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10-Minute Microwave Baked Potatoes

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Microwave baked potatoes come out perfectly fluffy and tender every time – and only take about 10 minutes!Fluffy cooked potatoes served on a white plate with a pat of butter

I’ve always had baked potatoes this way, made in the microwave. It never occurred to me growing up that they aren’t actually “baked.”

I was well past college, well into my adult years before I ever realized that not everyone made potatoes this way.

But everyone should!

These potatoes are perfectly fluffy and tender and steamy and so delicious! And they are ready to go in about 10 minutes. 🙌

Which is perfect because who has time to heat up an oven and let a couple of potatoes roast for an hour?!

(You can also check out Air Fryer baked potatoes, which are a bit faster than the oven method and get a crispy crust, but still not quite as quick as these.)

Potatoes are a great pairing for so many dinners. Or they can be the main event at dinner, as in my cheesy chicken and broccoli baked potatoes or chicken hash over baked potatoes.

Plus, everyone can fix and top their microwave baked potato just as they please, so they work well for families with different tastes (aka picky eaters).

Now, I’ve got some notes and substitutions coming up on how to make microwave baked potatoes. Just tryin’ to be helpful. (I’ve made these A LOT and want to share all the details so you can get them perfect, too!)

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Cooked russet potatoes on a white plate before being cut openCut open and fluffed baked potatoes on a white plate

How to make microwave baked potatoes:

  1. Scrub the potatoes and poke each potato 5-6 times with a fork – I do it a few times on each side. Place potatoes directly onto the microwave plate.
  2. The time depends on the number of potatoes and the size of your potatoes. See just below for an easy-to-read list.
  3. When the time is up, get a towel or oven mitt and gently squeeze the sides of the potato. If it gives without resistance and starts to open up, it’s ready. If it still seems a bit firm, microwave for another minute at a time until tender. If your potatoes are different sizes, remove the ones that are tender and continue cooking only the ones that need additional time.
  4. Carefully cut open your potato, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Let’s talk specifics about the timing.

How long does it take to microwave potatoes?

– The exact timing will depend on your microwave power, potato size and the number of potatoes. Here’s a general guide.

– For 2 medium-sized russet potatoes, start with 10-11 minutes of microwave time on 100% power. If the potatoes don’t seem tender (give them a squeeze with an oven mitt; they should give readily), add another 1 to 2 minutes at a time.

– For 4 medium-sized russet potatoes, start with 15-16 minutes.

– For a single potato, start with 5-6 minutes.

– If your potatoes are especially large or fat – like the kind you’d get in a restaurant – you’ll likely need an extra couple minutes of microwave time. Just put them back in the microwave and add more time until they get cooked through.

– It’s not necessary to turn your potatoes over during the cook time; I usually don’t because I’m busy doing something else for dinner. However, you certainly can and it can be helpful for larger or fatter potatoes to get them to cook evenly and a bit more quickly.

Two cooked potatoes, cut open, fluffed and topped with a pat of butter with text on the photo

(Oh, and check out this post if you’re looking for microwave sweet potatoes; the timing is just a little different.)

OK, let’s really make these potatoes fun with the toppings! You know I love adding some toppings…

Topping ideas for baked potatoes:

  • Butter, sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, or feta or goat cheese
  • Crumbled cooked bacon
  • Chopped chives or fresh herbs
  • Guacamole or diced avocado
  • Salsa or pico de gallo
  • Hot sauce or sriracha
  • Sprinkle of paprika or other seasonings

So many possibilities!

Fluffy microwave baked potatoes served on a white plate with butter on top

Any way you serve them, I love that potatoes are perfectly portion controlled. I tend to get a bit crazy when piling pasta or rice on my plate, but a potato? The whole thing is mine.

(I love when I don’t have to share!)

And I’m one of those people who eats the entire potato, skin and all. I take after my dad that way. I’m a serious potato lover, and these microwave baked potatoes measure up beautifully. 👌

I hope you give these a try – they make dinner so easy and you end up with perfect, fast microwave “baked” potatoes every time.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. You can sign up for my free e-newsletter and get my free e-cookbook with 10 easy weeknight dinners!

P.P.S. This is my favorite potato scrubber (and it’s less than $5!)

Yield: 1-4 servings

Microwave baked potatoes

These quick and easy microwave potatoes come out perfectly fluffy and tender every time!

Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1-4 medium russet potatoes

Optional toppings:

  • Salt and pepper; butter, Greek yogurt or sour cream; shredded cheese, blue cheese, or feta or goat cheese; crumbled bacon; chopped chives or fresh herbs; hot sauce or sriracha; avocado or guac; salsa or pico de gallo; paprika or other seasonings, etc.

Instructions

  1. Scrub the potatoes. Poke each potato 5-6 times with a fork - I do it a few times on each side. Place potatoes directly onto the microwave plate.
  2. Microwave on high. The time depends on the number of potatoes and the size of your potatoes. For 1 medium-sized potato, start with 5-6 minutes. For 2 medium-sized potatoes, start with 10-11 minutes microwave time. For 4 potatoes, start with 15-16 minutes in the microwave. When the time is up, get a towel or oven mitt and gently squeeze the sides of the potato. If it gives without resistance and starts to open up, it's ready. If it still seems a bit firm, return to the microwave for another minute at a time until tender.

Notes

If your potatoes are different sizes, remove the ones that are tender and continue cooking only the ones that need additional time.

