Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Learn how to cook the perfect Japanese sweet potato in air fryer for a healthy side that goes well with almost any main dish.

Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (1)

If you’re looking for a way to shake up your dinner routine, trying this Japanese sweet potato air fryer recipe is just the thing! With a similar sweetness to their orange-skinned cousins, purple Japanese potatoes are lighter and fluffier, particularly when cooked in the air fryer.

The purple skin of Air fried Japanese sweet potato is wonderfully crispy, and the pale, creamy flesh is fluffy and light. In addition, they have a subtly sweet flavor, almost like chestnuts, that complements salty dishes well.

Air fryer Japanese sweet potatoes are straightforward to make. Once they’re in the air fryer, they don’t need much attention, leaving you free to make the rest of your meal or just put your feet up!

Ingredients

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (2)

How to cook Japanese sweet potato in air fryer

Wash and pat dry the Japanese potatoes; using a fork, poke some holes in the purple potatoes and rub with olive oil.

Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (3)
Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (4)
Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (5)

Place the Japanese potatoes in the air fryer basket and air fry to 400ºF for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Remove from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

How long to cook Japanese sweet potato in the air fryer

Depending on the size of your potato, it will take around 45 minutes to cook baked Japanese sweet potato in the air fryer.

Check to see if your potato is done by using a fork to check that it’s tender. If it’s not quite ready, leave it in a little longer.

What to eat with Japanese sweet potato

Japanese potato is perfect as a side for almost any dish and is great to make gluten-free pancakes with.

Try it with a bit of butter, served alongside theseBBQ chicken legs, air fryer steak bites, air fryer chicken breast, air fryer bone-in pork chops, and your favorite veggies for a satisfying meal that the whole family will love. Try some of our air fryer vegetables like;

  • Air Fryer Broccoli
  • Air fryer asparagus
  • Cauliflower steak in the air fryer
  • Air Fryer Buffalo cauliflower wings
Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (6)

How to store Japanese potato

You should store Japanese sweet potatoes in a cool (but not refrigerated), dark, and well-ventilated space away from heat sources when raw. Don’t store them in plastic bags.

Once cooked, store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and the freezer for up to 2 months.

I like to cook more than I need to have them on hand as a quick meal.

How to reheat Japanese sweet potatoes

There are a few ways that you can reheat air fryer purple sweet potato:

In the air fryer (recommended): You can reheat purple potatoes in the air fryer from room temperature or frozen, and you’ll get a lovely crispy skin and tender insides. Heat the air fryer to 350°F, and heat them for 10-15 minutes (this will be more like 20 minutes if frozen).

In the microwave: The microwave is the quickest way to reheat your potatoes, but there is a risk of them drying out. To avoid this, wrap them in a damp paper towel, and heat them on high for 1 minute. Then, check to see if they are hot through, and if not, continue to heat them in 10-second increments. If they are frozen, thaw them using the defrost setting first.

In the oven: To reheat in the oven, preheat the oven to 400°F and then put the potatoes in for 10-15 minutes. You will need to defrost them first if they are frozen.

Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (7)

Where to buy Japanese sweet potatoes?

You can buy them in most grocery stores, especially Asian grocery stores or big national stores like Whole Foods and Costco.

They are also known as:
Murasaki sweet potato
Kotobuki
Purple sweet potato
Oriental sweet potatoes
Japanese yams
Ipomoea batatas (this is the botanical classification so that it may appear on the label)

How to choose a Japanese sweet potato?

When shopping for this kind of potato, be sure to choose a potato that has smooth skin and feels heavy when you hold them.

As they get older, they lose density, so they become lighter.

Potatoes with sticky liquid coming out are perfectly ripe, so snap them up!

Japanese sweet potatoes vs. sweet potatoes

The color is the most noticeable difference between Japanese sweet potatoes and the more common varieties. The Japanese variety has purple skin, and the flesh is creamy rather than orange.

Japanese sweet potatoes are much sweeter and have a slightly nutty flavor in terms of taste.

Are Japanese sweet potatoes healthy?

They are! These sweet potatoes are a great source of dietary fiber and carbohydrates (around95% of the calories in Japanese sweet potatoes are carbohydrates), so they’re a good energy source.

They’re also a good source of Vitamin A, potassium, iron, and copper.

