PSA: You Can Microwave A Baked Potato Before Your Oven Even Preheats (2024)

Yields:: 1
Prep Time:: 5 mins
Total Time:: 15 mins

Jump to recipe

Baked potatoes are endlessly versatile, whether you’re looking for an easy side dish to your steak dinner or a base to a simple weeknight meal. When the craving hits last-minute, the last thing we want to do is wait for our oven to heat up, and then spend an hour waiting for it to bake. The secret? Use your microwave for a perfect “baked” potato in just 7 minutes. The result is just as great as the classic version, in less than half the time. In a pinch? Read on for how to microwave a perfect baked potato, every time:

The best potatoes to microwave:
We like a traditional russet potato for our baked potato, but you can really give any starchy potato the same treatment (even sweet potatoes!).

How to microwave a baked potato:
— Clean it. You'll need to wash your potato first, especially if you like to eat your baked potato with the skin on (and why wouldn't you?). Give it a thorough scrub to get all the nitty gritty off, rinse well, and dry it off.
— Poke it. With a fork, stab your potato all over—this helps the steam escape during the heating process to prevent a potato explosion inside your microwave, gives the potato a fluffier texture, and helps it cool off quicker once it’s done. It's an important step, so don't skip it!
— Oil = crispy skin. If you want the skin to turn a little crispy, be sure your potato is totally dried off from the wash, then massage it with a little bit of oil right before it hits the microwave.
— Microwave it. Depending on the size and density of your potato, cooking times will vary. Start with 3 or 4 minutes, then flip the hot potato with a pair of tongs and continue with an additional 3 minutes of cooking time. You can tell it's done if a knife goes through it without any resistance. Add another minute at a time if needed to get the perfect tender, creamy, baked potato.

How to top your baked potato:
Go easy or go crazy with the baked potato toppings, your choice! Just because you've made a meal in the microwave doesn't mean it can't be exciting. We like it simple with a pat of butter, a dollop of sour cream, a pinch of salt and pepper, and your favorite fresh herbs. That being said, you can also opt for the roads less traveled: pesto with freshly grated Parmesan, a smear of miso and a sprinkling of furikake, or with a runny sunny-side up egg and a drizzle of hot sauce.

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comment section below.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Ingredients

1
russet potato
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Butter, for serving

Directions

1. Step1Wash potato thoroughly andpat completely dry. Pierce 3 to4 times with a fork.
2. Step2Place potato on microwave-safe plate and microwave 7 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking. If your potato isn’t fork-tender after 7 minutes, continue microwaving in 1 minute increments until fully cooked. Let rest for 2 minutes.
3. Step3Split potato down the middle, being careful of steam. Season with salt and pepper, and top with butter before serving.

PSA: You Can Microwave A Baked Potato Before Your Oven Even Preheats (2024)

FAQs

Can I microwave a potato before putting it in the oven? ›

A whole potato or sweet potato can take up to 90 minutes to cook all the way through in a conventional oven; but a potato that's been pre-cooked in the microwave—say for 5 to 10 minutes—only needs about 20 minutes in a 450°F oven to finish roasting. Why not just cook it all the way in the microwave?

Discover More ›

What is a disadvantage to cooking a baked potato in the microwave? ›

Microwaves zap the food haphazardly, so that one part can get instantly very hot and a spot a millimeter away doesn't get hot at all. The rapid heating can cause the granules to burst, and release sticky, gelatinized starch.

Read On ›

Does microwaving a baked potato destroy the nutrients? ›

According to USDA data, microwaving potatoes is the best way to retain its nutritional value, boiling potatoes causes the most nutrient loss, and frying adds fat and extra calories. None of the cooking methods destroy fiber. Still, potatoes are rich in key nutrients regardless of how they are cooked.

How long to reheat a baked potato in the microwave? ›

Cut leftover baked potato in half lengthwise, and place each half cut side up on a microwave-safe dish. Cover each cut side with a damp paper towel. Heat the halved potato for about 3 minutes, or until heated through.

Get More Info Here ›

Does microwaving potatoes make them softer? ›

You can't count on the microwave to adequately cook a potato (trust me, I tried), but you can count on it to soften the potato, making it ready for the next step, whether that's smashing and roasting it or baking it in the oven.

Read On ›

Why does my baked potato get hard in the microwave? ›

If your potato came out of the microwave hard it's likely over-cooked. Over-cooking a potato can cause it to lose its moisture which is what creates that light and fluffy texture. Be sure you're cooking the potato for the recommended time depending on its size!

Discover More ›

Is it bad to eat microwaved food every day? ›

Microwaves use non-ionizing radiation, which moves atoms in a molecule but doesn't remove electrons. Microwave radiation can't alter the chemical makeup of your food. This means there's no harm in using your microwave and eating food cooked by it. The variety of microwave oven uses are helpful when making quick meals.

Get More Info ›

What precaution should be taken when baking a potato in the microwave oven Why? ›

Don't Forget to Poke

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. Forget to poke, and your potato could end up exploding in your microwave from the pent-up steam. It's both messy and a serious dinner let-down.

Read On ›

Are potatoes better in the oven or microwave? ›

Because a microwave steams the inside of the potato rather than baking it from the outside, the resulting potato has a fluffier inner texture. The only downside of microwaving potatoes is that the skin gets soggy and doesn't have the crispy texture that you get from the oven.

How do restaurants reheat baked potatoes in the oven? ›

Preheat the oven to 350° F and take the potatoes out of the fridge so they reach room temperature. To achieve a crispy skin, place the potato directly on the rack. (A cookie sheet would work well, too.) Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the potato is heated through.

Read On ›

How do you know when a baked potato is done in the microwave? ›

— Microwave it. Depending on the size and density of your potato, cooking times will vary. Start with 3 or 4 minutes, then flip the hot potato with a pair of tongs and continue with an additional 3 minutes of cooking time. You can tell it's done if a knife goes through it without any resistance.

Explore More ›

How do you bake potatoes ahead of time? ›

Just make sure to wrap them tightly in foil or store them in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out in the fridge. Yes, you can make baked potatoes in advance. After baking them, allow them to cool completely, then store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.