How to Cook Potatoes in a Microwaveposted in Vegetables and Beans, Soups, Salads, Sides and Sauces by Kathy Maister
I love baked potatoes, and have already written about how to bake them in the oven! Unfortunately, I often don’t have the time to wait for up to an hour for my baked potato to cook in the oven, even though they definitely taste better that way.  So, like lot of people, I often zap potatoes in the microwave. In less then 10 minutes, they get cooked, covered with sour cream and bacon, and I’m ready to turn on the TV! Here’s how to cook a potato in the microwave oven. First, wash the potato under running water (no soap!). You can scrub it with a vegetable brush or just rub it with your hands. Then pat it dry with a paper towel.  Puncture about four holes in the potato, with the tip of a sharp knife or a fork. This is important, as it allows the steam to escape. Otherwise the potato may explode when you cook it. (Seriously! If you don’t puncture it, the potato will go SPLAT all over the inside of you microwave!)  Then place the potato on a microwave-safe dish. Check the small print on the back of the dish to be sure. Then place it in the microwave oven. (By the way, microwave ovens do not have to be preheated.)  Many microwaves have moisture sensors inside so that all you need to do is press the button that says ‘potato’ and just wait for the microwave to beep at you.  If your microwave doesn’t have a potato button, a general rule is that one 7-to-8 ounce Idaho potato takes about 7 minutes to cook. 2 will take about 11 minutes. The microwave will often say REST. That means the potato, not you! You need to just let it sit for a couple of minutes, for it to actually finish cooking. But remember, each microwave oven is different, so you need to stick a knife in the potato to see if it is done. The knife should slide in easily and you should be able to squeeze the potato without too much resistance. To open a microwave ‘spud’, it needs a bit of a bash first to break the fibers apart. First, slice the top with a knife.  Then place a folded paper towel over the microwave potato. Using the bottom part of your fist, give it a bash. Be really careful as the potato will be very hot.  Now if you give it a squeeze it should be nice and fluffy.  You can now top it with your favorite topping. As my Irish grandfather used to say, “I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like!” Enjoy! Microwave Potatoes Ingredients: (4 Servings)
If you are new to startcooking, or are a regular visitor here, please consider subscribing for free. 25 commentsKathy Maister | posted on Nov 13, 2006 Hi M, I applaud your efforts and I am very sorry you had such disastrous results! As for the lingering odors, be sure to totally wash out the inside of the microwave. Open the windows and try an odor neutralizing spray. (Be sure to buy an unscented spray!) Good luck and welcome to startcooking.com! Mary | posted on Mar 13, 2007 I love baked potatoes so after microwaving, I rub them all over with olive oil and then bake in the toaster oven at 400 for 5 to 10 mins to get them crispy on the outside. I lcut them open and spray them with "can't believe it's butter" and then add low fat sour cream and then salsa. This is really yummy ! Kathy Maister | posted on Mar 13, 2007 Great Tip! I actually think salsa is a wonderful thing to have on hand. There are some really delicious varieties available at the grocery store. It's low in calories and totally transforms something as simple as a baked potato! (Have you tried Cod with Salsa?) Gretchen | posted on Jun 19, 2007 It looks like there is oil (?) in the picture of puncturing holes, but it is not mentioned in the recipe -- should the potato be oiled or not? Kathy Maister | posted on Jun 21, 2007 Hi Gretchen, no it is not necessary to oil the potato before it goes into the microwave. (I did so purely for aesthetics!) Henry B. Ellak | posted on Dec 3, 2007 I was looking for a way to cook pototoes without oil. Yours was the first site to pop up. Very useful info on how to cook in the microwave,. I am looking for a way to make french fries without oil. Henry B. Ellak thanks, Kathy Maister | posted on Dec 3, 2007 Hi Henry, this recipe uses just 2 teaspoons of oil! miranda | posted on Jan 13, 2008 thankyou so much for the help...i wanted to microwave baked potatoes for lunch