Microwave Yukon gold potatoes are a quick and easy way to prep potatoes, either for mashing or smashing, or just for slicing and serving with your favorite potato toppings. This will be a new favorite shortcut!
Today's recipe is one I really should have discovered years and years ago.
Cause these 10 minute microwave baked potatoes are my back pocket way to get a dinner side dish ready fast. They are simple, quick and perfectly cooked every time. I've made them like that for decades and I've never looked back.
I just never applied that logic to smaller potatoes.
Then one day I was standing over some Yukon potatoes boiling away in a pot, waiting for them to finish so I could then keep going to make mashed potatoes. My daughter went through a phase when it was all mashed potatoes all the time.
And it struck me, wait, why am I taking forever to cook them this way? I could pop them in the microwave and get them tender even faster. (And with fewer dishes!)
I played around with the timing, and with different sizes of Yukon potatoes because they can vary quite a bit, and here we are. It's my new go-to method for cooking them!
Microwave, mash, get on with my life.
This has also come in handy when making smashed potatoes, which both of my kids are currently obsessed with. I get it, they are amazing. Also, they get their potato love directly from me, so no complaints here!
And I even prep smaller potatoes like this and just serve them sliced up with some butter and salt and pepper as a side dish on their own.
All this to say, you're going to want this shortcut on hand for days when you need your potatoes cooked and you need them now.
So let's get into it.
Notes and Tips:
Scrub and fork: Be sure to scrub your potatoes to clean them and then poke them a couple of times with a fork to allow for venting. This is my favorite potato scrubber. It's cheap, too!
Timing: If you are microwaving 6 or so potatoes, it will take 8 minutes on high for small to medium sized Yukon potatoes. For ones that are larger, like 3 inches or more, plan on 9-10 minutes to start.
Doneness: The potatoes will give when squeezed if they are finished cooking and nice and fluffy on the inside. (They are hot, use an oven mitt to squeeze them!) If they still feel firm or hard, add an additional minute or two as needed to finish cooking.
Tip: If yours are slightly different sized, just remove any that are finished and add some extra time to the bigger ones until they are done.
As mentioned, you can use this trick to prep your potatoes for other uses (like mashing or smashing). Or serve them up as is.
And if you need some ideas for toppings, you know I'm here for you.
Potato Topping Ideas:
- 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
There you have it! Potatoes in no time. Which means more potatoes all the time! Yes please.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. If you are a potato lover through and through like I am, check out this baked potato bar for a fun way to serve a group.
Microwave Yukon Gold Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 small to medium Yukon gold potatoes
Instructions
- Scrub the potatoes well with a scrub brush under running water. Poke each potato 2-3 times with a fork to allow for the heat to vent.
- Place the potatoes on the microwave plate in the microwave. Cook at full power for 8 minutes then check the potatoes: Use a towel or oven mitt and gently squeeze the sides of the potato. If it gives without resistance, it's ready. If it still seems a bit firm, return to the microwave for another minute or at a time until tender. (Any smaller potatoes that are ready can be removed and any larger ones that need a little more time can be microwaved for another minute.) If you are using medium to larger sized Yukon potatoes, start with 9-10 minutes then check and add another minute as needed.
- Serve immediately with desired toppings - such as butter, salt and pepper - or mash or smash the potatoes and use for another preparation.
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Jane says
I microwave Yucon Gold potatoes but the side on the plate comes out hard, even when I turn them over halfway through baking. I also wrap them in a wet paper towel. How can I avoid this problem?