You dehydrate sweet potatoes in the oven by thinly slicing or cubing them, arranging them in a single layer on baking sheets, and drying them at a very low temperature, usually between 130°F and 170°F (55°C and 77°C), for several hours until they are brittle or leathery. This process removes most of the water, making them a great snack or ingredient that lasts a long time. Dehydrating sweet potatoes at home is a simple way to preserve them and create healthy treats like oven dried sweet potato chips or homemade sweet potato jerky.
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Why Dry Sweet Potatoes in the Oven?
Drying sweet potatoes in your oven is a smart idea for many reasons. It helps you keep sweet potatoes fresh for a long time. This stops food from going bad. Dried sweet potatoes take up less space than fresh ones. They become light and easy to carry. This makes them great for hiking or camping.
Drying also keeps most of the good stuff inside. Sweet potatoes have vitamins and fiber. Drying keeps these healthy parts.
It saves you money too. You can buy sweet potatoes when they are cheap. Then you dry them and use them later. This is a good way to use up extra sweet potatoes before they spoil.
Plus, you can make healthy snacks at home. You know exactly what is in your oven dried sweet potato chips or sweet potato jerky. No added sugar or bad stuff like you find in some store snacks. It’s a natural sweet treat.
Using your oven is easy because most homes have one. You do not need special tools like a food dehydrator. You just need your oven, some baking sheets, and the sweet potatoes.
Getting Ready: Preparation for Dehydrating Sweet Potatoes in Oven
The first steps are important for good results. You need to get the sweet potatoes ready before they go into the oven. This means cleaning them and cutting them the right way.
Choosing the Right Sweet Potatoes
Pick sweet potatoes that are firm and fresh. Avoid any that feel soft or have dark spots. Any type of sweet potato works. Orange ones are most common. Purple or white ones work too. Make sure they are clean.
Washing the Sweet Potatoes
Wash the sweet potatoes very well. Use a brush to scrub off any dirt. Even if you plan to peel them, wash them first. This keeps dirt from getting onto the clean parts after peeling. Rinse them under cool running water.
To Peel or Not to Peel?
This is up to you. The skin is safe to eat. It adds fiber and nutrients. Leaving the skin on is faster. If you leave the skin, make sure they are very clean. For smooth oven dried sweet potato chips, many people like to peel them. Peeling is easy with a vegetable peeler.
Cutting the Sweet Potatoes
How you cut them matters a lot. All pieces should be about the same size and thickness. This helps them dry at the same speed. If pieces are different sizes, some will be ready sooner than others. Some might burn while others are still wet.
- For Chips: Cut them into thin, round slices. Aim for about 1/8 inch (3-4 mm) thick. A mandoline slicer is best for this. It makes all slices the same thickness. If you use a knife, take your time. Try to make each slice look like the last one. Thin slices make crispy oven dried sweet potato chips.
- For Cubes: Cut the sweet potato into cubes. Aim for about 1/2 inch (1-1.5 cm) size. Cubes are good for adding to soups or stews later. They take longer to dry than thin slices.
- For Jerky: Cut them into strips. You can make them like thick fries or flatter strips. About 1/4 inch (6-7 mm) thick works well for homemade sweet potato jerky oven recipe ideas.
Blending for Smooth Sheets (Optional)
You can also make sweet potato purée. Cook sweet potatoes until soft. Mash them or blend them until very smooth. Spread this purée thinly on a sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. This makes fruit leather style sweet potato snacks. This method takes longer to dry than slices or cubes.
Equipment Needed to Dehydrate Sweet Potatoes in Oven
You do not need a lot of fancy tools. Here is what is helpful:
- Sharp Knife or Mandoline: For cutting even slices or cubes. A mandoline is great for thin chips.
- Cutting Board: A safe place to cut the sweet potatoes.
- Baking Sheets: You will need several. The number depends on how many sweet potatoes you are drying. Standard baking sheets work fine.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats: Line your baking sheets. This stops the sweet potato pieces from sticking. It also makes clean-up easier.
- Cooling Racks (Optional but helpful): You can place cooling racks inside the baking sheets. Arrange the sweet potato pieces on the rack. This allows air to flow around all sides of the pieces. It helps them dry faster and more evenly. This is a good trick if you have them.
- Oven Thermometer (Recommended): Ovens are not always the temperature they say they are. A small oven thermometer gives you the real temperature. This is important for low temperature oven drying sweet potatoes. You need a steady low heat.
- Airtight Containers: For storing oven dehydrated sweet potatoes after they cool. Glass jars, plastic containers with tight lids, or vacuum seal bags work well.
Giving Them a Quick Cook (Blanching)
Blanching is an extra step. It is not totally needed, but it is a good idea. Blanching means putting the sweet potato pieces in boiling water for a short time. Then you quickly put them in ice water to stop the cooking.
