, peeled sweet potatoes should be boiled or baked until done.
- Use a potato masher to mash the cubes; do not add milk or butter yet. Add a little lemon juice before mashing them rather than freezing them with cream. The mash won’t turn brown because of this.
- Before putting the mash in freezer bags with a date label, let it cool fully. To avoid having to thaw and refreeze the mash often, we advise freezing it in individual servings.
Conclusion
Vegetables like sweet potatoes are quite adaptable and can be used in both savory and sweet meals. It’s the ideal vegetable to include in your weekly routine, but baking it in an oven can take some time. There is a quicker way, though occasionally you may need to bake it for up to an hour.
Sweet potato may be popped into the microwave in just 5 minutes! It gives a sweet potato a texture that is quite similar to that of roasted sweet potato and is really simple to do. Sweet potato can be microwaved whole or cut into slices, cubes, or discs to be used in salads, stir-fries, curries, and stews.