"As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases"

More Air Fryer Potatoes recipes you’ll love

  • Air fryer Whole Sweet potatoes
  • Cubed sweet potatoes in air fryer
  • Air Fryer baby potatoes
  • Roasted Sweet Potatoes In Air Fryer Recipe
  • Sausage and Potatoes Air Fryer Recipe
  • Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes Recipe

Please, do not forget tosubscribeand follow us onInstagramandPinterest. for more healthy recipes and ideas. Thank you for reading Enjoy Clean Eating!

Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (8)

Easy Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Learn how to cook the perfect Japanese sweet potato in air fryer for a healthy side that goes well with almost any main dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium Japanese sweet potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

    1. Wash and pat dry the purple sweet potatoes; using a fork poke some holes in the purple sweet potatoes and rub with olive oil.
    2. Place the Japanese sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket and air fry to 400ºF for 45 minutes or until the Japanese sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Remove from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Store leftover in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Reheat in the air fryer to 350ºF for 10-15 minutes

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 122Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated​, only the sodium in the other ingredients​ is calculated.

Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (9)
Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why soak sweet potatoes before air frying? ›

If you'd like, you can soak the sweet potato slices for 30 minutes up to 2 hours before frying to remove excess starch. Personally, though, going through this step didn't make a real difference for my fries. Peels on or off — it's up to you!

What is the best way to eat Japanese sweet potato? ›

My go-to way of eating a Japanese sweet potato is slathered with avocado, sprinkled with coarse sea salt, and then topped with steamed greens or broccoli and fresh sunflower sprouts. HEAVEN! But there are so many ways to enjoy this tuber packed with antioxidants, vitamins A and C, fiber, and potassium.

What is the difference between sweet potato and Japanese sweet potato? ›

Japanese sweet potatoes have a much sweeter taste than ordinary sweet potato varieties found in the US. They have a nutty flavor reminiscent of roasted chestnuts. The texture is drier, firmer, and starchier, and its concentrated sweetness makes them an ideal ingredient for making desserts.

Why are sweet potatoes soggy in air fryer? ›

If your air fryer fries are soggy, it is likely because you over-crowded them in the basket. The sweet potatoes steam when crowded together, instead of air frying. For the best, most crispy results, cook the fries in a single layer so that the air has room to circulate.

What happens if you don't soak potatoes before air frying? ›

I wouldn't bother doing potatoes from the raw state, without soaking. It will take about a half an hour and the texture won't be nearly as rewarding. They just don't get very crispy without that cold soak.

Why do sweet potatoes turn black in air fryer? ›

Why do my air fryer sweet potato fries turn black? Sweet potatoes contain a higher concentration of sugar than standard potatoes, and caramelize as they cook in the air fryer. If you find the fries are darkening too quickly or deeply, cook at a lower temperature, or for a shorter period of time.

Should you peel Japanese sweet potatoes? ›

We eat the skin of Japanese sweet potatoes. That's why it's important to scrub and wash the sweet potatoes well before you bake them. Of course, you can peel it before you eat, but don't forget that the skin has plenty of nutrients!

Are Japanese sweet potatoes the healthiest? ›

Did you know that Japanese sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest foods you can eat? They're packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and they're a staple of the diet in Okinawa, Japan, one of the world's Blue Zones, where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else.

Can you eat the skin of Japanese sweet potatoes? ›

The skin of Japanese sweet potatoes is edible. Japanese sweet potatoes can be peeled before using, but they're often prepared with the tender, nutritious skin on when baked or roasted.

Should you soak sweet potatoes before cooking? ›

Some recipes for homemade sweet potato fries ask you to soak the fries before cooking. The theory is that soaking draws out starch from inside the potatoes, helping them crisp up. I've tested soaking sweet potato fries many times, and I've found that it doesn't make them much crispier, if at all.

Why do you soak potatoes in cold water before air frying? ›

Soaking the potatoes after they're cut draws out some of the starch which is naturally present in potatoes. This will result in a crispier fry. A thirty minute soak in cold water does the trick but you may soak them longer if you want.

Why is it important to soak potatoes before frying? ›

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

Why do soaking potatoes make them crispier? ›

Soaking the sliced potatoes in water helps to draw out some of the starch from the middle of the potato, resulting in a sturdier, crispier French fry.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 5846

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.