Microwave Baked Potato ♥

This quick recipe is for my friend Ann who has -- undeservedly, to my mind -- the reputation as a bad cook.

Actually, she's a decent cook. It's just that food isn't high on her priority list and so 'good' is 'good enough'. This I respect, admire even -- not every bite we eat must be 'delicious'. Good is good. Good is plenty. Good is, yes, good enough.

So when I raved about how I'd just learned how to make the best baked potatoes, she looked momentarily embarrassed (but not really) to admit she just throws baked potatoes in the microwave. "They're good," she assured.

And so they are -- good! -- and frankly, way better than expected. The flesh is actually quite good (a tiny tad gummy but if you haven't tasted the slooow-baked potatoes, you wouldn't notice) but in the microwave, the skin just won't get crisp. So I checked the ever-so-thorough Vegetable Love by Barbara Kafka who sure enough, has the solution: finishing the potatoes 10 minutes in a very hot oven.

WEIGHT WATCHERS NOTE If you've ever wondered how many points are in a baked potato, check the nutrition information below. A standard-size potato is huge -- talk about super-sizing -- and racks up 7 Weight Watchers points. And that's before you starting loading it with other goodies. Yikes.

MAKE IT A MEAL A baked potato would go perfectly with this quick supper recipes from Kitchen Parade, Pepper Steak & Mushrooms.

MICROWAVE BAKED POTATO

Hands-on time: 2 minutes
Time to table: 20 minutes (for 1)

1 'Idaho' russet potato (they have rough exteriors, are somewhat elongated and the flesh is 'mealy')

Set oven to 500F to preheat. Wash potatoes well and prick twice with the tines of a fork. Place one potato in center of microwave. For more than one potato, place one in the center, arrange other in 'spoke' or 'petal' or 'clock hands' fashion around the center potato. Do not cover.

1 potato - Cook 6 minutes for a 7 - 8 ounce potato, 1 - 2 minutes more for each additional ounce

2 potatoes - Cook 10 minutes (same)

3 potatoes - Cook 13 minutes (same)

4 potatoes - 15 minutes

Remove from microwave and rub lightly with bit of olive oil. Place directly on oven rack for 10 minutes til skins get slightly crisp.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Idaho potatoes can weigh a half pound (and more) so if that's a 'serving', so be it. I'll do nutrition information by weight.

A 1/4 pound russet potato, with skin, weighed raw: 90 Cal (1% from Fat, 10% from Protein, 89% from Carb); 2 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 20 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; NetCarb19; 1 g Sugar; 15 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 6 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 1 point

1/2 pound russet potato, with skin, weighed raw: 179 Cal (1% from Fat, 10% from Protein, 89% from Carb); 5 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 41 g Carb; 3 g Fiber; NetCarb38; 1 g Sugar; 29 mg Calcium; 2 mg Iron; 11 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 3 points

3/4 pound russet potato, with skin, weighed raw: 269 Cal (1% from Fat, 10% from Protein, 89% from Carb); 7 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 61 g Carb; 4 g Fiber; NetCarb57; 2 g Sugar; 44 mg Calcium; 3 mg Iron; 17 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 5 points

1 pound russet potato, with skin, weighed raw: 358 Cal (1% from Fat, 10% from Protein, 89% from Carb); 10 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 82 g Carb; 6 g Fiber; NetCarb76; 3 g Sugar; 59 mg Calcium; 4 mg Iron; 23 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 7 points (yikes)

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MORE FAVORITE POTATO RECIPES
~ Sloooow Baked Potatoes ~
~ How to Roast Potatoes to Perfection ~
~ "Best Ever" New Potatoes & Green Beans ~
~ more potato recipes ~
from A Veggie Venture

~ Lighter Mashed 'Potatoes' ~
~ Mashed Potatoes & Carrots ~
~ Smashed Potatoes & Broccoli ~
~ more potato recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

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