Cooking Potatoes in the Microwave Instead of the Oven

A bag of potatoes is only about $2 and there are all sorts of fun things you can make with just potatoes and maybe a little butter, salt and pepper.  Hash browns for breakfast is a recipe I have yet to perfect and french fries in a pan I am getting even closer to perfecting but the easiest and way to take a potato and make it delicious is to microwave it.  Making a baked potato in the oven usually takes more than an hour so I like to make them in the microwave.  Most people don't believe me when I say they are just as good as one done in the oven until they try it.


The whole process is pretty simple.  Wash the potatoes and cut off any undesired parts then poke a few holes in them.  Personally I like to use a fork instead of a knife and poke each potato about 4 times per side.  That gets a pretty even distribution and allows some of the heat to escape.  If you don't poke holes in them you will sometime have a potato explode, which is pretty hilarious but it's not quite as tasty.

After that it's as easy as wrapping them in wet paper towels and cooking for a few minutes.  The hardest part is getting a good estimation of how long they take to cook.  A 1000 watt microwave is going to work a lot faster than a something you pick up for 5 bucks at a garage sale.  Plus you can buy potatoes at the store that are no bigger than an egg.  At the same time some of those russets big enough to feed more than one person.  The key is to wait until they are tender to the touch (be careful it will be hot) and then let them sit in the microwave for another few minutes to continue cooking.

If you where a bit premature pulling them out it's OK.  After you cut it open and put some butter on it feel free to nuke it a bit longer.  A little salt and pepper and you are in business. 

Video Recipe Here

  

Potatoes don't offer much in the realm of nutrition, but they are extremely cheap.  If you are looking for something to add I would suggest some diced ham for protein.  Chopping up some broccoli and putting it on top is also a delicious addition.  One of my favorite things to to is add chopped broccoli and the some cheese on top.  Of course you could always go with the classics like sour cream and bacon bits.

If you need to fill your stomach on a budget and you only have a few minutes then here is a good solution.  Try and make it for you friends and family, I bet they won't be able to tell the difference between these and the ones painstakingly made in the oven.  If you want the skin to be a little crispy like when they are baked in the oven then I suggest popping it in the oven for 5 minutes after you cook it in the microwave.  Personally for me I just use the potato as a vessel for awesome toppings so that is the most important part.

Please enjoy this tasty treat next time you have some potatoes that need to be eaten.