Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)
Scrub sweet potatoes clean and pat dry
Prick each sweet potato 6–8 times with a fork
Rub with a little olive oil (optional)
Sprinkle with salt (optional)
Place on a baking sheet (or directly on an oven rack with foil underneath)
Bake 35–55 minutes, depending on size, until tender when pierced with a knife
For extra caramelization, bake 5–10 minutes longer
Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes
Split and serve (optional: add butter, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, or maple syrup)