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How to microwave a baked potato

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Forget waiting around for ages while your spud bakes in the oven. With a microwave, you can make a perfectly fluffy, tasty baked potato in a sliver of the time. And we’ll show you exactly how. Right, feast your eyes on this…

Ingredients and prep

First things first, get your supplies together. To make a microwave baked potato, you’re going to need:

  • A potato.

  • A fork.

  • Some clean kitchen towel.

  • Toppings (butter, cheese, bacon bits, tuna, baked beans – the works!).

  • A microwave.

Make sure you wash your potato before doing anything else. After all, it’s just come out of the ground. Keep your eyes peeled and get rid of any grit or dirt that’s left on them – you definitely don’t want that stuck in your teeth. Once that’s done, pat it dry with the kitchen towel.

Cooking tip: Prepare all of your toppings before cooking the potato. It’ll be ready in a flash, so you don’t want to waste time faffing about with them afterwards. If you do, it’s going to get cold!

Step-by-step cooking guide

Here’s how to microwave a baked potato and nail cooking it every single time:

  1. Poke it – Grab your fork and stab your potato a few times. This helps steam to escape when it’s cooking, so you don’t end up with a messy potato explosion inside your microwave. Cleaning a microwave isn’t much fun!

  2. Wrap it (optional) – Some folks swear by wrapping their potato in a damp bit of kitchen towel before popping it in the microwave. It’s not necessary, but it can help to cook it more evenly, and speeds up the process when you’re in a rush.

  3. Cook it – Put your potato in the microwave (on a microwave-safe plate) and start with five minutes on a high setting. Cooking for the family too? Or just feeling peckish? You’ll need to add on another two to three minutes if you’re making a few extra potatoes.

  4. Check it – When the microwave goes ding, give your potato a gentle squeeze. If it feels soft and gives a little, it’s done. If it’s still firm though, keep on microwaving it one minute at a time until it’s cooked through. You can always flip it over too.

  5. Let it rest – Once your potato is cooked to perfection, let it sit in the microwave for a minute or two. This’ll let it finish cooking and allows all the steam to escape.

  6. Slice and serve – Carefully split open your potato and fluff up the insides with a fork. Then load it up with all your favourite toppings and it’s ready to eat.

Cooking tip: Want an extra crispy skin? Brush the potato with some olive oil or melted butter before you cook it. And if it needs to be even crispier, transfer it over to the oven (after it’s been microwaved) for 10-15 minutes at 200°C until it’s golden.

Adjusting cooking times

Microwaves vary in power. So, you might need to tweak the cooking times a bit to suit whatever microwave you’ve got. If your potato still isn’t cooked after our suggested time, it doesn’t have to be a kitchen nightmare. Just keep on microwaving it in short bursts until it’s nice and tender.

Choosing the right potato

Big question here. When it comes to making a baked potato, what’s the best kind of spud?

We’d go for a russet potato. Their thick skins crisp up really well in the microwave, while the insides become the perfect fluffy base for all of your yummy toppings.

To be honest though, you can use almost any kind of potato you’ve got in your cupboard. Just maybe not a baby new potato. It’s not going to be the most filling…

Cooking tip: Don’t forget the seasoning! Sprinkle the potato with a bit of salt, dried herbs, paprika or garlic powder. This’ll add even more flavour to the skin while it crisps up.

Tasty topping ideas

The sky’s the limit when it comes to toppings. But here are a few scrummy ideas for you to tuck into:

  • Classic: Butter, sour cream, and chives.

  • Tex-Mex: Salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese.

  • Loaded: Bacon bits, cheddar cheese and a dollop of Greek yoghurt.

  • Veggie: Steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

  • Fishy: Tuna, mayonnaise, sweetcorn, spring onions, and mature cheddar.

  • Quick: Baked beans and grated cheese.

What to serve with your baked potato

A baked potato can be a super quick and easy meal in itself. But if you’re feeling fancy – and want to experiment a bit away from the usual toppings – they pair just as well with loads of other food.

How about a rich, grilled steak, slathered in chimichurri sauce, with a buttery baked potato on the side? Or, for something a little lighter, pan fry a piece of trout and make a simple salad to balance out that hearty potato. Both are a recipe for success.

Baked potatoes are so versatile, that they go with just about anything. So, get experimenting and see what types of dishes you can rustle up!

FAQs

Are microwaved potatoes any good?

They sure are. Microwave potatoes turn out just as delicious as ones baked in the oven. And you can whip one up in no time at all, which is great when you’re absolutely starving!

Should you wrap a potato before microwaving?

You don’t have to - but wrapping it in a damp paper towel can help it cook faster and more evenly. If you need an even speedier meal on your lunch break, this tip might come in handy.

Can you microwave two baked potatoes at the same time?

Yes, if your microwave is big enough. Just make sure you bump up the cooking time a bit to account for that extra spud.

So, there you have it – a foolproof guide to microwaving the perfect baked potato. Need some other great cooking hacks? We’ve got some cracking tips for how to cook eggs in the microwave. And if your microwave’s looking slightly worse for wear, check out the best microwaves: which is right for you?

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