How do YOU cook a potato?

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I've never been much on microwaving potatos--what, with things exploding in there and all....but I have these potatos.

It seems a shame to have an oven on for an hour or more...especially for a lunch item.

DH loves sweet potatos, and since he seems to be home for lunch every day, I thought I might give it a swing today.

So someone help me, please....

 

[Christine]

Just prick the potato all over with a fork. If you are doing one baked potato, put it in the microwave for about 3 minutes. Then turn it over, and microwave another 3 minutes or so. Keep doing that until it "gives" when you squeeze it.

If you put lots of holes in the potato with the fork it will not explode.

 

[Chicago526]

Just prick the potato all over with a fork. If you are doing one baked potato, put it in the microwave for about 3 minutes. Then turn it over, and microwave another 3 minutes or so. Keep doing that until it "gives" when you squeeze it.

If you put lots of holes in the potato with the fork it will not explode.

I agree, just poke lots of holes and nuke it!

If you'd rather not use a microwave, but don't want to heat up your oven just for one or two potatos, you could try your toaster oven. I'd think that would work okay, but it would take about the same amount of time as an oven would, I'd think.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

1) wash tater
2) poke tater
3) put tater in microwave
4) push tater button on said microwave

Perfect every time.

 

[magicmato]

Yep, what everyone told you is correct. Pricking it is important! Also, I like to wrap it in a moist paper towel. This seems to help it cook a bit as well and contains the juices if it leaks.

 

[Melissa M]

I "bake" potatoes in my crockpot. When I come home from work, I just get out all the fixins and dinner is ready.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I "bake" potatoes in my crockpot. When I come home from work, I just get out all the fixins and dinner is ready.

Wow, never heard that before!!! How long do you cook it for, on low?

 

[Melissa M]

Wow, never heard that before!!! How long do you cook it for, on low?

I just poke holes in them and place them in the crockpot before I go to work in the morning. I cook them on LOW all day until I get home from work after 5:00. So, I guess about 10 hours. That's probably longer than necessary, but they turn out okay.

 

[nuke]

I usually microwave them but I do like them better from the oven. The outside is crispier.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I prefer the texture when they have been oven baked, but that takes so long and I refuse to keep the oven going that long in the hot weather. So i have started using the microwave for baked potatoes - takes 10 minutes (15 for 3 large potatoes).

As has been stated, prick them all over with a fork and wrap them in saran wrap.

Think I might try the crockpot...

 

[Melisa1]

You could try this with a regular or sweet potato:
Wash, then brush with Olive oil and sprinkle with salt, wrap in aluminum foil and put on the grill until they are soft. Yummmmmm!

 

[Nicolepa]

If you like the crispy outside then just put them in the oven for 10-15 minutes after you microwave them.

 

[Kycha]

My method is similar to most of the pp's. Prick holes in the potato, wrap in moist paper towel, cook in microwave for about 10 minutes. I then put in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes at high heat to get a crispy skin. Works perfect every time.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Fast and good:

Scrub potatos then cube them. I like bite size peices. even sizes for even cooking.
then very light splash of olive oil and then sprinkle some italian seasoning.
place in microwave and hit potoato button. (gotta love the potato button) perfect every time...

But baked potatos are also desirable
When it is too hot to run the oven for an hour we bake them on the grill. I hate to run the oven or the grill for an hour for only two potatos so we cook ten and save the rest. To reheat the extras I slice them then pan fry them, again with a little olive oil and some diced onions. Maybe a spice if you wish, like seasoning salt. They crisp up nicely and quickly and are almost a meal by themselves.

we have even grilled pizza!

Mikeee

 

[DMickey28]

I cheat. My DH loves the baked potatoes, from either the oven or the toaster oven. I usually scrub and dry, spritz with EVOO and then sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic poweder on it and bake. However it's take a while so now I cheat. I poke it and pop it in the microwave for a few then I coat with EVOO, salt, pepper and garlic and put in toaster oven for about 15 minutes to crisp up the skin. Dh hardly ever notices!

 

[gobears!]

I cut them into cubes, coat with olive oil, black pepper, garlic salt, oregano, and then bake on a baking sheet at 350 and give the pan a shake every 15 minutes or so. Cooking time depends on how cripsy you want them.

 

[JimVL]

You could try this with a regular or sweet potato:
Wash, then brush with Olive oil and sprinkle with salt, wrap in aluminum foil and put on the grill until they are soft. Yummmmmm!

A grilled baked potato is great! I put butter on them before the foil, and after the foil too.