How to Make a Baked Potato in the Microwave

Jennifer Coulter
Updated

Baked potatoes are a cheap, filling food that’s easy to make and super tasty. They’re delicious, and they can help to class up your ramen-filled college dinners. They even make a good snack. They’re basically the perfect food. A superfood, even. Load ‘em up with cheese, sour cream, plain yogurt, bacon… you get the idea.

Unfortunately, anyone who’s gone away to school and lived in a dorm runs into a lot of struggles when they try to cook. One of those problems is the lack of ovens. Most dorms are equipped solely with a microwave, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, microwaves can make some pretty crappy, soggy baked potatoes.

But fear not, dormies. There is a way to make decent microwaved baked potatoes, and it’s pretty dang easy.

Microwaved Baked Potao

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 5 minutes (or more, depending on the size of your potato)

Total Time: 6 minutes

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

  • 1 potato

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil/vegetable oil

  • Salt

  • pepper

Directions:

  • First, choose your potato (we suggest Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold). I used Yukon Gold.

  • Be sure to wash your potato. You don’t want to eat a dirt covered potato. Please scrub it well beforehand. Just don’t use soap, or else you’ll ruin the potato.

  • Poke some holes into the potato with a fork. This is important because the holes allow steam to escape from the potato – just four or five fork jabs will do.

  • Then, rub the potato with olive oil or vegetable oil. Not only does the oil add a little flavor, it’s supposed to keep the potato’s skin from wrinkling or from being too tough. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even use the oil, potato, and microwave to make some potato chips.

  • Season your potato with salt & pepper. Seasoning makes the difference between a good baked potato and a lame, boring one.

  • Finally, microwave for 5 minutes. Depending on the size of your potato, you might wanna keep it in longer, or less. Be careful, though. You don’t want to overcook it.

  • Check the potato, and if it’s done, start loading it up with toppings. Some people go for the classic sour cream, some like to throw in cheese and bacon. Top it with anything you’ve got tucked away in your dorm’s minifridge (well, maybe don’t top it with your hidden Natty Light stash), and it’ll probably taste delicious.