How to Microwave a Potato

Guide Note: While Baked Potatoes are certainly delicious, they can often take a long time to make. If you don't want to wait an hour to enjoy your potato, simply follow the steps in this guide for How to Microwave a Potato.

Table of Contents:

More Mahalo Food How Tos

Newest How To Guides

Tips on dealing with difficult people

Great ideas for mixed drinks

Beat the cold of winter by making the perfect cup of hot chocolate

Need to save money? Learn how to spend less on food

All the information you need to make the digital TV switch

Introduction

  • If you don't have the time to bake your potato for an hour (or are just too hungry to wait), it is possible to bake your potato in the microwave. While the process for baking a potato in the microwave isn't incredibly different than in a regular oven, there are a few notable differences that you should take note of. Here's how to microwave your potato:

What You'll Need

Creative Commons photo by Tisay
Creative Commons photo by Tisay
  1. Potato
  2. Microwave
  3. Paper Towel
  4. Microwave-Safe Plate

Microwave Your Potato

  • Step 1: Wash the potato thoroughly under cold water and then dry it out. Scrub it gently to remove any excess dirt or dust.
  • Step 2: Poke a number of holes in the potato with a fork. This will allow the steam that accumulates in the potato to vent out (so your potato doesn't explode). Try to spread the holes out evenly throughout the potato to make for even cooking.
  • Step 3: Place a paper towel over a microwave-safe plate (Make sure it's not plastic!) and place the potato on top.
  • Step 4: Microwave your potato:
    • Large Potato: On HIGH for about 5 or 6 minutes.
    • Medium Potato: On HIGH for about 4 minutes.
    • Small Potato: On HIGH for 3 minutes.
    • For multiple potatoes: On HIGH for 7 minutes or more.
  • Step 5: Flip the potato about half-way through microwaving so that it cooks evenly on both sides.
  • Step 6: Let the potato stand for a couple of minutes after you've taken it out of the oven. The steam that is still trapped in the potato will help it finish cooking.
  • Step 7: Slice it open and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

  •  TIP For a crispier potato, try putting baking it in an oven for 5 minutes after its come out of the microwave.
  •  TIP Wait until the rest of your meal is almost done before microwaving your potato so that your meal will be ready at the same time.
  •  TIP If your microwave has a Potato setting, feel free to use this, as it will automatically calculate the correct amount of time for microwaving.
  •  WARNING Microwaving your potato can take away some of the nutrients that are in the potato.
  •  WARNING Never put a plastic plate in the microwave (unless you are trying to make a warped plastic sculpture).

Resources for How to Bake a Potato in the Microwave




Didn't find what you were looking for?

Ask a question about How to Microwave a Potato


110 characters left.