Potatoes are more likely to explode in the microwave than in the oven because the rate of heating is faster, and there's less time for the pressure from the steam to escape naturally. In the oven, however, the potato cooks more slowly, so it has time to release its steam before explosive pressure forms.
How do you microwave a potato without it exploding?
Poke the potato with a fork to prevent them from exploding while cooking. The steam created in the potato should have a way to escape, if it doesn't, well, you suffer the consequences.
Is it safe to microwave a potato?
Potatoes often house Clostridium botulinum, the botulism bacteria. When potatoes are cooked and not immediately stored in the fridge, spores of the bacteria can multiply. Microwaving the potatoes won't kill the bacteria either, so your second-day potatoes could cause an upset stomach.
Do potatoes really explode?
"Yes, it's good to prick them," says Brennan Smith, a faculty member of the School of Food Science at University of Idaho. "It pokes holes in the skin, which allows steam to escape. Otherwise, they could explode—it doesn't happen all the time, but it happens every once in a while.
Why did my potato explode?
The potato is full of water it's trying to turn to steam, or water vapor. The skin acts like a pressure vessel. If you don't let the steam escape, it builds up pressure—if it gets to a certain point of pressure from the water trying to become water vapor, it can pop the skin."
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