Easy Microwave Baked Potato
Sep 27, 2024
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You might think there isn’t much to making a microwave baked potato but I have some tips and tricks that will take your potatoes to the next level.
Sometimes I want a good baked potato but just don’t feel like waiting around an hour for it to cook in the oven. That’s where my trusty microwave comes in handy.
I can cook up a delicious baked potato in the microwave in about 10 minutes that is fluffy, tender, and ready to be covered with delicious toppings.
I make microwave baked potatoes all the time so I am here to share my tips for making the perfect spud.
If you like a really crispy potato skin, I recommend air fryer baked potatoes.
Why you should cook a potato in the microwave
- Time saver. You can cook a potato so much faster in the microwave than in the oven. 10 minutes compared to one hour.
- Amazing texture. If you like fluffy potatoes, the microwave makes delicious fluffy potatoes.
- Side dish or main meal. This is a simple side dish for dinner or top your potato with things like chili or bacon to make it a main dish.
Ingredients needed
- Potatoes – I recommend using a russet potato.
- Optional – Olive oil if you are crisping up the skin.
How to make microwave baked potatoes
Scroll down for the full recipe.
- Make sure to scrub and clean your potatoes before cooking. Poke the potato with a fork, about 5 times around the potato.
- Put the potatoes on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for 10 minutes. I recommend flipping it over after 5 minutes of cooking. Check the potatoes by piercing them with a fork. If the potato is still hard, cook a few extra minutes.
- If you would like to crisp up the skin, brush the potato with olive oil and place in the oven at 425 degrees F for about 5 minutes.
Heather’s recipe tips
- Make sure to scrub off any dirt on the potatoes before cooking.
- Don’t skip poking holes in the potato. This helps for steam to escape.
- I recommend flipping the potato over half way through cooking so that it cooks evenly.
- If your microwave is less than 1000 watts, you might need to add a few extra minutes of cook time.
How long does it take to microwave a potato?
The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your potato, how many potatoes, and the wattage of your microwave. ***I am using a 1250 watt microwave for this recipe.
| Number Of Potatoes | Cooking Time |
| 1 | 8-10 minutes |
| 2 | 10-12 minutes |
| 3-4 | 15-20 minutes |
Microwave potato topping ideas
There are so many ways to top a baked potato. The possibilities are endless! Some of my favorite toppings include:
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Crumbled bacon
- Green onions
- Ranch
- Shredded cheese
- Chili
- Steamed broccoli
Common questions
No, you can just place the potato on the plate without being wrapped.
If you like crispy skin, brush the outside of the potato with a little olive oil. Bake in the oven at 425 for about 10 minutes.
Yes, they are great to make ahead of time. Wrap them up in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to heat them back up in the microwave, cook for about 5 minutes.
Yes, you can microwave sweet potatoes. Depending on the size, it will take about 10 minutes.
More easy potato recipes
What are your favorite toppings for a microwave potato? Let me know in the comments.
Microwave Baked Potato
Equipment
- 1 Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 russet potato
Optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Scrub the potato clean. Use a fork to poke holes in the potato, about 5 times.
- Place the potato on a microwave safe plate. Cook for 5 minutes. Carefully flip the potato over and cook another 5 minutes.
- Check the potato by piercing with a fork. If it is still hard, cook a few extra minutes.
- Let the potato rest a few minutes before cutting down the center and serving.
Crispy skin
- If you prefer crispy skin, once the potato has cooked, brush with olive oil. Place in the oven at 425 degrees for about 5 minutes to crisp up skin.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
