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 likely is a potato to explode?
Expert Advice. "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.
What happens if you microwave a raw potato?
What Happens When You Microwave Potatoes. So the microwaves heat up the water molecules within the potato. This is what eventually 'cooks' the potato. The heat will cook (gelatinize) the starch in the potato, the cell walls between cells will soften and break down.
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."
Is it normal for potatoes to hiss in the microwave?
Ignore what sounds like your potato screaming for help — it's just potato moisture turning into potato steam and escaping through the fork holes as potato vapor.
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