On Apr 19, 10:58*pm, Omelet > wrote:
> In article
> >,
> *Ostap Bender > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Apr 19, 1:09*pm, Wayne Boatwright >
> > wrote:
> > > On Mon 19 Apr 2010 08:49:07a, Nancy2 told us...
>
> > > > On Apr 18, 4:17*pm, "Dimitri" > wrote:
> > > >> "heyjoe" > wrote in message
>
> > > ...> On Sun, 18 Apr 2010 11:35:53 -
> > > 0
> > > >> 700, Dimitri wrote:
>
> > > >> >> Free pattern/tutorial to make your own potato bags found on the web
> > > >> >> archive he Potato Baker Bags
> > > >> >> <http://www.atimetostitch.com/Text%20files/ATTS%20-%
> > > 20Potato Baker Bag.
> > > >> >> ..>
>
> > > >> > Color me skeptical - quilted bag made of cotton. *Why does this work
> > > >> > better than other methods?
>
> > > >> *I have no idea why it works. It does. *Maybe because it traps more h
> > > eat
> > > >> than not having a bag. *It's not just a layer of cotton it's quilted wi
> > > >> th ?? inside.
>
> > > >> Dimitri
>
> > > > It's really easy to find a synthetic batting - not to easy to find a
> > > > cotton one. *I would warn anyone wanting to make this, to be sure the
> > > > batting is cotton, in addition to the fabric.
>
> > > > Me, I really like the crispy skin on an oven-baked potato - I
> > > > microwave them now and then, but don't need any bag to do it properly
> > > > - they turn out perfectly with soft skin - I wash them and then wrap
> > > > in one square of paper towel.
>
> > > > But if I have the time, it's oven-baked for me.
>
> > > I find I get even crispier results if I use the toaster oven. *If I'm
> > > really in a hurry, I nuke them until about half done, then in the toaster
> > > oven at 500 for about 20-25 minutes.
>
> > If you are not into crispiness and really in a hurry, you can bake
> > your potato in the microwave in 6 to 10 minutes, depending on size.
> > When I am in a hurry, I don't have 20-25 minutes to waste.
>
> But I have yet to get any kind of "crispy" results in the microwave,
> unless you like a charcoal coating. :-(
>
> Microwaves steam. They do not bake nor roast without special containers
> at least.

Microwaves don't really steam. In fact, if you overcook the potato in
the microwave, it will come out dried up. But if you cook it for the
right amount of time, it comes out tasting the same as baked. The only
difference is, as you correctly say, that the skin is not going to be
crisp. But the skin is not important to me. I am in for the white
stuff inside. And since I always wait to cook my food until I am too
hungry to wait, the microwave speed is of great importance to me.