Microwaving a potato at times can be tricky. The problem that many people run into is that the potato ends up being rough and dry on the outside while being uncooked in the middle. It’s hard to get a good mix where the potato is cooked through all the way evenly when using a microwave. There are some tips that you can use that will help you cook a potato better this way.
First of all, always wash off the outside of the potato. You don’t need this extra dirt and potential bacteria that might be on the potato. This is a good practice with any vegetable.
Poke holes in the potato all over with fork. These holes need to get deep so that the middle of the potato will be exposed to some of the heat. This helps with the problem of the middle of the potato not cooking right.
When you put the potato in the microwave, something must be done to prevent the outside of the potato from drying out too much. Take some paper towels and get them wet. Wrap these around your potato. This keeps moisture on the outside of it to keep the skin more moist.
The exact microwave time is going to be different from one microwave to another. Many potatoes are a different size as well. Cook for about 5 minutes and check on it. If it’s soft when squeezed giving a little, it means that it’s done. Cut it open and check the center to make sure it’s cooked all the way through. If not, add more minutes to it.
When it is done, it’s best to just leave it alone for a few minutes still wrapped up in the paper towel. This completes the cooking process as it’s still warm on the inside.
Microwaving a potato at times is difficult. Learn some techniques that will help you cook these better.