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:

Also try: How to Bake a Potato

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

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

For a crispier potato, try putting baking it in an oven for 5 minutes after its come out of the microwave.
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.
If your microwave has a Potato setting, feel free to use this, as it will automatically calculate the correct amount of time for microwaving.
Microwaving your potato can take away some of the nutrients that are in the potato.
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

WikiHow: How to Bake a Potato in the Microwave
eHow: How to Microwave a Potato
All Recipes: Microwave Baked Potato
Meals For You: Basic Microwave Potato