The Viral TikTok Trick That Makes Peeling Baked Sweet Potatoes Effortless
A viral TikTok trick shared by a chef promises to make peeling baked sweet potatoes effortless by applying a quick ice-water shock midway through the baking process.
Baked sweet potatoes are one of the most comforting winter dishes, right up until the peeling stage. The skin sticks, tears into tiny pieces, and leaves you scraping the flesh with a spoon.
Chef David Chang shared a Korean trick on TikTok that promises to solve the problem using a temperature shock midway through baking. The sudden change causes the skin to shrink and easily separate from the sweet potato flesh.
Here is how to do it. Wash the sweet potato and trim both ends. Bake for about 20 minutes in a hot oven. Remove and submerge in a bowl of ice water for two minutes. Return to the oven for another 25 minutes until completely tender. Cool slightly and peel by hand.
Does it actually work? The American food site Food & Wine tested the trick and found that peeling indeed becomes much easier. However, the texture and flavor remain almost identical to a traditionally baked sweet potato.
This means the trick is primarily an upgrade for the peeling process rather than a transformation of the sweet potato itself. If you are planning to make mash, salad, or any dish where the skin is removed anyway, this trick can save you considerable effort and reduce waste.
