How Long to Bake a Sweet Potato at 450

Knowing how long to bake a sweet potato at 450 °F can be a determining factor as to whether you have an enjoyable sweet potato for your dinner. Surprisingly, baking sweet potatoes in the oven is not hard to do at all, it’s one of the easiest and most delicious ways to enjoy a sweet potato.

We are going to explore how long to bake a sweet potato at 450°F to have it turn out amazing.

sweet potato with brown sugar and butter

Best Baked Sweet Potatoes

Baking sweet potatoes in the oven is a favorite method to enjoy delicious sweet potatoes. So if potatoes are so good, and often overlooked as a healthy side dish that you can enjoy as a great addition to your main meal, or even as a main meal themselves.

Baking your sweet potatoes in the oven at 450°F will give you a delicious result, that you can easily enjoy. Baking your sweet potatoes in the oven at 450°F gives you that nice crunchy skin on the exterior, as opposed to cooking the sweet potatoes another way.

First, let’s look at the difference between a sweet potato and a regular potato.

Sweet Potato vs Potato

Both sweet potatoes and regular potatoes like Russet potatoes, yellow potatoes, golden potatoes, red potatoes, and white potatoes are all root vegetables. They both grow in the ground, as root vegetables.

However, the taste in the texture of regular potatoes compared to sweet potatoes are quite different. Regular potatoes are much lighter and fluffier. They make good mashed potatoes, French fries, hashbrowns, and really any other type of traditional potato dish that you can think of.

Sweet potatoes on the other hand have an orange interior and are heavier in texture. Typically, the inside of the potatoes tastes much sweeter in general, almost like squash or pumpkin, compared to regular potatoes.

Sweet potatoes however are becoming much more popular, because of the health benefits that they provide. Unlike the starchy content of traditional potatoes, sweet potatoes are actually quite good for you to eat.

Perfectly Baked Sweet Potato

Making perfectly baked sweet potatoes in the oven is definitely a favorite way to enjoy sweet potatoes. Making them in high heat allows them to be done faster, and also provides that nice crunchy skin of the potato.

There are a couple of determining factors, that will answer how long to bake a sweet potato at 450°F. Those two main factors are your specific oven and the size of the sweet potato. Let’s take a look at these two factors.

Perfect Roasted Sweet Potatoes

The Size of the Sweet Potato

You may have noticed, when you go to grocery stores and look for sweet potatoes, there are many different sizes available. Usually, you can purchase sweet potatoes individually, or in small bags.

The sizes of sweet potatoes can vary greatly. I have seen sweet potatoes that are super huge, typically those weigh a few pounds and other sweet potatoes that are more the size of a normal Russet potato.

Cooking Time

Even though the sweet potatoes are all sweet potatoes, they range in size. That means that cooking time for the different-sized sweet potatoes will also vary.

Typically, you can estimate that a normal sweet potato will take between 35 minutes and one hour to bake in the oven at 450°F. But you might have to adjust the cooking time for the sweet potatoes depending on if the sweet potato is smaller than average, or much longer than normal.

Your Oven

Your oven will also play determining factor as to how long it takes to bake a sweet potato at 450°F. whether your oven is gas or electric will determine how long it takes, as well as if you have a normal oven or double oven. Typically, double ovens, if you’re using the smaller one will cook slightly faster than a normal oven.

It’s always good to set the timer for less than you think you will need, and then add additional time as needed, that way you could avoid overcooking your sweet potatoes, but still have plenty of time for them to turn out just right

Sweet Potatoes Recipe

I am so excited to share this sweet potato recipe with you! Baking sweet potatoes in the oven at 450°F is super easy, yet they taste amazing. This basic recipe is the perfect side dish for any main meal, or you can even turn these baked sweet potatoes into your main meal if you wish.

Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

You Will Need:

A Sheet Pan. Using a sheet pan to bake the potatoes in the oven is always a good idea. This way you don’t have to worry about cleaning up your oven afterwards.

Parchment Paper or Aluminum Foil. It’s also a good idea to have some parchment paper or aluminum foil on hand to line your sheet pan with. My preference is to use parchment paper, but aluminum foil can work as well.

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes. You can pick up sweet potatoes and a variety of sizes from your local grocery store. Typically, it’s a good idea to go for an average size, in order to have them turn out the best. However, you also want to make sure you’re getting the best bargain.

Oil. The best way to prepare your sweet potatoes is with a little olive oil drizzled on the outside of your potatoes. This helps the sweet potato skin become a nice crispy skin. You can also choose to use other alternative oils such as coconut oil or avocado oil if desired.

Salt for seasoning. I like to sprinkle a little bit of salt, such as sea salt or kosher salt on the outside of the potato skin. This way the skin tastes a whole lot better if you plan to eat it after it is baked. Another great option is to use real salt.

Butter. Sweet potatoes don’t need a whole lot added to them, when served all you need is a little butter, and some additional salt inside if desired before serving. Then you can enjoy tasty sweet potatoes.

baked sweet potato topped with butter and brown sugar

Other Sweet Potato Toppings

In addition to the ingredients listed above, here are a few more sweet potato toppings and seasonings that you might enjoy on your sweet potatoes. It all depends on if you’re going for a sweet or savory sweet potato.

