Boiled sweet potatoes are a familiar dish to everyone. Boiling sweet potatoes is simple, but to make them sweet and fluffy, you also need some tips.

Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that are good for the body. Eating sweet potatoes properly can support weight loss, improve digestion, and help prevent diseases.

Sweet potatoes can be prepared in many ways—boiled, steamed, in soups, or as cakes. Among them, boiled sweet potatoes are the easiest to cook while preserving the most nutrients. You can enjoy them for breakfast, as a snack, or even as a substitute for white rice in weight-loss diets.

Although boiling sweet potatoes is simple, there are little tricks to make them fluffy and sweet.

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How to choose good sweet potatoes

• Check the shape: Choose potatoes that are tapered at both ends with a thick middle.

• Look at the skin: The skin should be fresh, evenly colored, with no scratches or black spots. Potatoes with black spots are usually spoiled or moldy, which are both unappetizing and unhealthy.

• Smell them: Sweet potatoes with a pungent smell have likely been damaged by pests. It’s best to avoid them. Choose intact potatoes with a light, natural fragrance.

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Let sweet potatoes “dry out” before boiling

If you want sweeter potatoes, store them in a dry, airy place for a while. This helps reduce their water content, making the taste richer and sweeter. Be careful not to let them get wet, as that may cause them to rot.

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Add seasoning when boiling

Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove all soil before cooking.

Put the potatoes into a pot, fill with water to cover them, and add half a teaspoon of salt. Salt enhances the flavor, making the sweet potatoes sweeter and fluffier.

Boil them over high heat. Once the water boils, reduce to low heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Depending on the number and size of the potatoes, adjust the cooking time. To check if they’re done, pierce a potato with a chopstick—if it goes through easily, the potato is cooked. Avoid overboiling, as it can make them mushy and diminish their natural sweetness.

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Let them steam dry

After the sweet potatoes are cooked, don’t take them out right away. Instead, pour out the water and put the pot back on the stove over low heat until the remaining moisture evaporates and the skins become slightly charred. This will give the sweet potatoes a fragrant, roasted-like flavor—sweeter, richer, and more aromatic.