to day and had no idea how long to cook them!!! thanks a bunch!! Kathy Maister | posted on Jan 14, 2008 That's great Miranda! If you have the time Oven Baked Potatoes are even better! Connie | posted on Feb 7, 2008 When baking potatoes in my microwave, I find that the inside of yhe microwave oven is wet all over . Is this normal or is something wrong with my Micro? Connie | posted on Feb 7, 2008 When baking potatoes in my microwave, I find that the inside of yhe microwave oven is wet all over . Is this normal or is something wrong with my Micro? Kathy Maister | posted on Feb 11, 2008 Hi Connie, Mine does the same thing. The potatoes are releasing moisture as they cook. If you did not poke the potatoes first, that moisture build-up would eventually make them explode in the microwave. The moisture inside the microwave also tells the automatic moisture sensor when the potatoes are cooked. Just wipe the inside down with a paper towel after removing the potatoes from the microwave. Sarah | posted on Apr 7, 2008 Thanks for the "recipe"! I LOVE baked potatoes, but rarely have the patience to wait 45-60 minutes for one to bake in the oven. Kathy Maister | posted on Apr 11, 2008 Just in case you missed it, I now have a video on How to Cook Potatoes in a Microwave! Seb | posted on May 22, 2008 Great stuff thanks. One small thing - You don't mention the wattage of your microwave. Althoug 7-8 minutes if probably fine for a 800watt microwave, if you have a much more or less powerful microwave you would need to adjust the timing. Kathy Maister | posted on May 27, 2008 Seb, you are so right! A “Full Size” microwave oven has more wattage than a small counter top size. You really have to experiment with your own oven. My 17 year old microwave died and I replaced it with a more powerful oven. The first week was a bit frustrating as everything had to get recalculated just a bit! Anita | posted on Jun 15, 2008 If you place your potatoe in a ziploc bag and add a 1/2 cup of water to the bag then zip it up except for about a 2 inch opening the potatoes will be very moist....works everytime, and you can cook corn on the cob the same way and it is delicious too! Try it, you'll be amazed. startcooking team | posted on Jun 15, 2008 Anita, Thanks for the tip! It's surely an easy way to bake potatoes in the microwave! Enjoy! the startcooking team :) Frigidaire parts | posted on Jun 25, 2008 I still don't have a microwave (if you can ever believe that). I prefer my food oven cooked, I don't really trust microwaves just because there have been some rumors about microwaves linked to cancer. Now I am having second thoughts, a microwave would save me so much time and I am seriously considering geting one. Kathy Maister | posted on Jun 26, 2008 There are microwave radiation monitors that you can get if you are nervous about using a microwave. I actually worry more about using a cell phone! elli | posted on Jun 29, 2008 omg! i really didn't know how to cook potatos and now that i know, i want to thank ya sooooooooooo much! :D! elli s d Kathy Maister | posted on Jul 1, 2008 Congratulations Elli! It sounds like a whole new culinary adventure is underway! This is my favorite quick meal. Enjoy! chris | posted on Jul 23, 2008 I do not poke holes in my Potatoes,, sweet ones or yams either. This allows steam escape, not good for cooking. But I have a weak microwave Kathy Maister | posted on Jul 23, 2008 Whoa! Those spuds would definitely go SPLAT in my microwave! Post a Comment0 trackbacksTrackback URL:http://startcooking.com/trackback.php?id=58 |
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M | posted on Nov 13, 2006
Thank you for this blog!!!! I'm really very, very new to the kitchen :) and that has no reflection on my mom's attempts to teach me, I just never had any interest.
I'm trying to start cooking meals that are quick and easy. Then move to the better, harder recopies. But I digress, I had a really bad experience just last night with trying to cook a baked potato in the microwave. I always heard 30mins in the microwave (guess that was for more than one potato), and now that I look, my microwave had a potato button, duh! Well, I successfully made charcoal and have a smoke scented house as a result. Any advice on clearing the house of smoked baked potato carnage? We've tried airing the house out but I still smell it!