How to Cook Potatoes in the Microwave
You will love these 5-minute paprika potatoes. Delicious, buttery potatoes with paprika in just 5 minutes.
This is my favourite of all microwave potato recipes, you will love them! Cooking potatoes in the microwave is a great way to save time and energy.
Microwave steam bags are a real game-changer and a fast way to cook potatoes and make dinnertime so much easier.
Ideally, you need a microwave steam bag. I got mine from Tesco but they are available in any good supermarket or over on Amazon via the link above.
Can I make this without a steam bag?
If you don't have a microwave steam bag, you can just put the prepared potatoes into a glass dish and cover it with cling film.
You will need to make a hole to allow the steam to escape.
But, the downside is the potatoes cooked that way will not steam as well so they'll take a lot longer to cook. Microwave steam bags are the way to go! 😊
Ingredients
- 360g new potatoes - cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 20g butter
- ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil
- a good pinch of sweet smoked paprika
- sea salt and black pepper
- freshly snipped chives - just as an attempt to be a tiny bit fancy!
Of course, if you don't fancy paprika, you can use whatever takes your fancy, here are just a few suggestions for seasoning potatoes - but the list is pretty much endless.
Sprinkle with dried herbs or spices, such as:
- oregano
- thyme
- rosemary
- Italian seasoning
- cayenne pepper - if you like a bit of heat!
- curry powder
- cajun seasoning
- you could also use minced garlic
How long do potatoes take to cook in a microwave?
Well, first of all, take no notice of the timings printed on the bag, on these Tesco steam bags, it suggests 3 minutes - okay I did put more in than the 175g shown, and they took 5 minutes. 😉
The exact time will depend on how small your chopped potatoes are and, the power of your microwave.
How do microwave steam bags work?
I'm assuming all microwave steam bags work in the same way as these ones from Tesco.
Notice there is a correct way to put the bag into your microwave.
This is important because if you look carefully, on one side of the bag there is a strip above the words 'Place in the microwave this side up'.
As the potatoes start to cook, the bag will puff up and when that happens this strip is designed to perforate with tiny holes which allow the steam to escape.
If the bag is the wrong way up, the butter and oil will leak all over your microwave! 😱
How to make microwave paprika potatoes
Using new potatoes (no need to peel them) cut each potato into small bite-sized pieces.
In a bowl, add ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil and paprika along with sea salt and black pepper, mix together and then add the potatoes and mix to coat evenly.
Put the potatoes into the steam bag and add 20g of cubed butter.
Place the bag the correct way up directly onto the turntable.
If you have a flatbed microwave, put the glass shelf in the bottom position and put the steam bag directly onto that.
Microwave on full power for 5 minutes (1000-watt microwave).
Take care as the bag will be HOT with steam.
You can do as I did and using a tea towel carefully press on one of the potatoes - it should squash easily. If not, return to the microwave for a further minute until the potatoes are cooked through.
Carefully tip the potatoes into a serving dish. Sprinkle with freshly snipped chives, or chopped flat leaf parsley and serve immediately.
Give them a go today!
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Microwave Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 360g new potatoes - cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 20g butter - cubed
- ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil
- a good pinch of sweet smoked paprika
- sea salt and black pepper
- freshly snipped chives
Instructions
- Using new potatoes (no need to peel them) cut each potato into small bite-sized pieces. Rinse and pat dry.
- In a bowl, add the vegetable oil and paprika along with sea salt and black pepper, mix together, add the potatoes and mix to coat evenly.
- Put the potatoes into the steam bag and add the cubed butter.
- Place the bag facing the correct way up directly onto the turntable. If you have a flatbed microwave, put the glass shelf in the bottom position and put the steam bag directly onto that.
- Microwave on full power for 5 minutes (1000-watt microwave).
- Take care as the bag will be HOT! You can do as I did and use a tea towel to carefully press on one of the potatoes; it should squash easily. If not, return to the microwave for a further minute until the potatoes are cooked through.
- Carefully tip the potatoes into a serving dish. Sprinkle with freshly snipped chives, or chopped flat leaf parsley and serve immediately.
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