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Why Blanch? Blanching helps keep the bright color of the sweet potatoes. It also helps them keep more vitamins. It stops certain things in the sweet potato that can make them spoil faster. Blanching also makes them a little softer, which can help them dry more evenly.
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How to Blanch:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil.
- Fill a large bowl with ice water.
- Carefully add the sweet potato slices, cubes, or strips to the boiling water. Do this in small batches. Do not crowd the pot.
- Boil thin slices (for chips) for about 2-3 minutes. Boil thicker pieces (cubes, jerky strips) for about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the boiling water with a slotted spoon.
- Put them straight into the ice water. This stops them from cooking more.
- Let them cool in the ice water for the same amount of time they were in the boiling water.
- Take them out of the ice water.
- Pat them very dry with a clean towel. Removing as much water as possible now helps them dry faster in the oven.
After blanching and drying, the sweet potatoes are ready for the oven.
The Drying Steps: Low Temperature Oven Drying Sweet Potatoes
Now it is time to put the sweet potatoes in the oven. The key is low heat and a long time. This is how you take out the water without cooking or burning the sweet potatoes.
Setting Up the Oven
Preheat your oven to a low temperature. The best time and temperature for oven dehydrating sweet potatoes can vary slightly. Most people use a temperature between 130°F and 170°F (55°C and 77°C).
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Why so low? This temperature is too low to cook food. But it is warm enough to turn water into vapor (steam). This gentle heat slowly pulls the water out of the sweet potatoes. If the heat is too high, the outside of the sweet potato will cook and get hard before the inside is dry. This traps moisture inside.
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Checking the Temp: Use your oven thermometer to check the real temperature inside. Adjust your oven setting if needed to stay in the 130-170°F range. Many ovens do not go this low. If your oven’s lowest setting is higher, like 200°F (90°C), you can still use it. You will just need to watch the sweet potatoes more closely. They might dry faster or be more likely to brown.
Arranging on Baking Sheets
Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. If you have cooling racks that fit inside the sheets, use them. Place the sweet potato pieces on the prepared sheets.
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Make sure the pieces are in a single layer. They should not touch or overlap. Air needs to flow around each piece. If they touch, they will not dry evenly.
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Fill as many sheets as you need. Place the sheets in the oven. If you have multiple sheets, arrange them so air can move between them. You might need to swap their positions during drying.
Letting Air Flow
This is a very important step for oven drying. You need a way for the moist air to leave the oven. As water comes out of the sweet potatoes, it turns into steam. If the steam stays in the oven, the air gets wet. Wet air cannot take more water from the sweet potatoes.
- How to do it: Prop the oven door open just a little bit. You can use a wooden spoon or a heat-safe oven mitt. Place it in the oven door so it stays open about an inch or two. This lets the moist air escape and dry air come in. Be careful not to bump the spoon or mitt. Also, be mindful of pets or children around an open hot oven.
The Drying Time
This takes patience. Low and slow is the rule. The total time depends on:
- The thickness of your sweet potato pieces.
- The temperature of your oven.
- How much water is in the sweet potatoes.
- How humid the air is where you live.
Thin slices for oven dried sweet potato chips can take 4 to 8 hours. Thicker cubes or strips for homemade sweet potato jerky oven recipe can take 6 to 12 hours or even longer. Puréed sheets can take 8 to 14 hours.
Checking on Them
Check the sweet potatoes often, especially after the first few hours. Turn the pieces over every few hours. This helps them dry evenly on all sides. Rotate the baking sheets in the oven too. Move the ones on the bottom to the top and vice-versa. This helps if your oven has hot spots.
Knowing When They Are Done
The sweet potatoes are done when they are no longer soft or bendy (unless you want jerky).
- For Chips: They should be brittle and snap easily when you try to bend them. They should feel dry all the way through.
- For Cubes: They should be hard and rattling. You should not be able to squeeze any moisture out. Drying sweet potato cubes in oven makes them very hard little blocks.
- For Jerky: They should be leathery and chewy. You can bend them, but they should not feel wet inside.
Cut or break open a piece to check the inside. It should look dry all the way through. If there is any soft spot or moisture inside, they need more time.
Different Forms: Oven Dried Sweet Potato Chips and More
You can make many different things by drying sweet potatoes in the oven.
Making Oven Dried Sweet Potato Chips
This is a popular use. Thin slices become crispy and sweet snacks.
- Cutting: Use a mandoline for the thinnest, most even slices. About 1/8 inch (3-4 mm) is perfect.
- Seasoning (Optional): You can toss the slices with a tiny bit of oil (like coconut oil) and salt, cinnamon, or other spices before drying. A little oil helps seasonings stick and can sometimes help with crisping. Do not use too much oil.
