Sweet potatoes grow underground, which is why it is important to clean them first. It can help to use slightly warm water when washing the sweet potato. This is because the warmth helps to soften the skin, which makes peeling easier.
It’s important to dry the sweet potato before you begin peeling. This is because if the skin is wet, the sweet potato could slip out of your hand which is dangerous while you are using a peeler or a paring knife.
Removing the woody parts will make the sweet potatoes far easier and safer to peel.
You can use either a regular vegetable peeler or a serrated vegetable peeler for peeling sweet potatoes. However, a vegetable peeler with a serrated edge may be easier to use as it is better at gripping the sweet potato skin.
Peeling with a paring knife tends to be less wasteful than using a vegetable peeler. [4] X Research source
It’s best to use this method for boiled sweet potatoes that you are planning to mash. You can also peel regular, boiled potatoes using this same method. [6] X Research source You may have to peel the sweet potatoes in small batches if they won’t all fit in the bowl at the same time.
You can swish the sweet potatoes around gently in the ice water if you prefer. While you are handling the sweet potatoes, be very gentle as they will be quite soft after being cooked.
When the sweet potatoes are cooked, the flesh contracts, which makes the skin loose and easy to remove. You may need to gently rub the skin with your thumb to help it to shed away from the sweet potato. [10] X Research source
