Ella Walter
Cooking sweet potatoes in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious snack or side dish. Air-fried sweet potatoes have a soft, fluffy, or crispy texture and a puffy, golden skin. They are also healthier than deep-fried potatoes, as they use less oil and have fewer calories and less fat. You can cook sweet potatoes in an air fryer in various forms, such as cubes, fries, or wedges, and season them with various spices and oils to suit your taste.
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What You'll Learn
How to get the perfect crispy exterior
To get the perfect crispy exterior when cooking sweet potatoes in an air fryer, there are several steps you can follow. Firstly, it is important to cut your sweet potatoes into evenly sized pieces. Whether you are making wedges, cubes, or fries, ensuring that the pieces are of similar size will promote even cooking and browning. For fries, cut the potatoes lengthwise into slices about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. For cubes or wedges, try to cut them into similar-sized pieces, about 1/2-inch thick.
Next, you will need to season your sweet potatoes. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or canola oil, along with spices like garlic powder, paprika, cumin, or chili powder. Toss the sweet potatoes with the oil and seasonings until they are well coated. If you want extra crispy potatoes, you can cut them and submerge them in water for 30 minutes before cooking, but be sure to dry them well before placing them in the air fryer, as excess water will prevent them from crisping up.
When you are ready to cook, preheat your air fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some sources recommend preheating for best results, while others suggest that it is not necessary. Place the sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between them to allow for even cooking and prevent overcrowding. Air fry at temperatures between 370°F and 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket or turning the potatoes halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning. For a crispier texture, you can add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time.
With these steps, you can achieve the perfect crispy exterior on your air-fried sweet potatoes, resulting in a delicious and healthy snack or side dish.
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How to achieve a fluffy centre
To achieve a fluffy centre when cooking sweet potatoes in an air fryer, there are several methods you can follow. Firstly, it is important to note that the size and type of sweet potato will affect the cooking time and temperature. For example, a medium-sized sweet potato will typically take 40 to 55 minutes to cook at 400°F, while smaller potatoes may take around 35 minutes and larger ones 50 minutes or more. Therefore, it is important to adjust the cooking time and temperature according to the size and type of sweet potato you are using.
Secondly, it is recommended to poke holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape during the cooking process. This will help to prevent them from bursting and ensure even cooking.
Thirdly, when cutting the sweet potatoes into cubes or wedges, try to ensure that they are of similar size and thickness so that they cook evenly. This is especially important if you are cooking them in batches, as it will help to ensure that each batch cooks in the same amount of time.
Additionally, it is recommended to toss or turn the sweet potato pieces at least once during cooking to ensure even browning and cooking. If you are cooking wedges, it is suggested to turn them twice during cooking, as they have three sides and this will ensure that each side gets an adequate amount of time facing down.
Finally, some recipes suggest soaking the sweet potato wedges in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking, as this can help to achieve a crispier texture. However, it is important to dry the potatoes well after soaking and ensure that there is no water left on them, as this can affect the crispness of the final product.
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The best seasonings to use
If you want to lean into the savoury notes, smoked paprika, cumin, and garlic powder are great options. You can also add some heat with cayenne pepper or black pepper. For an extra kick, add some crushed chilli pepper or hot chilli powder. A simple combination of salt and pepper can also go a long way.
For a more exotic flavour profile, you could try a harissa spice blend, which includes sweet paprika, garlic, caraway, and hot chilli powder. Other blends you could try are curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and garam masala.
Don't be afraid to experiment and play around with different spices and seasonings to find your favourite combination!
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How to cut sweet potatoes for the air fryer
To cut sweet potatoes for the air fryer, start by peeling the skin off the sweet potatoes. The skin contains many nutrients, but it won't give the best texture to air-fried sweet potatoes, especially if you're cooking for picky eaters.
Next, cut the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. First, slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch lengthwise slices. If your sweet potatoes are very long, halve them first, then place the cut side on the chopping board to slice them. Place each slice on the chopping board and slice them into long 1/2-inch sticks. Finally, slice all the sweet potato sticks into 1/2-inch cubes. Try to keep the cubes a similar size so that they cook evenly.
If you're making sweet potato fries, cut the sweet potatoes into 1/4-inch fries. Make sure they don't overlap in the air fryer basket, or they won't crisp up.
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How long to cook sweet potatoes for
The cooking time for sweet potatoes in an air fryer depends on the temperature and the specific air fryer being used. It also depends on the size of the sweet potatoes and whether they are cooked whole or cut into cubes or wedges.
For whole sweet potatoes, cooking times range from 35 to 55 minutes at temperatures between 370°F and 400°F. It is important to poke holes in the potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
When cutting sweet potatoes into cubes or wedges, it is recommended to keep them a similar size so they cook evenly. Cooking times for cubed or wedged sweet potatoes range from 8 to 15 minutes at temperatures between 370°F and 400°F. It is important to shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking.
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Frequently asked questions
Depending on the size of the sweet potatoes and the temperature of the air fryer, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 55 minutes. Smaller sweet potatoes will take less time, while larger ones may take up to 50 minutes or more.
It is recommended to set the temperature between 370°F and 400°F. However, each air fryer is different, so you may need to adjust the temperature and time accordingly.
Wash the sweet potatoes and cut them into similar-sized cubes or wedges. You can peel them if you prefer, but it is not necessary. You can also poke holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
You can use any oil you like, but oils with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil or canola oil, are recommended. Olive oil is also a popular choice for its flavor.
While it is not necessary for all air fryers, most recommend preheating for best results. However, some people find that preheating does not make a significant difference in the final outcome.
