Perfectly Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges: Timing For Best Results

Sweet potato wedges are a tasty, healthy treat that can be served as a side or a snack. They are also a versatile dish, pairing well with a variety of spices and seasonings, from savoury to sweet. The cooking time for sweet potato wedges depends on the size and thickness of the wedges, as well as the desired crispiness. In general, they take around 20-30 minutes to cook in the oven, but for crispier wedges, you can put them under the broiler for a few minutes after baking.

How to prepare sweet potatoes for roasting

Preparing sweet potatoes for roasting is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, preheat your oven to a temperature between 350°F and 450°F, depending on your recipe. While the oven is heating up, you can start preparing the sweet potatoes.

Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly under running water, ensuring you remove any dirt. You can choose to peel the potatoes or leave the skins on. If you are peeling them, use a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler and try to remove only the outer layer of skin.

Once they are clean and/or peeled, cut off the ends of the potatoes. Then, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Place each half onto a chopping board, with the flat, cut side down, to provide a stable base. Cut each half into quarters, creating thick wedges. If your potatoes are small, you can cut each quarter in half again to create thinner wedges. Try to ensure that the wedges are of a similar size so that they cook evenly in the oven.

Place the wedges into a large mixing bowl and drizzle them with olive oil or vegetable oil. Toss the wedges well to ensure they are evenly coated.

Now it's time to add your chosen seasonings. You can use a variety of spices and herbs such as garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, rosemary, oregano, thyme, cumin, cayenne pepper, or chili powder. You can also add a sweet element with brown sugar or cinnamon. Mix your chosen seasonings in a small bowl, then pour them over the wedges in the mixing bowl. Toss the wedges again to ensure they are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.

Finally, it's time to roast the wedges. Place them onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spread the wedges in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. This helps to ensure they get crispy. Roast the wedges in the oven for 15-20 minutes, then remove them from the oven and turn them over with a spatula. Return them to the oven for another 5-15 minutes, or until they are lightly browned and tender.

And that's it! You now have delicious, roasted sweet potato wedges to enjoy as a side dish or snack.

The best oil for roasting sweet potato wedges

Roasted sweet potato wedges are a delicious, easy-to-make side dish or snack. They are versatile and can be served with a variety of dips or as an accompaniment to meat or sandwiches.

The key to achieving crispy sweet potato wedges is to ensure they are evenly coated in oil before baking. The oil helps to crisp up the outsides of the wedges and prevents them from burning. The most commonly used oils for roasting sweet potato wedges are olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. These oils have a relatively high smoke point, which means they can withstand the high heat of the oven without burning, and they also add a nice flavour to the wedges.

Other oils that can be used include extra virgin coconut oil and avocado oil. When using coconut oil, you may need to use a larger quantity, as one person reported that they needed to double the amount of oil to adequately coat the wedges. Avocado oil is also suitable and is a good option for those who are looking for a mild-flavoured oil with a high smoke point.

When preparing sweet potato wedges, it is important to ensure the wedges are evenly coated in oil and that they are not overcrowded on the baking tray. This will help to ensure they crisp up nicely and don't become soggy.

How long to roast sweet potato wedges for

Roasted sweet potato wedges are a tasty, healthy, and versatile dish that can be served as a snack, side, or even a main. They are also simple to make and require very few ingredients.

The length of time you should roast sweet potato wedges for depends on the size and thickness of the wedges, as well as your desired texture. For example, if you want your wedges to be crispy, you will need to roast them for longer and/or finish them off under a broiler.

As a general rule, sweet potato wedges will need to be roasted for around 20–30 minutes in an oven preheated to between 350–450°F (175–230°C). However, it is a good idea to check on them regularly and remove them from the oven when they are fork-tender and/or browned to your liking.

• Preheat your oven to between 350–450°F (175–230°C).
• Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. You can peel the potatoes if you prefer, but it is not necessary.
• Cut off the ends of the potatoes and then slice each potato in half lengthwise.
• Cut each half into quarters, and then slice each quarter into wedges. Try to make sure the wedges are a similar size so they cook evenly.
• Place the wedges in a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with olive oil (or vegetable oil). Toss to coat evenly.
• Add your desired spices and seasonings and toss again to coat. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or try a combination of garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, dried rosemary, and/or dried oregano.
• Place the wedges on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, making sure they are in a single layer and not touching.
• Roast the wedges for 20–30 minutes, turning them over with a spatula halfway through. They are ready when they are tender and lightly browned.
• If you want your wedges to be crispy, turn the oven to broil and cook for another 2–3 minutes, keeping a close eye on them to make sure they don't burn.
• Serve immediately.

How to make sweet potato wedges crispy

There are a few tricks to getting crispy sweet potato wedges. Here are the steps to follow:

Cutting

First, cut your sweet potatoes into wedges. The thinner and skinnier the wedges, the crispier they will be. Cut the wedges to a uniform size so that they cook at an even rate. Leave the skin on for flavour and nutrition, but give them a good scrub first if they're dirty.

Soaking

Once you've cut your wedges, soak them in a bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes. This draws out the starch from the potatoes, which can make the wedges gloppy. The longer you soak them, the better. Then, thoroughly dry the wedges with a clean tea towel.

Coating

Place the wedges in a large zip-lock bag with a thin coating of cornstarch/cornflour. Seal the bag and give it a shake to evenly distribute the cornstarch. Then add olive oil and your choice of seasonings and give it another shake to coat the wedges.

Baking

Space the wedges out on a large sheet pan. Make sure the pan is greaseproof, or lightly oiled, or lined with heavy-duty foil, so that the wedges don't stick. Don't overcrowd the pan—use two pans if necessary. Bake at 205C/400F for 40 minutes, or until soft through the centre and crispy on the outside. Halfway through, take the pan out and flip the wedges over.

Seasoning

Only add salt to the wedges after baking. This will draw out the final bit of moisture and help to crisp them up.

Serving

Sweet potato wedges are best served fresh out of the oven. They will lose their crispness over time, but you can revive them by popping them back in the oven at 400F/200C for 7-10 minutes.

How to serve sweet potato wedges

Sweet potato wedges are a versatile dish that can be served as a snack, appetizer, or side. They are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with a dip or sauce on the side.

If you're looking for a sweet option, cinnamon is a great spice to add to your sweet potato wedges. You can also try other sweet spices like nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice. For a savoury option, spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and rosemary work well. You can also add herbs like thyme or rosemary to your wedges for extra flavour.

When it comes to dips and sauces, there are plenty of options to choose from. A simple option is to serve the wedges with a basic honey mustard sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup, tzatziki sauce, pesto, or avocado ranch. If you want something a little more complex, you can make a dip with cranberry sauce, cream cheese, and hot sauce. You can also add sour cream or Greek yogurt to this dip for a creamier texture.

Sweet potato wedges pair well with a variety of mains, including ham, pork, chicken, and sandwiches. They can also be served as a side to burgers or slow cooker dishes. Some specific meal ideas include serving them with baked chicken tenders, a guacamole bacon burger, or slow cooker French dip sandwiches.

Sweet potato wedges are best served fresh out of the oven when they are hot and crispy. However, they can also be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or an air fryer.

Frequently asked questions