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This guide will show you How to Cut Sweet Potatoes into cubes or sticks. You can use these easy knife skills to prep sweet potatoes for making fries, roast for a side dish, and use them in so many delicious recipes!
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite vegetables. They are loaded with nutrients, have so much flavor, and can be used in a variety of recipes, from sweet to savory. Some of our favorite quick and easy recipes that include sweet potatoes are sweet potato carrot soup, taco stuffed sweet potatoes, and baked sweet potato hash.
Learning how to cut raw sweet potatoes is super easy and necessary, so you can start adding them to your favorite recipes! Keep reading to learn the best techniques for slicing sweet potatoes into sticks or cubes.
Why we love cooking with sweet potatoes
- Delicious: Sweet potatoes have a wonderful slightly sweet flavor that works with either sweet recipes like candied sweet potatoes or savory recipes like sweet potato chili.
- Healthy: Sweet potatoes are so healthy, they are considered a superfood! They are packed with beta carotene, vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.
- Great for meal prep: Once you learn how to cut sweet potatoes, you can prep them ahead of time for your weekly recipes. If stored properly, once cut, they will keep in the fridge for up to about 4 days.
How to clean and wash sweet potatoes
The first step before cutting any vegetable is to thoroughly clean it first. Here’s how:
- Rinse: Wash off the sweet potato in the sink under running water, and use your fingers to scrub off any dirt or debris.
- Dry: Use a kitchen towel or paper towel to scrub a bit more, and then pat them dry before cutting.
How to cut sweet potatoes 2 ways
- Peel: Use a vegetable peeler to peel off the skin of the potato, if desired. Cut the ends off the potato from both sides (around 1-inch).
- Slice: If the potato is very long, cut it in half. Then prop it up on the flat end and use a sharp knife to slice down the center into about 3 slices, depending on the size of the potato.
- Sticks for sweet potato fries: To make sticks, continue to slice the 3 original slices to make your desired thickness.
- Cubes: To make cubes, follow the same instructions until you end up with sticks to make your desired size of cubes. Hold several sticks together, then dice to create cubes.
tips for cutting sweet potatoes
- Softening before cutting: It can make it easier to cut into your sweet potato if it’s been softened slightly first. You can do this by poking holes with a fork or knife into the potato (all around it) about 5 times, then microwave it for 2-3 minutes, depending on size.
- Grip firmly: For safety, we recommend using a slip-free cutting board, and it’s also important to hold a firm grip on the potato while cutting.
- Use a large sharp knife: To make chopping easier, use a sharp chef’s knife to cut through the potatoes. Hold the knife using the cutting technique shown in the above pictures.
- Peeling: Depending on the recipe you’re making, you may want to peel the potato. You can easily do this using a vegetable peeler. However, keep in mind that the skin actually has a lot of the nutrition.
- Cut evenly: For even cooking, try to make even slices and cut pieces in similar sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Sweet potatoes will be much easier to cut if you microwave them for a couple of minutes before trying to slice into them. Poke a few holes into one and microwave it for about 2 minutes, depending on size. Be sure to use an oven mitt to remove it, as it will be very hot.
Use a large, sharp chef’s knife that has some weight to it, so it can easily slice through a large, raw sweet potato.
If you are going to cook a full sweet potato, it’s best to poke it 4 to 5 times with a sharp knife or fork. This allows any built-up steam to escape and prevents the possibility of the sweet potato from bursting.
Storage recommendations
- Whole sweet potato: Before a sweet potato has been cut, it’s best to store it in a cool, dry area. Do not refrigerate whole sweet potatoes, as it will make them even more difficult to cut.
- Cut sweet potato: Once prepped, store in an airtight container or bag for up to about 4 days or slightly longer.
- Freezing: We do not recommend freezing the cut raw potatoes, as the texture and flavor will not be pleasant. However, you can blanch the sweet potato and then freeze. See below.
- Blanching & freezing: Place the cut potatoes in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place into a bowl of ice water for a few minutes, then drain. Flash freeze by spreading the potatoes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and placing it in the freezer. Freeze for 1-2 hours. Then, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 6 months.
Sweet potato recipes
- Baked Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Black Bean Sweet Potato Stew
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Maple Pecan Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
More how to guides
- Homemade BBQ Sauce
- How To Cut Romaine Lettuce
- (3 Ways) How To Cut Bell Peppers
- How To Cut an Orange
- How to Cut Cabbage
- Cutting Potatoes Into Fries
- How To Cut Green Onions
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How to Cut Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato
Instructions
- Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Peel the potatoes with a vegetable peeler, if desired.
- Cut the ends off the potato from both sides (around 1-inch). If the potato is very long, cut it in half. Then prop it up on the flat end and use a sharp knife to slice down the center into about 3 slices, depending on the size of the potato.
- To make sticks, continue to slice the 3 original slices to make your desired thickness.
- To make cubes, follow the same instructions until you end up with sticks to make your desired size of cubes. Hold several sticks together, then dice to create cubes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
