Make it easier to cook sweet potato with this super straight-forward way to cut it. You can prep the root veggie this way to use in roasted sweet potato, purees, baked goods, smoothies, bowls, and more.
How to Cut Sweet Potato
Cutting up a sweet potato is fairly easy (usually!) once you know the order of a few basic steps for the process. I usually do a few at once so I have extras to use in recipes, but you can really do as many or as few as you like.
For this process, you’ll need a knife, a vegetable peeler, and a cutting board.
This is a great refresher if you’re planning to make roasted sweet potato or if you’re dicing some up to use in another recipe (like chili or a slow cooker dish).
Ingredients You Need
I usually buy “garnet yams” since I like their bright flavor and color, but any sweet potato can be prepared this way. You may see orange flesh, white flesh, and even purple sweet potatoes depending on the time of year and where you shop.
TIP: Peel and cut the sweet potato right before using as the flesh will start to turn brown when exposed to air for longer than about 10-20 minutes.
Step 1
The first step in cutting a sweet potato for cooking is to peel it. I like to use a vegetable peeler, but you can also use a paring knife and simply remove the skin.
TIP: You may need to trim off the ends to make getting all of the skin off of the ends easy.
Step 2
Next, you’ll cut the potato into rounds. I usually aim for about 1/2-inch thick so that the diced pieces I wind up with at the end don’t take forever to cook. (Smaller pieces cook faster.)
TIP: Aim for the cut pieces of the sweet potato to be about the same size so they cook evenly.
Step 3
Then, cut the rounds in half and in half again. Larger rounds can be cut into thirds both ways. I like my diced pieces to be 1/2-1 inch big to help speed up the cooking process.
TIP: You can also cut these into sticks if you prefer. Cut into rounds, then slice into 1/2-inch thick sticks.
Recipes to Use Sweet Potato
Once you have your cut up sweet potato, try them in these recipes. For some of the recipes, you’ll
TIP: You may also like How to Cut Food for Kids, How to Cut Butternut Squash, and How to Cut Kiwi.
How to Store
Cut sweet potato is best used right after peeling and dicing to prevent the flesh from turning brown. Before you’re ready to use it, store the whole sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place for a few weeks.
Best Tips for Success
- Use a vegetable peeler to easily peel the skin of a sweet potato.
- Dice or slice evenly so that the potato cooks evenly.
- Use right after cutting to prevent the flesh from turning brown.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this method, so please rate and comment below.
How to Cut Sweet Potato
Ingredients
- 2-4 small to medium sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Wash and dry the sweet potatoes.
- Peel the skin with a vegetable peeler or paring knife. (Cut the ends as needed to make this step easier.)
- Slice into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
- Slice each round in half, then in half again to make a 1/2-1 inch dice.
- Alternatively, you can slice rounds into sticks.
- Use in recipes such as Roasted Sweet Potato, Chicken and Sweet Potato Bowls, Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos, Slow Cooker Chana Masala, Big Batch Veggie Chili, and Veggie Chili Mac.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was first published September 2021.
I was trying to look through previous posts, but didn’t find anything on it: Can the roasted sweet potato be cooked then frozen for using in smoothies later?
Yes, absolutely! Let cool and freeze in a flat layer in a freezer bag, then just break off what you need for a smoothie.