Microwave Baked Potato (Easy Recipe)

This microwave baked potato recipe is a total game-changer!

Because baking a potato is pretty time-consuming. They need an hour or more in the oven, which we don’t always have.

Luckily, a microwave baked potato is just as light and fluffy in a fraction of the time. 

All it takes is a 7-minute ride in the microwave, and it tastes just as good as the oven.

Well, that and a boatload of tasty baked potato toppings!

So use this microwave baked potato hack the next time you get a potato side dish craving. You won’t be sorry.

Microwave Baked Potato 

Whether you need a simple lunch or a Sunday dinner side, this potato recipe will cut your cook time significantly. 

And if you have a potato setting on your microwave, even better!

Just prick the skin, pop it on a microwave-safe plate, and let it spin. Before you know it, it’ll be soft and super fluffy!

How Long to Microwave a Baked Potato 

The time needed depends on the size of the potato and how many you want to cook. 

Overall, medium-size potatoes take around 7 minutes to reach the perfect temperature. 

You might need a few more minutes if you have more than one potato or a giant potato. 

Since it’s not an exact science, you must check in on your potato every few minutes. 

A perfectly-done potato pierces easily with a fork. Just be sure to use tongs when handling a hot potato!

Another important note is that you don’t cook your potato too long. An underdone potato is easy to fix – cook it longer. 

If you overcook the potato, the microwave zaps every last drop of moisture, leaving you with a sad, dry, and shriveled potato.

You don’t want that. 

To prevent it from drying out, check it after 3 minutes, and zap it for 3 more.

If it needs more time, continue cooking it for 1-minute intervals. 

While seven minutes might seem like a long time in the microwave, it’s nothing compared to the oven or the grill.

In the oven, potatoes take almost an hour to cook all the way through. 

Who has time to wait that long? 

Ingredients

It doesn’t get much easier than this recipe list. Most are pantry staples just waiting to be microwaved into potato magic. 

Potato. Russet potatoes make the ultimate baked potatoes because they’re high in starch but low in moisture. Ensure you scrub your potato well in the sink to remove any remaining dirt. 

Butter. Butter and baked potatoes go together like PB&J. Adding butter prevents the scratches in the potato from sticking together to make an average potato lighter and fluffier. 

Salt and Pepper. Sometimes, simple seasoning is best. A light dusting of salt and pepper is all you need for the perfect potato. Of course, you don’t have to stop there. 

How to Bake a Potato in the Microwave 

Making baked potatoes in the microwave is so much quicker than in the oven, and the results are just as tasty and delicious. 

1. Prep your potato. Give the potato a good scrub in the sink to remove any excess dirt. Once cleaned, poke the skin with a fork on all sides to help release steam while cooking. 

2. Nuke it. Place the prepared potato on the center of the microwave tray and cook for three minutes. Flip it, and cook for three more. 

3. Check for doneness. The potato is ready when you can pierce it all the way through with a knife. If it’s still a little firm inside, cook for another minute. 

4. Let it relax. Leave your potato in the microwave for at least one minute before handling it. 

5. Dress it up. Slice it open, and add toppings like butter, salt, and pepper. Of course, you don’t have to stop there. 

6. Dig in! Is there anything more delicious than a perfectly tender potato? 

Tips for the Best Baked Potato

Handle with care. Microwaved baked potatoes are hot!

Even after resting for a few minutes in the microwave, the skin will still be too hot to handle. 

To avoid burning your fork-wielding hand, always handle hot potatoes with tongs. 

Constantly check for doneness. If your potato is undercooked, it’s an easy fix: cook it longer! But once it’s overcooked, you have reached the point of no return.

If your potato still isn’t done after seven minutes, continue to cook it at shorter intervals of 60 seconds. 

It’s always better to err on the side of underdone than overdone, so check in frequently. 

Love a crispy skin? Getting that crispy skin requires firing up the oven. But don’t worry, it only requires a few extra minutes in the oven! 

Cook the inside of your potato in the microwave, slather it in oil, and bake in the oven for another 10 minutes to crisp up that skin. 

It might take a little longer, but it’s worth it for that deliciously crispy skin. Plus, the skin is chock full of fiber. 

Give it a really good stab. When your potato cooks in the microwave, it causes the moisture in the center to want to escape.

If you didn’t provide deep enough holes to let the steam out, brace yourself for a potato explosion!

Prevent dry skin. If your potato skin looks like it spent its youth in a tanning bed after cooking, there’s an easy solution. 

Wrap your potatoes in a damp paper towel before nuking them.

The damp paper towel will ensure that the skin stays nice and moist (and tasty). 

Baked Potato Toppings

Butter and salt are classics, but you don’t have to stop there!

Get creative with your potato toppings; there are no wrong answers. 

Veggies. Take the nutrition over the top with some tasty veggies.

Things like steamed broccoli, mushrooms, and sauteed onions are all great options. 

Meat. Bacon and potatoes are always a fantastic choice, but you don’t have to stop at bacon.

Add meaty options like smoked brisket with BBQ sauce, grilled chicken, or chili sauce. 

Adding meat is a great way to use leftovers from the night before and makes a quick and easy lunch. 

Mexican. Adding Mexican flavors is a great way to dial up the flavors.

Anything from pico de gallo, avocado, black beans, or salsa are all great options. And don’t forget the sour cream!

Broccoli and Cheese. It’s like broccoli and cheese soup in a potato! Add tender pieces of broccoli with a creamy cheese sauce for a delicious side. 

How to Store and Reheat 

If you have some leftover potatoes, you can store them in the fridge. Just wrap them in plastic or foil, and play them in an air-tight container. 

Cooked potatoes in an air-tight container last at least 5 days in the refrigerator. 

Unfortunately, baked potatoes aren’t a good candidate for freezing.

They have a high moisture content that freezes in the freezer. Once thawed, they turn into a sad, goopy mess.