- Drying: Follow the low temperature oven drying sweet potatoes steps. Aim for a temp around 150°F-170°F. Check them often. They will shrink a lot as they dry. They are done when they snap.
- Cooling: Let them cool completely on the baking sheet or a wire rack. They get crispier as they cool.
Drying Sweet Potato Cubes in Oven
Cubes are great for adding to trail mix, rehydrating for cooking, or just snacking.
- Cutting: Cut into 1/2 inch (1-1.5 cm) cubes.
- Drying: Use the low and slow method. They take longer than slices. Check dryness by cutting one open. It should be dry inside.
- Uses: Add dried cubes to hot water or broth to soften them for soups, stews, or casseroles. Or eat them like hard candy (they are naturally sweet).
Homemade Sweet Potato Jerky Oven Recipe
This is a chewy snack.
- Cutting: Cut into strips about 1/4 inch (6-7 mm) thick. You can cut them like fries or flatter strips.
- Seasoning (Optional): This is where you get creative! Marinate the strips before drying. Try soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder. Let them soak in the marinade for a few hours, then pat them dry before putting them in the oven.
- Drying: Dry at a low temperature until leathery and chewy, but not brittle. They should bend without breaking.
- Storing: Store properly to keep them chewy.
Sweet Potato Powder
Once sweet potatoes are completely dry and brittle (like chips or cubes), you can grind them into a powder.
- How to make: Place the fully dried pieces into a blender or food processor. Blend until it is a fine powder.
- Uses: Add sweet potato powder to smoothies, soups, baked goods, or even baby food. It adds sweetness, color, and nutrients.
After Drying: Storing Oven Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes
Proper storage is key to making your oven dried sweet potatoes last a long time. If stored correctly, they can last for months. If stored wrong, they can spoil or get moldy.
The Cooling Step
Before storing, let the sweet potatoes cool completely. This is very important. They should reach room temperature. If you store them while they are still warm, they can create moisture inside the container. This moisture can cause mold. Let them cool on the baking sheets or on cooling racks for several hours, or even overnight.
Checking for Dryness Again
Once cool, do another check. Take a few pieces from the middle of the batch (these dry slowest). Try to bend or break them depending on what you made (chips, cubes, jerky). If any pieces still feel soft, bendy (for chips/cubes), or have any sign of moisture, you need to put the whole batch back in the oven for more drying time. It is better to over-dry slightly than to under-dry.
Conditioning (Optional but Recommended)
Conditioning helps make sure all pieces are equally dry before long-term storage.
- Put the cooled, dried sweet potato pieces into a clean glass jar.
- Fill the jar about 2/3 full.
- Close the lid tightly.
- Shake the jar daily for about a week.
During this week, check the jar for any signs of moisture. If you see condensation (little water drops) inside the jar, or if any pieces feel moist or soft, they are not dry enough. Put them back in the oven to dry more. If after a week there is no moisture, they are ready for long-term storage.
Choosing Storage Containers
Use airtight containers for storing oven dehydrated sweet potatoes. Air and moisture are the enemies of dried food.
- Glass Jars: Mason jars or other glass jars with tight-fitting lids are excellent.
- Plastic Containers: Use sturdy plastic containers with seals.
- Vacuum Seal Bags: These are great for removing all the air. This gives the longest storage life.
Where to Store
Store the containers in a cool, dark, dry place.
- A pantry shelf away from the oven or windows is ideal.
- Basements can be good if they are not damp.
- Avoid places that get warm or have changing temperatures, like near the stove or in direct sunlight. Heat and light can lower the quality over time.
How Long Do They Last?
When stored correctly in airtight containers in a cool, dark place:
- Oven dried sweet potato chips and cubes can last for 6-12 months or even longer.
- Homemade sweet potato jerky oven recipe results might last slightly less time, maybe 6-9 months, especially if marinated (marinades can sometimes hold a little more moisture or oil).
- Sweet potato powder can also last 6-12 months.
Always check your stored sweet potatoes before using them. Look for any signs of mold, strange smells, or changes in texture. If in doubt, throw it out.
What to Do With Them: Uses for Oven Dried Sweet Potatoes
You have put in the time and effort. Now enjoy the fruits (or roots!) of your labor. There are many delicious uses for oven dried sweet potatoes.
Snacking
- Chips: The crispy oven dried sweet potato chips are a ready-to-eat snack. Eat them plain or with a healthy dip.
- Cubes: Dried cubes can be snacked on like candy. They are sweet and chewy/hard.
- Jerky: The homemade sweet potato jerky oven recipe results are a chewy, flavorful snack. Great for a quick energy boost.
Rehydrating for Cooking
Dried sweet potatoes are easy to bring back to their original texture for cooking.