It’s not necessary to turn your potatoes over during the cook time. However, you certainly can and it can be helpful for larger or fatter potatoes to get them to cook evenly and a bit more quickly.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1 potato
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gProtein: 3g
© Kathryn Doherty
Cuisine: American / Category: Side dishes
Fast cheesy chicken and broccoli twice-baked potatoes - a shortcut helps get this all-in-one dinner on the table faster! | FamilyFoodontheTable.comWant to make it a meal? Try my fast cheesy chicken and broccoli twice-baked potatoes – an all-in-one meal that everyone will love!

How high can YOU stuff them?!

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Comments

  2. Cressa Collier says

    Worked perfect! Did 2 medium potatoes and one little one (for my 2 year old) 10 minutes and done! Thanks for posting!

    Reply

  4. Linda says

    I’ve done potatoes in the microwave, the oven, and the crockpot. I’ve even cut them in half lengthway and baked them in a toaster oven. I’ve baked red potatoes and white potatoes. I’ve baked them wrapped in foil and not wrapped. Baking in the oven, wrapped or unwrapped, is the only way to get the fluffy texture, we all love.

    Reply

  5. JFA02 says

    I keep trying to cook a baked potato in the microwave but the center of my potato always comes out hard, even if it’s hot. I don’t know if I am cooking it to long or to short I have tried both ways.

    Reply

    • Heather Pearson says

      It sounds to me like your microwave is either too low, or you aren’t cooking it long enough. Either way, I’d advise cooking a couple of minutes, then allowing the part of the potato that was actually heated (about a centimeter to an inch in) to heat up the middle for about a minute. Simply repeat till your potato is done. I hope this solves your problem.

      Reply

    • Kayla A says

      Make sure your poking your potatoes two to three times on each side. If you already do this, poke deeper to the center. Hope this helps.

      Reply

  6. Joyce Cummings says

    From a very old lady who was microwaving potatoes when microwaves were still 3 feet wide:
    Scrub it very thoroughly, let it get wet; take a big gob of butter and rub it in thoroughly; do NOT EVER poke it!! (drys it out); wrap it in about 18″ WAX paper, yes a long piece so you can roll it; twist the ends hard, then microwave according to size and number of potatoes. Moist moist moist!!

    Reply

  7. Jeff Parkes says

    I microwave potatoes bake them in the oven, in foil on the grill, but the microwave always works best.
    If I have several to cook like last weekend I wrap them in saran wrap after washing and poking holes and rubbing a little olive oil on each one. Microwane on high for 10 min and let sit then put the stakes on with indirect heat after turning the stakes at 10 min I start the potatoes again for another 10 min. And let sit until I sear the steaks on hi heat.
    I let them rest on a tented tray in their juices for 5 min while everyone prepares their own potatoes to tast some even use the ashu from the steak in place of butter.
    Cooking times always very because of size potato wattage of microwave and sometimes barometric pressure meaning your altitude. Bon appétit!

    Reply

  8. Regina says

    I had to scroll a long, long time and read 5 ads to read “put in microwave”.

    Blogs are becoming ridiculous.

    Reply

  10. Sarah says

    Thanks for this. I needed mashed potatoes for a shepherd’s pie recipe, but had less than 1/2 hour to prepare them from raw. This post made me confident I could micro them and mash them in time to get the whole entree in the oven to bake. It worked great and my family loved their dinner. Saved the day. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply

  13. Ann says

    I wrap the potatoes in paper towels and wet them to keep the skins from drying out and getting hard.

    Reply

  14. Kevin says

    Do you have specifics for if you peel the potato? I ask because I’m paranoid about bad spots on the potato but I still want the fluffy center.

    Reply

    • Kathryn says

      Hi! I don’t recommend peeling the potatoes before putting them in the microwave. I scrub mine really well and if there’s a particular spot or small growth, I cut that out. Otherwise, I keep the peel on when cooking these. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  15. compassionateveganfood says

    I love microwave potatoes! Yummy and no animals are harmed in the making. I’d love if you had vegan versions of your potato recipes.

    Reply

  18. timothy d moore says

    kathy i dont have a comment but i would like an answer- i crushed and split my frontal lobe and have not much memory,wife of 36 yrs left me and my money went with her so i dont eat out very often, im sorry now my question- i got the potato but are things i can copy that only take 15-20 min to make,i have air frier, after 20 min i will wonder away so i dont use oven and im so tired of soup and sam. sure would like some different things i can make quick? u seem like a real honest lady so i might ask you? dont have credit card. tim moore

    Reply

  19. Patricia says

    I have cooked potatoes in the microwave many times for different reasons but for eating in place of a “baked” potato, I find the flavor is not as rich. What I will do is start the cooking in the microwave, until the potato is just beginning to soften. Then I move the potatoes into my toaster oven preheated to 425 degrees. Leave it/them baking for about 10 to 15 minutes. The roasting of the peels permeates the whole potato, a complete flavor as if you had fully baked them for 45 – 55 minutes in the oven from the start. However, if you need them in a hurry, go with the microwave start to finish.

    Reply

  20. Emma says

    Made this tonight, absolutely delicious. But I just added extra cheese, ham and mayo. I know it is not healthy but it tastes really nice 🙂

    Reply

  21. Jan says

    I’ve done microwave baked potatoes often. I scrub, then wrap with wet paper towel and put in ziplock bag ( only close it 4/5 of the way or it will blow! ) Microwave.
    I like to flip once.
    As a one dish meal, try opening, slightly mashing then add taco meat. Add your other toppings when you serve. Fast fun meal.

    Reply

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