Can you eat the skin of a sweet potato?

Absolutely! The skin of a sweet potato gives texture and flavor to an otherwise one-dimensional bite. It also contains a good portion of the fiber and vitamins in a potato. If you skip the skin you miss out on nutrients, a wonderfully chewy and crispy texture, and a rich, earthy flavor.

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same?

Without writing a book on the subject (which has been done), yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams are native to Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. And are different tubers entirely than what Americans eat and enjoy as sweet potatoes. The skin of a yam is woodier and the flesh is tougher, drier, and can be a variety of colors. While there are varieties of sweet potatoes that are white-fleshed, the most common ones have that signature bright-orange flesh contained by a thin, garnet skin. And while cooking times and the technique for cleaning and peeling the two will vary, yams and sweet potatoes are traditionally cooked in similar ways. Roasting, boiling, and frying are common ways to prepare both true yams and all varieties of sweet potatoes.

Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer [Fast Method]

Ingredients

Scale

3 whole sweet potatoes, any variety, cleaned and dried
avocado or olive oil
kosher salt
ground black pepper
pastured or organic butter or olive oil or avocado oil, for drizzling and garnish

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Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 375° F. Even if your air fryer manual says you don't need to preheat, I recommend doing so. It can't hurt and will ensure the fryer is at the target temperature.
Clean, dry, and cut the potatoes (or don't cut). Potatoes grow in the ground, so it's always a good idea to clean and dry them before cooking. No need to go crazy with scrubbing, but do pluck off any sprouts or rough areas. Cut each potato in half carefully with a sharp knife like a chef's knife. If you like, coat the potatoes in a little avocado or olive oil, and sprinkle them with salt. Trim a thin slice off the bottoms to steady the potatoes in the fryer basket.
Bake until very tender. Begin checking smaller halved sweet potatoes after 25 minutes. Larger halves can take up to 35 minutes to become tender. Always rely on how soft the potato is when pricked with a fork, not how long it's been cooking. The fork should go through the skin and flesh without any resistance. Whole sweet potatoes can take up to 50 or 55 minutes to become tender in an air fryer (still quicker than well over an hour in the oven).
Season and serve. Fluff the flesh with a fork and gently mix in salt and pepper, if you like. The fibers in potatoes are like sponges, so it takes a bit more salt than you might expect to reach a nice level of seasoning. Add it a little at a time and taste as you go. I prefer to melt pastured or organic butter on my hot potatoes. But for the most heart-healthy dish, drizzle the flesh with an oil that's high in omega-3 fatty acids like olive or avocado.

Notes

On Butter

Butter is not a dietary villain, but research hasn't exactly exonerated it as harmless. So when I buy butter for clients and my family, I choose an organic, European, or pastured brand. European brands like Kerrygold are made from the milk of cows that eat their natural diet of grass. So I feel no guilt in enjoying it melted on vegetables. Do what's best for your family and your health. If heart health is a concern, olive oil is perhaps the best choice.

Chef's Tips

Don't rely on the clock for doneness. Don't rely only on how long the potatoes have cooked. Every potato and air fryer is different. Use a fork or knife to check for doneness. The times included are according to my air fryer, an Instant Pot Vortex Plus. Other brands and models will cook differently.
Skip poking holes in the potatoes. Leaving the skin intact allows the potato flesh to retain its moisture during cooking. If you want a potato to cook faster, wrap it in foil, sprinkle in a little water, and seal it up before baking.

On the Nutrition Information

The amounts below are based on sweet potatoes seasoned with a small sprinkling (one-quarter teaspoon) of kosher salt and a half tablespoon of olive oil. How you season yours will determine the exact nutritional profile.

Author: Christina
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Plant-Based
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 whole baked sweet potato (or two halves)
Calories: 135
Sugar: 5.6 g
Sodium: 124.9 mg
Fat: 2.3 g
Carbohydrates: 26.8 g
Protein: 2.1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: sweet potato in air fryer, baked sweet potato in air fryer