The Water Trick That Makes Perfectly-Roasted Whole Sweet Potatoes At Home

Whether you eat sweet potatoes regularly or reserve them for the holidays, this orange-fleshed spud can be a decadent treat and a star on the dinner table. Everyone has their own way of cooking them, but there is one trick that makes roasted sweet potatoes extra delicious. While you might know that roasting sweet potatoes whole in foil is a classic cooking technique, adding a few tablespoons of water will help achieve a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Add a little bit of water into the foil packet to allow steam to build up and create a moist environment for the sweet potato to get perfectly roasted and fluffy. After placing a potato in foil, pour about 4 to 5 tablespoons of water over it and wrap tightly. Place your foil-wrapped potatoes on a baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour and a half. Ultimately, the timing will depend on the size of the potatoes, so the smaller they are, the less time they will need (and vice versa). Just check in after about an hour and go from there.

Contrary to common misconceptions, yams and sweet potatoes are distinct from one another. Additionally, sweet potatoes are not closely related to the familiar russet potatoes. Sweet potatoes belong to the Convolvulaceae family, which includes flowering plants such as morning glories. Originating from South America, sweet potatoes grow underground as large tubers and are characterized by their elongated shape, substantial weight, and tapered ends.

Traditionally when we think of sweet potatoes, we picture deep orange-colored ones, but they actually come in many shapes and colors, with orange-fleshed varieties featuring skins that can be orange or red and even sweet potatoes with purple, yellow, or white flesh. 

The tuber's sweetness intensifies when it is cooked or baked due to the caramelization of the sugars inside. This is why sweet potatoes are frequently paired with ingredients like marshmallows, molasses, and brown sugar –– making them a decadent side on holiday dinner tables. If you are looking for an indulgent dish that uses this scrumptious, starchy vegetable, try this sweet potato casserole with gooey marshmallows.