How to Cut Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are great in so many ways. They are good for you, great in all shapes and sizes, and pair well with many other foods.

I am going to show you how to cut sweet potatoes in a few different ways depending on what you are making with them. Cutting them into cubes, fries, and wedges.

Jump to Recipe

Hot to cut sweet potatoes video

How to cut sweet potatoes

It can be intimidating to cut sweet potatoes for some. They are hard to get through sometimes even with a sharp knife.

I am going to go over a few ways to cut them so that you can start incorporating them into your meals without feeling timid.

Follow along to learn how to cut rounds, French fries, and cubes with sweet potatoes. It is important to make sure that your potatoes are good. If you want a few tips, check out my post on how to tell when potatoes are bad.

1. Wash

Start by washing your potatoes under cold water. If you have a vegetable spray that you like to use you can use that also.

Spud brushes are also great for washing sweet potatoes because they help to get them washed well.

I like to use a little bit of Dr. Bronner’s soap and wash my hands. If you don’t have a good soap or brush, that is totally fine.

Use your hands to rub off the dirt under cold running water the best you can.

This will make sure that you get all of the dirt and bacteria off of the potatoes before you start to cut into them.

2. Peel

Holding the sweet potato in one hand and the hand peeler in the other you want to use a sweeping motion going from your body outward.

Make sure to keep your fingers out of the way so that you don’t cut yourself. Peel from one tip of the sweet potato to the other until there isn’t any brown skin left.

You may notice a few small back spots once your potato is peeled.

You can use the top of your peeler and carve those out or use a pairing knife and stick the tip of the knife in and work your way around the spot cutting it out.

3. Cut sweet potatoes

The best way to cut a sweet potato depends on how you plan to cook it. For example, if you are roasting sweet potatoes, you will want to cut them into thick wedges or cubes.

If you are boiling or steaming sweet potatoes, you can cut them into thin slices or matchsticks. No matter how you choose to cut them, sweet potatoes are delicious and versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in many different ways.

How to cut sweet potato rounds

To cut sweet potato rounds, wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Then, lay the sweet potato on its side. Holding it firming on the cutting board slice 1/2-inch thick rounds across the potato. Work your way from one end to the other.

You can then cook the rounds in a variety of ways, such as baking, roasting, or frying.

How to cut sweet potato French fries

1. Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Lay the sweet potatoes flat on a cutting board and cut them in half lengthwise.
2. Cut each half into thin strips. Stand each half of the sweet potato on its end and cut it into thin strips. The thickness of your fries will depend on your preference. I like mine to be about 1/4-inch thick.
3. Optional: Soak the sweet potato fries in cold water for 30 minutes. This will help to remove some of the starch from the fries, which will make them crispier when they are cooked.

After you cut them it is also a good idea to freeze sweet potatoes for a later date.

How to cut Sweet potatoes into cubes

1. Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Lay the sweet potatoes flat on a cutting board and cut them in half lengthwise.
2. Cut each half into thin strips. Stand each half of the sweet potato on its end and cut it into thin strips. The thickness of your fries will depend on your preference. I like mine to be about 1/4-inch thick.
3. Optional: Soak the sweet potato fries in cold water for 30 minutes. This will help to remove some of the starch from the fries, which will make them crispier when they are cooked.

How to cut sweet potatoes into wedges

Another popular way to cook sweet potatoes is to cut them into wedges and then roast, bake, or fry them.

Cutting sweet potatoes into wedges is a relatively easy process, but there are a few tips that can help you to get the best results.

1. Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Place the sweet potato on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut it in half lengthwise.
2. Cut each half into quarters. Turn each half of the sweet potato so that the cut side is facing down. Then, use a sharp knife to cut each half into four wedges.
3. Remove any blemishes. If there are any blemishes on the wedges, use a paring knife to remove them.

Ways to cut sweet potatoes

Cut	Shape	Use
Thick wedges	1-2 inches thick	Roasting, grilling, or frying
Thin wedges	1/2-inch thick	Roasting, grilling, or frying
Cubes	1/2-inch cubes	Roasting, boiling, or steaming
Matchsticks	1/4-inch thick, 1-inch long	Stir fries, soups, or salads
Spirals	Use a spiralizer	Salads, soups, or pasta dishes

How to store cut sweet potatoes

Cut sweet potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

To store cut sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, place them in an airtight container or bag and store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.

To store cut sweet potatoes in the freezer, blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then immediately plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking process.

Once they are cool, drain the sweet potatoes and place them in an airtight container or bag. Label the container with the date and store it in the freezer.

When you are ready to use the cut sweet potatoes, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave. You can then cook them as you would normally.

How to prevent cut sweet potatoes from browning

When you cut sweet potatoes, they can turn brown. This is because of an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO). PPO reacts with oxygen in the air to make melanin, which is the brown color.

You can stop this from happening by soaking the sweet potatoes in cold water. The cold water will slow down the PPO and stop the sweet potatoes from browning.

Here are some other tips to prevent cut sweet potatoes from browning:

• Don’t cut the sweet potatoes too far in advance. The longer they are exposed to oxygen, the more likely they are to brown.
• If you must cut the sweet potatoes in advance, cover them with cold water.
• Cook the sweet potatoes as soon as possible after cutting them. This will help prevent them from browning.

By following these tips, you can prevent cut sweet potatoes from browning and enjoy them at their freshest.

Conclusion

To cut sweet potatoes, you can use a variety of methods, depending on how you plan to cook them. No matter how you choose to cut them, sweet potatoes are a great nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed in many different ways.