Would I be compromising my Twice-Baked Potato recipe if I microwaved the potatoes instead?

My favorite food website, does twice baked with the first round of cooking done in the microwave.

Super-Stuffed Baked Potatoes

One of our test cooks described a stuffed baked potato she had discovered years ago at a steakhouse in California: fluffy potato, garlic, herbs, and creamy cheese packed into a perfectly crisped potato-skin shell. Here’s what we discovered when we set out to recreate this dish:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

When we precooked the potatoes in the microwave, they weren’t as fluffy as when we baked them in the oven. But the microwave shaved an hour off the cooking time, and the differences disappeared after we added the cheese and butter.

Most baked stuffed potato recipes cut the potato in half, but we preferred to lop off just the top quarter of the potato and then hollow it out. Prepared this way, the potato shells held more filling.

After hollowing out the potatoes, there wasn’t enough stuffing to fill each potato and mound on top. We cooked an extra potato and used its flesh to top off the others.

uper-Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Serves 6

This recipe calls for 7 potatoes, but only 6 of them make it to the table. The remaining potato is used for its flesh; you should have 5 cups of scooped potato flesh in step 2.

7 large russet potatoes (about 12 ounces each), scrubbed

6 tablespoons unsalted butter , 3 tablespoons melted

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 (5.2-ounce) package Boursin cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup half-and-half

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

1 teaspoon pepper

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Set wire rack inside rimmed baking sheet. Prick potatoes all over with fork, place on paper towel, and microwave on high until tender, 20 to 25 minutes, turning potatoes over after 10 minutes.

2. Slice and remove top quarter of each potato, let cool 5 minutes, then scoop out flesh, leaving 1/4-inch layer of potato on inside. Discard 1 potato shell. Brush remaining shells inside and out with melted butter and sprinkle interiors with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer potatoes scooped side up to baking sheet fitted with wire rack and bake until skins begin to crisp, about 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, mix half of Boursin and half-and-half in bowl until blended. Cook remaining butter with garlic in saucepan over medium-low heat until garlic is straw-colored, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in Boursin mixture until combined.

4. Set ricer or food mill over medium bowl and press or mill potatoes into bowl. Gently fold in warm Boursin mixture, 3 tablespoons chives, remaining salt, and pepper until well incorporated. Remove potato shells from oven and fill with potato-cheese mixture. Top with remaining crumbled Boursin and bake until tops of potatoes are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining chives. Serve.

I only ever include baked potatoes in a meal if I have the oven on for other uses. Like baking or a stew or a roast. I consider it a gross waste of energy to put an oven on just to bake one or two potatoes. Not only is it bad for the planet, it is an expense I cannot afford any more. My family and I love the crunchy skin of a baked potato, so the microwave version is not an option. I have found that baked potato consumption has gone down since I started making potato skins and potato wedges instead. They save a lot of time and energy. Another example of where "time is money"! LOL!

Yes, you would. The texture of a microwaved potato is not the same as an oven baked one.

I don't think you'd necessarily be "compromising", but I think it would turn out better if you were to bake it in an oven. I don't think that the microwave would necessarily be taking out the flavor, it might just take out some of the moisture

Hey listen to the name if its baked twice its a twice baked potato it might not be to recipe style but its twice baked =)

Microwaving food takes nutrients out of it.

yes, you can use the microwave.