Q: I have never thought about reheating a baked potato until a few days ago. How exactly do you go about reheating a baked potato with no toppings?
A: The important factor is that the baked potato does not have any toppings when you are reheating it. If it has butter, cheese, or non-dairy toppings, those are safe to reheat. However, sour cream, salsa and various other toppings should be avoided as they will not be very tasty when heated. The potato itself is easy to reheat, and there are quite a few ways to reheat it depending on the appliances you have available.
The Microwave Method
To microwave a baked potato, you can either place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat on full power for one minute, then checking for warmth as some pieces will heat unevenly. Alternatively, if you still have a full potato that has most of its shape still, you can wrap it in a moist paper towel and microwave on high for two minutes and 30 seconds. Cut into the potato and check the middle for warmth. If it is not warmed all the way through, leave it halved, and microwave for an additional 45 seconds.
The Oven Method
Using the oven to reheat a baked potato is by far the easiest way to reheat them. Simply wrap tightly in foil and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. You can place it right on the rack, or on baking sheet depending on your preference.
The Skillet Method
For those of us who are going to be mashing our potato up on our plate anyways, you can always use the skillet to heat up a baked potato. Simply oil a pan sparingly, add the potato and chunk it up in the pan. Use a medium heat and move the potato around the pan until warmed all the way through.
A useful tip is to cover the potato when you are using the skillet as it will reduce the amount of time was taken to warm!
A baked potato is a great way to get a filling side to any meal, and having leftovers is always nice. So take a baked potato to the office or anywhere on the go and enjoy a warm, filling lunch! Please note that you should always heat food based on your knowledge of the appliances, nothing is worse than cold, or over cooked food.