Learn how to cut sweet potatoes into wedges, slices, sticks, and cubes with ease so you can improve your kitchen skills and start cooking and meal prepping with ease!
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Sweet potatoes are notoriously hard to cut, and for that reason many people avoid them. However, when you learn how to properly wash, soften, and cut sweet potatoes you’ll realize the whole process is actually pretty easy!
As a result, you will be able to incorporate more sweet potatoes into your meals and reap their immense nutritional benefits as sweet potatoes are excellent sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. Plus, it’s a great way to add more variety to your diet so you never get bored.
How to Soften Sweet Potatoes for Easy Cutting
Notoriously difficult to cut, sweet potatoes are much denser than other vegetables, including white potatoes. This is because they have far less water.
So, to make cutting easy, you want to go ahead and soften them first using one of the methods below.
- Parboiling – Cut off both ends of the sweet potato, and place it in a large pot of water. Bring the liquid to a boil. Then, reduce the heat slightly, and let the potato simmer for about eight minutes. Drain the water, allow the potato to cool, and it should be much softer, easier to cut, and have a shorter cooking time, too!
- Microwaving – Use a knife or fork to poke several holes around the sweet potato. Then, microwave it for two to three minutes or until soft, depending on its size.
- Steaming – Use a double boiler or a steam basket and a pot of water. Similarly to the microwave method, you want to poke a few holes all around the potato. Then, steam it over boiling water for about ten to fifteen minutes or until soft.
How to Wash and Clean Sweet Potatoes Before Cutting
The key to creating the tastiest sweet potatoes is to clean them of any dirt or debris before you begin!
First, rinse the potatoes under running water, using your hands or a scrubbing brush to remove any dirt. Then, just use a clean paper towel or kitchen towel to dry them off, and they’re ready to cut!
How to Cut Sweet Potatoes (Four Ways)
There are several different ways to cut sweet potatoes, depending on how fast you want them to cook and what you’re making with them. We break them down below so you have success no matter what!
Wedges
- Place your potato on a cutting board, and slice it in half lengthwise (hotdog style).
- Slice each half in half again lengthwise down the center.
- Angle your knife slightly, and slice each piece in half a final time.
Slices
- Slice both ends off of the potato.
- Slice all the way down the potato either horizontally or vertically, creating slices of your desired thickness.
Sticks
- Slice the ends off of the potato.
- Slice a small piece off one side to create a steady base.
- Turn the potato over, cut side down, and cut in even intervals all the way down to create flat pieces.
- Stack those pieces on top of each other, and slice vertically all the way across.
- For smaller sticks, slice them in half a final time.
Cubes
- Slice your potato into sticks.
- Stack the sticks on top of each other, and carefully cut across to create cubes.
Tips for Success
- Gather the proper utensils. Before you begin, you want to make sure you have a super sharp knife a large, sturdy cutting board.
NOTE: To prevent your cutting board from moving around, try placing a damp paper towel underneath.
- Use room temperature potatoes. Before cutting, it’s best to store your potatoes in a cool, dry area at room temperature, NOT your fridge. The cold temperature will only cause your potatoes to become harder and more difficult to cut.
- Slice evenly. For the best results, try to cut your sweet potatoes into equal-sized pieces, no matter which cutting method you’re using. This helps ensure the pieces cook evenly.
Common Questions When Learning How to Cut Sweet Potatoes
Cut sweet potatoes are best when used right away. However, if you want to prepare them in advance, submerge the sliced pieces in water, dry them off, and transfer them to an airtight container or sealable bag.
Once cut, sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two to four days.
We don’t recommend it! Freezing uncooked potatoes will change their taste and texture, causing them to become mealy. It’s best to cook them first.
The best way to prevent your potatoes from browning if you don’t plan on using them right away is to submerge them in water and dry them off before storing them.
It’s up to you! The skin contains lots of fiber and is completely edible but can also easily be removed with a vegetable peeler if preferred.
More Kitchen Guides
- How to Cut a Tomato (3 Ways)
- How to Cook Quinoa (3 Ways)
- How to Store Garlic
- How to Store Parsley
- How to Store Ginger
How to Cut Sweet Potatoes (4 Ways)
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato
Instructions
- Wash the potato under water, and dry it off.1 large sweet potato
- Remove the skin, if desired.
- Slice the potato into the desired shapes.
Wedges
- Place the potato on a cutting board, and slice it in half lengthwise (hotdog style).
- Slice each half in half again lengthwise down the center.
- Angle the knife slightly, and slice each piece in half a final time.
Slices
- Slice both ends off the potato.
- Slice all the way down the potato either horizontally or vertically, creating slices of desired thickness.
Sticks
- Slice the ends off the potato.
- Slice a small piece off one side to create a steady base.
- Turn the potato over, cut side down, and cut in even intervals all the way down to create flat pieces.
- Stack those pieces on top of each other, and slice vertically all the way across.
- For smaller sticks, slice them in half a final time.
Cubes
- Slice the potato into sticks using the method above.
- Stack the sticks on top of each other, and carefully cut across to create cubes.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
