Depending on the size of the potato and at 450 degrees, potatoes will take from 40 minutes to an hour to bake. Small potatoes generally 40-45 minutes. Medium about 50 or so minutes. And large 60 or so minutes. Test by jabbing with a fork or squeezing to see if it’s soft. If it is, it’s done.

With microwave ovens, cook times vary with power levels as well as potato size, but a good starting point is to put on full power for 5 minutes, then flip for another 5. If you have a microwave above 1000 watts, try it for 3-4 minutes, then flip for another 3-4. It can take some experimenting to get it right for your microwave.

I use potatoes as extremely fast food by baking a few extra and refrigerating them after they’ve cooled off a bit. Then I can grab the cold potato and eat on the go, they’ll usually keep for 3 or 4 days or more in the fridge. Not for everyone, but if you’re on a tight budget with time and/or money, it beats going hungry. Eat the skin too, it’s good for you.