You went out and had a fabulous steak dinner last night. You’re hungry again today and rooting through the fridge, only to find a cold baked potato from the restaurant. Let’s talk about how to reheat a baked potato in the microwave so you can turn that forgotten side into today’s meal.
A microwave is the quickest and easiest way to reheat an already cooked baked potato. So, if you’re craving some starch or a loaded potato your favorite way, we’ve got you covered.
How Long Does it Take to Reheat a Baked Potato in the Microwave?
It takes between 1.5 to 3 minutes on average to reheat a baked potato in the microwave. The size of the potato and the wattage of the microwave will affect how long your specific spud will take.
Note that this time assumes just one plain potato. Additional potatoes will add 1-2 minute of cooking time.
All toppings should be removed prior to reheating, unless you’ve got a twice baked potato with fillings mixed in.
You can also reheat a twice baked potato in the microwave, but you’ll be closer to 4-5 minutes in total to get the denser filling fully heated through.
This is still of course faster than the initial cooking. To save time, you can cook a baked potato in the microwave quickly and easily as well!
How to Reheat a Baked Potato in the Microwave: Step By Step
- Remove all toppings from the baked potato (unless mixed in such as twice-baked)
- Slice the potato lengthwise down the middle
- Place the potato on a microwave safe plate and cover with a damp (not soaked) paper towel
- Microwave on high 1.5 to 3 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 185 degrees F. Use 30 second intervals after the first 1.5 minutes to prevent overcooking
- Remove from the microwave, add any desired toppings (such as butter, salt & pepper, sour cream, bacon) and enjoy!
For twice-baked potatoes, microwave 3 to 5 minutes until both the filling and the potato itself are heated through.
While 185 degrees sounds pretty hot, it’s important to get your potato up to this temperature for food safety (Source).
Check out the full list of ingredients and instructions in the handy recipe card below!
How to Reheat a Baked Sweet Potato in the Microwave
- Allow refrigerated sweet potato to come to room temperature by leaving on the counter for 10-15 minutes
- Remove all toppings from the baked potato
- Slice the potato lengthwise down the middle
- Place the potato on a microwave safe plate and cover with a damp (not soaked) paper towel
- Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Add an additional 1-2 minutes in 30 second intervals as needed for very large potatoes or lower wattage
- Remove from the microwave, add toppings and enjoy!
Reheating a baked sweet potato in the microwave is a similar process to its russet potato counterpart. The major difference is that you’ll want to get the chill off by leaving it out for a bit, and it may take a minute or two longer to cook.
Sometimes, I pop my sweet potato in for a minute and then add a russet potato afterwards and finish the cooking cycle. It’s a great option if you have different potato preferences in your household like I do!
If you love sweet potatoes, make sure to check out the great sweet potato casserole you can make in our best Tupperware microwave pressure cooker recipes!
Are Reheated Baked Potatoes Good?
Reheated baked potatoes are good, though tend to be slightly more dried out than the first time they were baked.
Once you pile on your favorite toppings, you’ll hardly notice that they’re a little drier than the last time. Plus, if you reheat your already cooked baked potato the right way, it will help mitigate moisture loss for a better potato.
No matter what, nothing should stop you from enjoying that leftover baked potato!
Can I Bake Potatoes Ahead of Time and Reheat?
Yes, you can bake potatoes ahead of time and reheat them when you’re ready.
For convenience, I often bake potatoes the day before and then heat them up for a quick side dish. I also love turning them into homemade potato skins in the air fryer for an easy appetizer or snack!
How Long Are Baked Potatoes Good For in the Fridge?
Baked potatoes are good for about 3-4 days in the fridge.
They are best stored without dairy products on them, and removed from foil. Use plastic wrap, a ziploc bag, or a Tupperware style dish to store your potatoes.
So whether it was a side dish you didn’t get to or you baked too many potatoes for last night’s dinner, don’t fret. You can refrigerate and reheat baked potatoes to enjoy later, no problem!
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to reheat a baked potato in the microwave, you’ll have a side ready for your next meal in no time.
So, feel free to bake some potatoes ahead of time to reheat later. Just refrigerate them, microwave them, and you have a delicious potato ready to add your favorites.
Did you know you can also reheat fries in the microwave? No matter the potato shape, your quick cooking appliance has you covered!
Microwave Reheated Baked Potato
Equipment
- Microwave
- Knife
- Microwave safe plate
Ingredients
- 1 Leftover baked potato (toppings and wrapping removed)
Instructions
- Slice the potato lengthwise down the middle using a sharp knife1 Leftover baked potato
- Lay the sliced potato on a microwave safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel
- Microwave on high for 1½ – 3 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 185°F
- Add toppings and serve
Notes
- Up to 3 potatoes may be reheated simultaneously, but you’ll need to add about 1 minute extra for each additional potato
- I don’t recommend reheating more than once, as the potatoes dry out too much
- My favorite toppings include: butter, salt, pepper, garlic salt, bacon, sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese, chili, buffalo chicken dip, spinach & artichoke dip, or the pictured taco meat with nacho cheese. It’s really a blank canvas for whatever you like!
- Exact nutritional values will vary depending on specific ingredients used, so please consider this as only a guideline or estimate for a topped potato
Nutrition
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
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