Recipe: 15 Minute Baked Potatoes

15 Minute Baked Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Wash a baking potato. Slice it in half lengthwise such that you have the longest, flattest halves possible. Put them on a microwave-safe dish.

Microwave on high about 4 minutes. Remove from oven, blot off any excess moisture with a paper towel, then spread butter on the cut sides of potatoes. Add a bit of salt and pepper. Place potato halves butter side down on a baking pan.

Bake about 10 minutes, or until potato is tender when pierced with a sharp knife. Remove from oven; the cut sides of potato halves should be crispy and golden brown. You can eat with a knife and fork, or let cool a few minutes, and eat with your fingers. Add extra butter or sour cream if you like.

Not as quick as a 7-minute cook in the microwave, but a heckuva lot quicker than baking, and a heckuva lot better than just cooking in the microwave. For me, it's a good compromise. (If you have even more time, you can skip the microwave step and simply cook the potato halves for 30-45 minutes. Baking temp can also be flexible if you're cooking something else at the same time.)

Source: rec.food.cooking/Chris and Bob Neidecker/2003