Sweet Potatoes Taste Better When They're Not Poked

White potatoes and sweet potatoes may be part of the same food family, but that doesn’t mean you should treat them the same when cooking them. In fact, there’s an incredibly easy food hack that could specifically make the latter taste even better.

The health benefits of sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes obviously taste delicious and add sweetness to any dish, but there’s more to them than meets the eye. They’re filled with nutrients and vitamins like fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, manganese, and more. In turn, these contribute to excellent gut health, clearer vision, and a strong and powerful immune system, all of which need support as you get older.

They’re also a great addition to any weight loss regimen, as they can keep you feeling fuller for longer and provide valuable nutrients. There’s even an entire short-term diet regimen dedicated to eating potatoes.

How to make sweet potatoes taste even better

The secret to a baking a great sweet potato couldn’t be easier: Unlike when you’re prepping potatoes like russets or Yukon Golds for the oven, it’s best not to poke your sweet potatoes with a fork before baking them.

Common cooking knowledge states that potatoes need a good piercing before being put it the oven to cook faster, let steam escape, and keep from exploding. However, sweet potatoes end up losing both moisture and sugars (and aren’t as prone to explosions as you think) when they’re poked beforehand. This takes away from their sweetness and creaminess in the long run. At the end of the day, what’s the point of eating one if it isn’t actually sweet?

This article originally appeared on our sister site, First for Women.