Microwave Baked Potatoes
Microwave Baked Potatoes always come out so fluffy and ready to top with all the fixins! Save yourself a ton of time with this extremely quick and easy method. And don’t worry, you can still achieve that signature crispy skin you’re craving with a little hack I’ve included. You’ll never bake potatoes in the oven again!
Microwave Baked Potatoes
The air fryer, pressure cooker, and slow cooker are all nifty… But none of them are used in my kitchen nearly as often as my microwave! In today’s day and age, it seems like there’s always some new and exciting trend to try.
Do I love that? Absolutely! I’m the queen of trying new things. However, sometimes you just can’t beat the simple, timeless treasures of life – like perfectly microwaving a whole potato.
Want to know why you’ll love this recipe as much as I do? It’s quick. No more wrapping potatoes in foil and hanging around the kitchen waiting for them to cook and no more waiting for the oven to preheat!
This easy microwaving method has perfectly soft, fluffy baked potatoes ready to eat in less than 10 minutes. I love utilizing this easy recipe on those weeknights when I’m hungry NOW and don’t want to wait.
Once you start microwaving your potatoes, you’ll get pretty hooked on this easy side dish. Everyone loves baked potatoes, and you’ll love them even more when they’re this simple!
Serve them with sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, bacon bits, salt, pepper, or whatever else your heart desires. Have fun with this easy-peasy side dish recipe!
How to Make a Microwave Baked Potato
You’ll need your potatoes, a fork, a plate, and your microwave. That’s about it! Did I mention that this might be the most budget-friendly recipe ever?
- Clean the potatoes. Scrub the potatoes with water and pat them dry.
- Poke it. Use a fork to poke holes all over the surface of the potatoes. This is so it can release steam (and not explode) while microwaving.
- Microwave the potatoes. Place the poked potatoes on a plate and microwave for about 6-8 minutes.
- Test for doneness. Double check that your potato is fully cooked before you cut it open! Simply use a paring knife to push through the center of the potato. If it’s still a bit firm, just cook it in the microwave for another minute or two before serving.
Tips for the Best Microwave Baked Potatoes
- Crisp up the skin. I love the crispy skin of an oven-baked potato. You can still accomplish that here with one easy step! Place your cooked potato under the broiler for just a minute or two to crisp up that skin.
- Don’t overdo it. After 8 minutes of microwaving on high power, the potato should be fully cooked! Definitely test the firmness with a knife and zap it for another minute if necessary, but try not to overdo it and turn it to mush.
- Every microwave is different. Like all appliances, your microwave may be different than mine! Check for doneness around the 6 minute mark and only cook to 8 minutes if it’s still firm. Also, the cook time will depend on the thickness of the potato.
- Dress it up. There are SO many different ways to garnish your potato! My personal favorite toppings include butter, sour cream, green onions, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. However, you could always have fun with bacon bits, different types of cheeses, or whatever else sounds good to you!
You can use your microwave for so much more than just reheating leftovers!
- How to Microwave a Sweet Potato
- How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave
- How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave
- Easy Microwave Fudge
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Get the Recipe: Microwave Baked Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large Russet Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 microwave
Instructions
- Scrub potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Using a fork, prick the surface of the potato all over to release the steam while cooking.
- Place the potatoes on a microwave sage plate and cook on high power for 6-8 minutes.
- Test for doneness by using a paring knife and inserting into the center of the potato. If the potato is still firm, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the knife easily slides into the potato.
- You can enjoy immediately or place on a baking sheet and heat under the boiler to crisp the skin.