Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious root vegetable that can be prepared in many ways. One popular method is boiling sweet potatoes, which helps soften the flesh and makes them easier to peel. So how long should you boil sweet potatoes to loosen the skin for easy peeling?
Quick Answer
The shortest boiling time to peel sweet potato skins is about 10-15 minutes. However, boiling sweet potatoes for 20-30 minutes is ideal to fully soften the skins for easy removal.
Detailed Answer
Here is a more detailed look at exactly how long to boil sweet potatoes to loosen the skins:
- 10-15 minutes – The skins will start to loosen but may not peel off completely cleanly.
- 20-25 minutes – The skins will peel off relatively easily with some coaxing.
- 25-30 minutes – The skins will slide off easily with just a paring knife or fingers.
Boiling times can vary based on the size and variety of sweet potato. Smaller sweet potatoes may need slightly less time while larger, thicker-skinned varieties may need closer to 30 minutes for easy peeling.
What Happens During Boiling
When you boil sweet potatoes, the heat from the hot water softens and breaks down the underlying flesh while loosening the thicker exterior skin. Here’s a more in-depth look:
10-15 Minutes
At the 10-15 minute mark, you’ll notice the sweet potato skins start to wrinkle and separate slightly from the flesh. This means the skins have begun to loosen, though the flesh under the skin likely isn’t fully softened yet.
20-25 Minutes
Around the 20-25 minute mark, the sweet potato flesh has softened and loosened enough that skins should peel off with some gentle prying from a paring knife. The skins are completely detachable at this point but still hold on a bit.
25-30 Minutes
When boiled for 25-30 minutes, the sweet potato flesh should be very soft and fully separated from the exterior skin. With little effort, the skins should simply slide off with your fingers or a paring knife.
Boiling for longer than 30 minutes starts to overcook the sweet potatoes, turning the flesh overly soft and mushy.
Tips for Easy Peeling
Follow these tips for clean, easy peeling after boiling sweet potatoes:
- Use a paring knife – Gently insert the tip under an edge and slice sideways to lift off.
- Grab a corner – Pinch a lifted corner and peel with your fingers.
- Run under water – Rinsing peeled sweet potatoes makes peeling easier.
- Wait 1-2 minutes – Letting them cool slightly firms the flesh for cleaner peeling.
How to Boil Sweet Potatoes for Easy Peeling
Here is a simple step-by-step method for boiling sweet potatoes to loosen the skins for peeling:
- Wash and scrub sweet potatoes thoroughly under cool running water.
- Cut larger sweet potatoes in half lengthwise so they cook evenly.
- Place sweet potato halves or whole smaller potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water by 1-2 inches.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low.
- Boil for 20-30 minutes, until a fork pierces the flesh easily.
- Drain the sweet potatoes in a colander and let cool for 1-2 minutes.
- Starting at the narrow end, grab the skin with your fingers and peel down towards the wider end.
- Or, use a paring knife to lift and peel off the skins.
- Enjoy the peeled, tender sweet potatoes!
How Boiling Compares to Other Cooking Methods
Boiling helps loosen sweet potato skins for peeling better than many other cooking methods. Here’s how it compares:
Baking
Baking actually fuses the skin tighter rather than loosening it. The high heat dehydrates and crisps the skin.
Roasting
Like baking, roasting doesn’t soften sweet potato skins much. The dry heat also fuses on the skin rather than separating it.
Microwaving
The steam created in the microwave can help start loosening the skins. But microwaving alone isn’t usually enough for easy peeling.
Pressure Cooking
A pressure cooker rapidly softens sweet potatoes for easier peeling than boiling. But you need to cool and release pressure before peeling.
Steaming
Steaming also softens the sweet potato flesh, helping the skin detach. But boiling tends to work a little better than steaming alone.
So in summary, boiling whole or halved sweet potatoes for 20-30 minutes is the easiest and most reliable way to loosen the skins for peeling.
Can You Eat the Peels?
While sweet potato skins can technically be eaten after cooking, most people prefer to peel them before eating. Reasons for peeling include:
- The skins can be tough and chewy, especially on larger sweet potatoes.
- Some people find the taste and texture of skins unpleasant.
- Peeling makes mashing and pureeing smooth.
- Skins can harbor dirt and bacteria, so peeling is cleaner.
However, if you want to leave skins on, select smaller, thinner-skinned sweet potatoes. Just scrub the skins well prior to cooking.
Nutrition of Peeled vs. Unpeeled
Sweet potato skins do contain some fiber and nutrients. Peeling them removes a portion of the total nutritional value.
Here is a side-by-side comparison:
| Nutrient | 1 Peeled Medium Sweet Potato | 1 Unpeeled Medium Sweet Potato |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 103 | 130 |
| Carbs | 24g | 31g |
| Fiber | 3g | 5g |
| Sugar | 7g | 9g |
| Protein | 2g | 2g |
| Vitamin A | 26,689 IU | 29,185 IU |
| Vitamin C | 22mg | 25mg |
| Potassium | 337mg | 440mg |
So while unpeeled sweet potatoes are more nutrient-dense, peeled ones still offer a good amount of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Best Sweet Potato Varieties for Peeling
Heirloom sweet potato varieties tend to have tougher skins, while many modern commercial cultivars were bred for thinner, more peel-friendly skin.
Here are some top sweet potato types for easy peeling:
- Japanese – Slender shape peels easily. Purple-red skin and white flesh.
- Hannah – Very thin light tan skin that peels smoothly. Orange flesh.
- Jewel – Copper skin loosens easily. Bright orange flesh.
- Garnet – Reddish-brown tender skin. Pale orange flesh.
- Centennial – Thin orange skin peels effortlessly. Deep orange flesh.
Avoid large, thick-skinned sweet potatoes like Rutgers and Evangeline if easy peeling is your goal.
Storing Peeled Sweet Potatoes
Once peeled, sweet potatoes are more perishable due to losing their protective skin. Here are some storage tips:
- Place peeled sweet potatoes in a bowl or container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Add a damp paper towel to help retain moisture.
- Refrigerate for 3-5 days.
- Can also be frozen for longer storage. Simply boil, peel, and freeze.
Avoid leaving peeled sweet potatoes uncovered in the fridge, as they’ll dry out. You can prep and peel them a day ahead before using in recipes.
Delicious Ways to Use Peeled Sweet Potatoes
Once you’ve perfected boiling sweet potatoes for easy peeling, try using them in these tasty ways:
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato casserole topped with pecans
- Roasted cubed sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato fries
- Sweet potato soup
- Candied sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato pie
- Slow cooker sweet potato chili
Tips for Prepping Ahead
Get a head start on recipes by prepping sweet potatoes in advance:
- Scrub and boil a batch of sweet potatoes to have peeled and ready to go.
- Let cool, peel, and store cooked sweet potatoes in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Chop peeled sweet potatoes before freezing for easy grab-and-go convenience.
- Freeze boiled, peeled sweet potatoes for 6-9 months until ready to use.
Conclusion
Boiling sweet potatoes for 20-30 minutes is the best way to loosen and soften their tough skins for easy removal. Test doneness with a fork to ensure the flesh is completely tenderized. Allow to cool briefly before peeling with a paring knife or fingers. While the skins do contain nutrients, the tender interior still offers plenty of nutritional value. Peeling sweet potatoes helps make them more enjoyable and versatile to cook with in a variety of delicious recipes. Look for thin-skinned, moist-fleshed varieties and peel them shortly before use for the best results.