How to make baked potatoes in the microwave (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to microwave a potato? ›

Potatoes take about 5-6 minutes in the microwave for a 1000w microwave. We recommend cutting the potato in half lengthwise for quick, even cooking. For lower wattage microwaves, add 1-2 more minutes of cook time for a fully cooked potato.

Trapping the moisture in just steams the potatoes, but some people prefer it this way. Try this some time: Buy the loose potatoes, and wash and pierce them with a fork a few times to keep them from bursting. Wrap a paper towel loosely around each potato and microwave.

Just wash the potato, poke some holes in the skin with a fork, and microwave for 5–7 minutes depending on the size. There's no reason to wrap it in plastic or add water or whatnot.

This method is as straightforward as they come — put potatoes in microwave, then hit “start” — but there is one thing to be aware of: Don't forget to poke holes in the potato. Use a fork and poke the potato four or five times on each side. These little holes allow steam to escape while the potato is cooking.

Microwaving might be convenient, but it's one of the worst ways to cook a starchy potato. Published Feb. 12, 2024. Warm, fluffy baked potatoes are hands off, simple to make, and super versatile, working as a main course when they're dolled-up or as a side for proteins or vegetables.

If you don't puncture it, the potato will go SPLAT all over the inside of you microwave!) If you are baking potatoes in the oven, you can rub a small amount of oil on them so that the skin gets nice and crispy.

You do! While I don't actually poke holes in my potatoes before baking them in the oven, I *do* poke several holes in each potato before microwaving them. The holes allow the steam to escape from the potatoes, keeping them from exploding in the microwave!

Method #2: Shortcut Baked Potato How-To

So, I like to jumpstart the cooking process with the microwave. Clean and poke your potatoes as described above. Then, wrap 'em in plastic wrap and pop it into a microwave for 5 minutes. (If you use this trick a lot, you can even invest in or make a reusable potato sack.)

A: I wouldn't recommend doing that. Your pokes will expose the potatoes to oxygen and the potatoes will turn black wherever the fork tines pierced the skins. It is very infrequent that a potato will burst from baking if you put it in the oven when you first turn it on so that it has a chance to come to temperature.

You dice the potato in half, but not all the way. Cut it in half, put it into a plastic bag, and then add just a tiny bit of water, just a splash, just like that. Then you seal the bag, put it into the microwave, put it on 8 minutes, and in 8 minutes you'll have.

How to make a baked potato in the microwave reddit? ›

You can do them in the microwave if you're only making one or two. dry the outside, rub them with olive oil and salt, and poke them a few times with a fork to release steam while cooking. Then just zap them for 8-12 min on a plate. The cooking time may vary based on your microwave and the size of the potato(s).

If you're microwaving multiple potatoes, just add a minute per side for each additional potato (i.e., start at five minutes on the first side for two potatoes and six on the first side for three). Try to keep them from touching on the plate; this will allow them to cook more evenly.

Prep – using a fork, poke holes in each potato. Then, wrap each potato in a damp paper towel. Microwave – place the paper towel-wrapped potatoes in the microwave and microwave on high for 3 minutes.

For 1 medium-sized potato, start with 5-6 minutes. For 2 medium-sized potatoes, start with 10-11 minutes microwave time. For 4 potatoes, start with 15-16 minutes in the microwave. When the time is up, get a towel or oven mitt and gently squeeze the sides of the potato.

Why do potatoes get hard in the microwave? Potatoes get hard in the microwave when they're overcooked and the overcooked sections lose too much moisture and become dry and hard.