Best Microwave Baked Potato Recipe, get perfectly tender baked potatoes made in your microwave. Only one minute of prep work and topped your way!
Why would you ever spend over an hour preheating your oven and baking a potato when you can cook it completely in 10 minutes in the microwave? It just seems like a waste of time to me. With my technique, you can have a fluffy ‘baked’ potato in 10 minutes.
Furthermore, you can turn your quick ‘baked’ potato into a meal by topping it with chili, cheese and bacon, steamed vegetables, or Crack Chicken.
Best Microwave Baked Potato Recipe
- Scrub the potatoes thoroughly under running water. Then, trim away any blemishes with a paring knife.
- Pierce with a fork. Poking the potato helps steam escape and makes the potato softer.
- Prep the skin. Rub the potatoes all over with a little olive oil. Generously sprinkle the potatoes with sea salt and pepper.
- Wrap each potato with plastic wrap.
- Place the potatoes in a microwave-safe dish and microwave at full power for 5 minutes.
- Using an oven mitt, flip the potatoes over and microwave another 3 minutes. If cooking two or more potatoes, microwave an additional 5 minutes.
- When done, the potatoes will be soft when squeezed and should be easily pierced with a fork all the way to the center. Continue to microwave in 1-minute bursts as needed until the potatoes are cooked through.
- This is my secret and key to a soft microwaved potato. Use oven mitts to remove the dish from the microwave. Wrap the potato in aluminum foil and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the potato to steam and be fluffy.
While you’re here, check out these recipes
-
- Roasted Garlic Ranch Potatoes
-
- Twice Baked Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes
-
- Best Crispy Roast Potatoes
-
- Scalloped Hasselback-style potatoes
Best Microwave Baked Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large russet potato
- ⅛ teaspoon salt if desired
- 1 tablespoon butter, sour cream, or other toppings if desired
Instructions
- Scrub the potatoes
- Pierce with a fork
- Wrap each potato with plastic wrap.
- microwave at full power for 5 minutes
- flip the potatoes over and microwave another 3 minutes
- Wrap the potato in aluminum foil and allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes
Nutrition
You can also find great recipes at my recipe index or at Meal Plan Monday
This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Visit all my recommended products at Paula’s Picks on Amazon. Read my entire Privacy Policy here.
hh hhh says
yum
Cindy says
I need 4 backed potatoes.So how long in the microwave ?Thankyou soo very much!Iv been so sick fighing for my life in hospitals for 14 years.Now,im doing much better.(They say i used to cook and was a great cook;but i dont remember it)My mom just died MOTHERSDAY SO I HAVE NO ONE TO ASK.I remembered i used to do them in mirowave but cudnt remember the details. Im having my 1st dinner quest and its my favorite Uncle and his wife is an excellent cook.i want my meal to turn out fabulously. Im doing backed spaghetti, salads,backed potatoes,garlic bread & wine.God Bless Ypu for helping me!!Its just me,i have no other family and ill be crushed if it doesnt turn out fantastic.Thankyou,Cindy M
Paula says
I would do 4 potatoes at 4 minute increments until they’re slightly soft when squeezed. Then wrap in foil and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
Amy says
Does the plastic wrap not melt to the Potato after 5/10 minutes in the microwave??
Paula says
No, it doesn’t.
Roger Leister says
This is a great tip, with the foil…but you really are deceiving folks by calling it a 10 minute recipe…try 25, , from beginning to end
Jo says
I don’t know why you double wrap. The plastic wrap has it sealed already.
Paula says
I find the plastic wrap sometimes gets holes being microwaved for so long. The foil holds the heat in for longer.
Pam says
I never thought to wrap them in foil after microwaving! Going to try this!
Tamra says
I’d like to try this but when do I remove the plastic wrap, prior to wrapping with foil?
Thanks!
Paula says
Hey Tamra, no, I don’t remove the plastic. It’s so hot, I just wrap the foil around it.
Brenda says
I love the tip of wrapping in foil and allowing to sit. Thank you for all of the amazing recipes you share each day.
Kathleen says
That’s funny. I saw the picture with the foil and the word microwave and thought “Well this should be interesting!” Lol. Great technique. I will definitely do it as it looks perfect. Thank you so much!