Garlic powder

Chili powder

Sour cream

Black pepper

Maple syrup

Brown sugar

How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes at 450 Degrees Fahrenheit

First, preheat the oven to 450°F.

While the oven is preheating, take your sweet potatoes and wash the skins thoroughly under warm water. Scrub it until there is no trace of dirt remaining.

Next, take your baking sheet, and clean it with parchment paper, or aluminum foil. It’s also a good idea to drizzle with oil or cooking spray if you are lining with aluminum foil.

Take a fork or a knife and poke holes in each sweet potato. Usually, it’s a good idea to poke two or three holes in each potato just to be safe.

Then place the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

When the 450-degree oven has been preheated, place the baking sheet into the hot oven.

The baking time for your sweet potatoes may be anywhere from 20-25 minutes for small potatoes to 45-60 minutes for large, sweet potatoes. I would recommend setting your timer for approximately 20 minutes, but plan on the cooking time being approximately 35 to 50 minutes for an average-sized sweet potato.

To tell when your sweet potatoes are done, you’re looking for soft potatoes. To determine if they’re done, take a sharp knife, and try poking it into one of the sweet potatoes. If it goes into the potato with very little resistance, then your potatoes are soft and fully baked.

You can remove them from the oven when they are baked, let them rest for a few minutes, then serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Can you cook directly on the wire rack?

Yes, you can cook sweet potatoes directly on the wire rack if desired, but I do not recommend it.

Number one the mess from the potatoes will drip down into your oven, making it a lot of work to clean up. They can be very difficult to remove from the oven when they’re soft and squishy.

If you’re going to bake them directly on the wire rack, then you will first want to wrap them in aluminum foil before baking.

Sweet Potatoes in Different Ways

Sweet potatoes can be baked in many different ways. Making a whole sweet potato in the oven at 450°F is one of the easiest ways to enjoy sweet potatoes but you can also cut sweet potatoes into cubes and then bake them on a baking sheet.

Another way is to cut some potatoes in the fries and bake them in the oven, just make sure to line a prepared baking sheet before adding the sweet potato fries.

Or you can cut sweet potatoes around, add them to a baking sheet, and then cook them in the oven until soft. Just like regular potatoes, there are many ways you can enjoy sweet potatoes and have them make a fabulous side dish.

Variations

Baking Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Because an air fryer is essentially a miniature convection oven, you can also bake sweet potatoes in an air fryer rather than in the oven. This works well if you are going to bake only one or two potatoes at a time.

However, it’s important to note that most air fryers cannot bake at 450°F, usually the highest they go is around 400°F.

The process of baking sweet potatoes in an air fryer is the same as in an oven. You first want to preheat the air fryer, then wash the sweet potatoes and poke holes in them before adding them to the air fryer.

You can then air fry until the sweet potatoes are soft. The cooking time for sweet potatoes in the air fryer will also depend on your specific air fryer. You can generally estimate it will take between 45 minutes and one hour for sweet potatoes to cook in the air fryer.

How to Store and Reheat

How to Store

At room temperature

Cooked sweet potatoes should be left at room temperature for no more than two hours before the food goes bad. After that, they should be stored in the fridge.

In the fridge

Cooked sweet potatoes can last in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days when covered securely in plastic wrap or sealed in an airtight container.

How to Reheat

In the oven. One of the easiest ways to reheat leftover sweet potatoes is in the oven. First, preheat the oven to 350°F, then place your sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and add them into the oven. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the sweet potato is warmed all the way through.

In the air fryer. Another way to reheat leftover sweet potatoes is in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F, then add the leftover sweet potatoes into your air fryer basket. Air fry for approximately 10 to 15 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are warmed through.

In the microwave. Another message to reheat leftover sweet potatoes is in the microwave. Make sure to place the sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl or plate, and poke holes in the sweet potatoes if they’re not already. Cover with a damp paper towel, and microwave for one to two minutes or until the sweet potatoes are warm.

Tips for Baked Sweet Potato

Always Poke a Few Holes

When you are baking sweet potatoes, it is always a good idea to poke a few holes in the potatoes before baking. This will prevent them from exploding in your oven.

Bake Directly on the Rack

If you want, you can bake the sweet potatoes directly on the wire rack of your oven. This will help make the skin extra crispy. Or you can also bake them on a cookie sheet so that they don’t leave drips in your oven.

Bake at High Heat

Baking the sweet potatoes at a high temperature will allow your sweet potatoes to bake in a decent amount of time, and ensure that they are cooked all of the way through.

Halve Before Baking

In order to speed up the baking process, you can cut the sweet potatoes in half before baking them.

Best Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Making baked sweet potatoes in the oven at 450°F is super easy, and they are one of the best side dish foods you can enjoy with any meal. Not only are sweet potatoes delicious, but they are also quite good for you to eat. Now that you know how long to bake a sweet potato at 450°F, it’s time to get started making your own.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out how long to bake a sweet potato at 450°F. I hope this is answered your question, and you can now enjoy delicious baked sweet potatoes!

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