Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer
Sweet potatoes are slow in the oven and often turn out soft instead of caramelised. Sweet potatoes in the air fryer go dark and crisp at the edges and creamy in the middle in under 20 minutes when cut into cubes, and about 40 minutes when cooked whole. This page has the settings for each cut, so you can roast, bake or fry sweet potatoes the way you like.
- Temperature
- 200°C
- Total time
- 28min
- Prep
- 10min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 190kcal
Why the air fryer works for sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes in air fryer baskets caramelise much better than in the oven. The natural sugar in the flesh browns in the circulating hot air, giving dark, sweet edges while the centre turns soft and creamy. A tray in a standard oven often steams the pieces because of the moisture they release, whereas the fan keeps removing that moisture.
It also saves a lot of time. A whole sweet potato takes about 40 minutes, and cubes or wedges take under 20. They are therefore a realistic midweek side rather than a weekend job. Each cut has its own timing, listed in the table, from roasted cubes to wedges and halves. If you want to know how to fry sweet potatoes in the air fryer without lots of oil, this method is the answer, because it only needs a tablespoon and a half for four portions.
How to cook sweet potatoes in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Cut the sweet potatoes Scrub the sweet potatoes and peel them if you prefer, although the skin is edible and crisps well. Cut into 2 cm cubes so everything cooks at the same speed.
- Season Toss the cubes in a large bowl with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic granules, salt and pepper until each piece is lightly coated.
- Preheat and load Heat the air fryer to 200 °C for . Spread the cubes in a single layer in the basket, in two batches if it looks crowded.
- Cook Cook for , shaking the basket every . The cubes are ready when the edges are dark and crisp and a fork slides in easily.
- Serve Tip into a bowl and eat while hot. If you want a sweeter finish, add a squeeze of lime or a drizzle of honey (not vegan) once they are out of the air fryer.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Sweet Potatoes | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet potato cubes, 2 cmShake every 5 minutes | 200 °C | 15–20 min |
| Sweet potato wedges | 190 °C | 18–22 min |
| Sweet potato halvesCut side up | 200 °C | 25–30 min |
| Whole sweet potato, mediumPrick first and turn once | 200 °C | 35–45 min |
| Frozen sweet potato fries | 200 °C | 12–15 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
Tips
- Cut evenly. The more regular the pieces, the more evenly they cook. Aim for 2 cm cubes or wedges about 2 cm thick.
- Pat the pieces dry. Rinse if you wish, but dry them well, as damp pieces steam instead of roasting.
- Do not overcrowd. Sweet potato needs space around each piece to crisp, so cook in batches if you have more than about 600 g in a small basket.
Serving
Roasted sweet potato cubes go well in a salad with feta, in a burrito bowl, or as a side for chicken thighs and salmon. For a classic baked sweet potato, also called a jacket sweet potato, split it open and add butter, beans or cheese, in the same way as jacket potatoes. If you want a snack, make sweet potato fries or try them as potato wedges for dipping.
Storing and reheating
Leftover sweet potatoes keep for up to 3 days in a covered container in the fridge. Reheat cubes in the air fryer at 180 °C for 4–5 minutes, or halves for 8–10 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C in the centre). They also work cold in salads.
Variations
- Cinnamon and honey: Replace the paprika and garlic with 1 tsp cinnamon and finish with a drizzle of honey (not vegan).
- Chilli and lime: Add ½ tsp chilli flakes with the oil and squeeze over lime juice when cooked.
- Mixed roots: Combine with carrots cut to the same size for a colourful tray of roasted vegetables.
Troubleshooting
- The sweet potatoes are soft and mushy
- The basket was too full or the pieces were wet. Dry the cubes, cook in one layer and use 200 °C. Sweet potato holds more water than white potato, so it needs space.
- The edges burn before the middle is soft
- Sweet potato contains sugar and darkens fast. Cut the pieces evenly at 2 cm, lower the heat to 190 °C and add 3 minutes.
- Whole sweet potatoes are hard in the middle
- They were too thick. Prick them, cook at 200 °C for 35–45 minutes, and check with a knife. Cut very large ones in half lengthways.
Frequently asked questions
How long do sweet potatoes take in the air fryer?
2 cm cubes take 15–20 minutes at 200 °C. Wedges need 18–22 minutes, halves 25–30 minutes and a whole medium sweet potato 35–45 minutes.
How do you cook a baked sweet potato (jacket sweet potato) in the air fryer?
Wash, prick with a fork, rub with oil and cook at 200 °C for 35–45 minutes, turning once. It is ready when a knife slides in with no resistance and the skin is wrinkled.
Do you need to peel sweet potatoes for the air fryer?
No. The skin crisps up and holds nutrients and fibre, and you save time. Scrub them well first.
Can you cook frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer?
Yes, cook them from frozen at 200 °C for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway. For fresh ones see our sweet potato fries page.
How do you roast sweet potatoes in the air fryer so they are crisp?
Cut them into even 2 cm pieces, dry them, use a thin coat of oil and do not overfill the basket. Shake regularly.
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