Microwave Baked Potatoes

How is the best way to bake potatoes in the microwave to make sure they are tender and done?

I wash them, pierce them on all sides with a corn holder, and cook them for about 4 minutes for each potato.  BE SURE TO PIERCE THEM or they can explode!

So if I'm cooking 2 potatoes, I cook them for 4 minutes on high , turn them over, and cook for another 4 minutes on high. 

You can pierce them with a skewer (or fork) to see if they are done.   If they are not soft all the way through, cook for another minute and test again.

Sometimes I'll cook them part way in the microwave and finish them up in the toaster oven for about 1/2 hour at 400 degrees. 

The microwave is great when you're short on time, or forgot to start them early enough.

 Judy

Microwaved potatoes aren't ever really going to be exactly like baked potatoes.  But if you wrap each in a paper towel before baking, the skins will be a little better than the usual nuked potato.

If you have an Advantium available, you can actually make REAL baked potatoes (perfectly cooked through, nice crisp, baked skin) in 8-10 minutes, depending upon the size of the potato.  Having used an Advantium (combo appliance that uses microwave and halogen light technology) for the past 10 years, I'd never be without one.  You can do many things in one that you simply cannot do in a straight microwave--bake cookies in 4 minutes; casseroles baked and browned in 12 mintues--and no preheating ever. 

I'm assuming you don't have an Advantium at this point, but it might be something to think about in the future.

I do mine with a microwave safe pan that has a lid.  I put a little water in the bottom and cover with the lid and bake until fork tender.   I usually let the pan set a couple of minutes because the potato keeps cooking after the microwave is turned off.   I also wash and pierce the skin before putting in the pan. 

I just wash them, pierce once and lay them direct on the micro turn table.  I nuked one for about 6 and 1/2 minutes using a 1,000 watt appliance. More potatoes take more time, but it doesn't double (if you put in two as opposed to one). You should experiment.  Since I have a turntable, I don't turn the potato over.  You might have a booklet that came with your microwave.  Many times they have directions for how that particular appliance does best.

We just bought a new microwave and it has 1200 watts, so the food cooks faster and I have to get used to it.   Nuked baked potatoes don't taste like those baked in a regular oven, but they are good enough for me.  In fact, I like them a lot.  I don't fuss with them at all.  Six minutes or so sure does beat 1 hour in a conventional oven !!