Make it easier to cook sweet potato with this super straight-forward way on How to Cut Sweet Potato. You can prep the root veggie this way to use in roasted sweet potato, purees, baked goods, smoothies, bowls, and more.

diced sweet potato on white cutting board

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).

(You may also like my post on How to Cut Butternut Squash.)

sweet potatoes on white cutting board

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-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a preview of how to cut sweet potato so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full information.

peeled-sweet-potato-with-peeler-1

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.

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.)

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.

pan of roasted sweet potato cubes

Step 4. Cook or proceed with your desired recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you cut the skin off sweet potato?

The skin is edible so it depends on preference. For very young eaters, removing the skin will make it the easiest to eat.

Why is it so hard to cut sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are much denser than white potatoes because they have less water. They can take a bit of muscle to cut!

Can I prep sweet potato in advance?

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.

Recipes to Use Sweet Potato

Once you have your cut up sweet potato, try them in these recipes.

Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Make this easy sweet potato recipe as a make-ahead lunch component or a simple side dish for family dinner.
Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
roasted-sweet-potato-in-white-bowl
Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)
You can meal prep this recipe to have ready for future lunches or dinners to share with the kids or you can make it as a family dinner. Add flavor to your bowl with the optional ingredients.
Sweet Potato Chicken Bowls (Easy Meal Prep)
chicken-and-sweet-potato-bowls-for-kid-and-parent
Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Tacos
With a short ingredient list and a veggie-loaded sauce, these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are such a delicious family meal. (You can even make it in the Instant Pot for dinner in just 25 minutes.)
Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Tacos
Slow cooker chicken tacos on plate with sides.
Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
Try making a super easy Indian food recipe at home with this mild Instant Pot Chana Masala. It's easy to make, freezes beautifully, and packs extra veggies tucked right into the sauce. (This will likely make enough for two meals—I like to freeze the second half for a future week.)
Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
instant pot chana masala meal.
Easy Chili Mac (with Extra Veggies)
You can use precut butternut squash or sweet potato and shredded carrots to cut down on the prep time if desired. This isn’t super saucy, but you can increase the liquid if desired. See the Notes for details.
Easy Chili Mac (with Extra Veggies)
chili-mac-in-white-and-stainless-bowl
Roasted Sweet Potato Hash
Try this easy breakfast-for-dinner idea the next time you need a super easy and nutritious family dinner.
Roasted Sweet Potato Hash
sweet-potato-hash-on-two-plates

TIP: You may also like How to Cut Food for Kids 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

  • You may need to trim off the ends to make getting all of the skin off of the ends easy.
  • Aim for the cut pieces of the sweet potato to be about the same size so they cook evenly.
  • Use a vegetable peeler to easily peel the skin of a sweet potato.
  • Use right after cutting to prevent the flesh from turning brown.

I’d love to hear your feedback on my method on how to cut sweet potatoes, so please rate and comment below.

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cut-sweet-potato-on-white-cutting-board

How to Cut Sweet Potato

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!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Side Dish
Calories 97kcal
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2-4 small to medium sweet potatoes
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Instructions

Notes

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.
Aim for the cut pieces of the sweet potato to be about the same size so they cook evenly.
Roast them, or use them in any desired recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 62mg, Potassium: 381mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 16031IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

This post was first published September 2021.

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Comments

  1. 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?

    1. Yes, absolutely! Let cool and freeze in a flat layer in a freezer bag, then just break off what you need for a smoothie.