Wash and dry the yams/sweet potatoes and stab them all over with a sharp paring knife. Arrange the yams/sweet potatoes in a circle in a Pyrex or microwave safe dish. Cover the yams/sweet potatoes with a damp paper towel and nuke on high for 5 minutes.
How long does it take to cook yam?
Fill the pot with just enough salted water to cover the yams and add a dash of salt. Bring to a boil and cook, covered for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. If you can pierce the flesh with a fork or knife, they’re ready!
How long does it take to microwave a raw sweet potato?
Pierce the potato several times, and wrap in a paper towel. Microwave the wrapped sweet potato 4 – 6 minutes, or until it is soft to the touch.
Is it bad to cook a sweet potato in the microwave?
Is it bad to cook a sweet potato in the microwave? No, it’s not bad to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave. Some people worry that cooking food in the microwave destroys all its nutrients, but this is simply not true.
Is it better to boil or microwave yams?
It’s really the best way. Microwaving sweet potatoes cuts down cook time by 45-55 minutes, and helps maintain nutritional value. … Baking a sweet potato in the microwave preserves far more nutrients (folate, vitamins A and C) than boiling it, for example.
Why do sweet potatoes spark in the microwave?
Minerals and metal
These minerals – which include iron, magnesium, and selenium – act like tiny pieces of metal and create what is known as an “arcing effect” in microwaves. An arcing effect is when sparks occur as a result of electromagnetic waves in a microwave reflecting or bouncing off metal.
Are sweet potatoes good cold?
To minimize nutrient loss, refrigerate sweet potatoes in an airtight container with their skin still on and heat them just enough to make them palatable. If you enjoy eating sweet potatoes cold, doing so salvages more of their health benefits than reheating them.
What is the healthiest way to cook yams?
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.
Can you overcook sweet potatoes?
(Another hot tip if you’re boiling your sweet potatoes: Don’t overcook them! They tend to absorb water, which could make the filling watery.) So say you do have some undercooked bits of sweet potato.