By Ashley A baked potato is a delicious and cheap way to brighten up any meal. Although baked potatoes are best prepared in the oven, you can bake them in the microwave to create the same delicious dish in half the time.
Steps
1. Select The Right Potato. Russet Potatoes – also called Idaho or baking potatoes – are great for using in the microwave. Their high starch content makes them extra fluffy and great for baking. You don't need Russets to make a great microwave baked potato. Instead, you can use yellow-fleshed potatoes such as Yukon Gold, which are mildly starchy and produce a creamy, slightly dense potato.
2. Wash Your Potato. Make sure to wash the skin before you microwave it. Make sure you get rid of any dirt or grit. A bristled scrub brush, if you have one is great for cleaning potatoes. After washing the potatoes, dry them with a paper towel.
3. Season Your Potato. Apply a little olive oil to the potato's skin, and then season with salt. This will give the potato an extra flavor and help to crisp its skin.
4. Use A Fork To Poke The Potato. This allows steam and prevents it from exploding when heated in the microwave. You should aim for three to four pricks on each side of the potato: the top, bottom, and sides. Alternatively, you can use a knife to make a deep "X" on the top.
5. Put The Potato On A Plate. You can also wrap the potato with a wet towel. It will keep the potato moist, prevent it from shrinking, and will result in softened skin.
6. Place The Plate In The Microwave And Select A Cooking Time. Cook medium-sized potatoes for 8-12 minutes.
- To start, put the potato in the microwave for 5 minutes. Then take it out and flip it over to ensure that both sides are cooked evenly. It can be placed back in the microwave for an additional 3-5 minutes depending on how soft it has become.
- Cooking multiple potatoes simultaneously will require you to increase the cooking time by approximately two-thirds. If one large potato takes 10 min to cook, cooking two large potatoes will take 16-17 minutes.
- You can make crispy skinned potatoes by heating the potatoes in the microwave for about 5-6 minutes. Then transfer the potatoes to a baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). This is a great way to get crispy potato skins in half the time.
7. Verify That The Potato Has Been Cooked. If the fork slides in the center of the potato easily but it is still firm, then the potato is done. If in doubt, you should always undercook the potato.
8. Allow The Potato To Rest For Five Minutes. This will allow the potato's core to cook using the heat trapped in its inner layers. This helps the potato become fluffy inside and prevents it from drying out on the outside. This process can be speeded up by wrapping it in aluminum foil once it has been taken out of the microwave. Be careful not to touch the potato as it can be very hot.
9. Slice The Potato In Half And Top It With Your Favorite Toppings. You can keep it simple with butter and salt, as well as some grated cheese. Or, you can add some sour cream and green onions to the dish. To make the meal more complete, add some chili con carne to the potato or some fluffy scrambled egg.