- To rehydrate cubes or slices: Put the dried pieces in a bowl. Pour hot water or broth over them. Let them soak for 15-30 minutes, or until soft. Drain any extra liquid.
- Use rehydrated sweet potatoes in:
- Soups and stews
- Casseroles
- Curries
- Mashed sweet potatoes (after rehydrating and boiling until very soft)
Adding to Other Foods
- Add dried cubes directly to soups or stews that will cook for a while. They will soak up the liquid and soften as the soup cooks.
- Toss dried chips or crumbled jerky into salads for crunch.
- Mix dried pieces into trail mix or granola.
Using Sweet Potato Powder
- Stir into smoothies for sweetness and nutrients.
- Mix into pancake batter or muffin mix.
- Use as a natural coloring or thickener in sauces or baby food.
- Sprinkle into soups or stews.
Dealing with Problems: Troubleshooting
Sometimes things do not go perfectly. Here are common issues and what to do.
- Sweet Potatoes Are Still Soft/Bendable (when they should be brittle): They need more drying time. Put them back in the oven. Make sure the temperature is low and the door is propped open. Spread them out in a single layer.
- Some Pieces Are Dry, Others Are Not: This usually means the pieces were not cut evenly. Or air was not flowing well. Make sure all pieces are the same thickness. Arrange them in a single layer with space between. Rotate sheets and turn pieces during drying. Remove the pieces that are done and let the rest keep drying.
- Sweet Potatoes Got Hard and Brown Before Being Dry Inside: The oven temperature was too high. The outside cooked. Lower the temperature next time. If your oven does not go low enough, try cracking the door open wider (but be careful with heat loss).
- Mold Appeared After Storing: They were not fully dry before storing. Even a little moisture can cause mold. Throw away any pieces with mold. Make sure sweet potatoes are completely cool and brittle (or leathery for jerky) before storing. Use airtight containers. Consider conditioning the batch.
- Sticky Pieces: Some sweet potatoes have more sugar. They can feel a bit sticky when dried, especially jerky. This is usually okay if they are fully dry and leathery/brittle. As long as they snap (for chips/cubes) or are firm-leathery (for jerky) and show no moisture inside, they are fine. Make sure they are not soft or wet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I dehydrate frozen sweet potatoes in the oven?
A: It is possible, but not ideal. Frozen sweet potatoes usually have more moisture and a different texture. If you use frozen, thaw them first. Pat them very, very dry before cutting and drying. They might take longer to dry. Fresh sweet potatoes usually give better results.
Q: Do I have to blanch sweet potatoes before oven drying?
A: No, you do not have to. But blanching helps keep the color bright and the nutrients stable. It can also help them dry more evenly. If you skip blanching, they might turn a darker color and could take a little longer to dry fully.
Q: How do I know my oven is the right temperature?
A: Use an oven thermometer. Ovens can be off by many degrees. Place the thermometer inside the oven where the sweet potatoes will be. Let the oven heat up for at least 20-30 minutes before checking the temperature. Adjust your oven dial to get the temperature you want.
Q: Can I add salt or spices before drying?
A: Yes, you can! A little salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, or other spices can be added. For oven dried sweet potato chips, you can toss thin slices with a little oil and seasoning. For homemade sweet potato jerky oven recipe, marinades work well before drying. Adding sugar is not needed, sweet potatoes are naturally sweet. Added sugar can make them sticky.
Q: My sweet potatoes curled up as they dried. Is that okay?
A: Yes, it is normal for slices and pieces to curl or change shape as they dry and lose water. This does not affect their quality as long as they are fully dried.
Q: What is the difference between oven drying and using a food dehydrator?
A: Both methods remove water using low heat and air flow. A food dehydrator is designed for this purpose. It has a fan to move air and keeps a steady low temperature. Ovens can work well, but they often have hot spots, and the air flow is not as good unless you use racks and prop the door. Ovens can also use more energy than a dehydrator if running for many hours. However, if you do not have a dehydrator, the oven is a good option.
Q: How much do sweet potatoes shrink when dried?
A: Sweet potatoes are mostly water. They will shrink a lot! Thin slices will become much smaller and thinner. Cubes will shrink significantly in size. This is normal as the water leaves.
Wrapping Up
Drying sweet potatoes in your oven is a simple and rewarding project. With just a little preparation, your oven, and some patience, you can turn fresh sweet potatoes into healthy, shelf-stable snacks and ingredients. Whether you make crispy oven dried sweet potato chips, chewy homemade sweet potato jerky oven recipe strips, or handy drying sweet potato cubes in oven, you will have a delicious way to enjoy sweet potatoes anytime. Remember to use a low temperature oven drying sweet potatoes method, allow for air flow, and store your finished products properly by storing oven dehydrated sweet potatoes in airtight containers after they are fully cool and dry. Enjoy your homemade dried sweet potato treats!