Oh dear, hopefully a potato bag expert will be able to figure this one out! A good lesson to us all.

Sounds like we need Carolyn..aka Noah...I have made many potato bakers, but I have never used terry toweling...I have always used Warm & Natural, or their product called Warm Tater...I never use a paper towel and I usually don't dry the potato...you did not mention poking with a knife or fork, but the directions I got with the Warm Tater batting said not to poke...I only have an 800 Watt microwave, and even with that lower power, I get a fluffy potato after 5 minutes...So, I am thinkin' we need the Queen of Spuds to come to the rescue!

I'm no expert but I think the terry toweling might be the problem. Maybe it is just too thick? Just my guess.

I have not made any , but i wonder if it shoud have been 100% cotton batting like you use for the micro bowl holders. hope some one sorts it out .
Hugs Pam.

My guess is that the terry towel is the issue. I have dried or left wet, poked or not poked, paper towel or not (usually not, wet, and poked -- habits lol)...the only difference I can discern is the toweling. I purchased special 100% cotton Tater batting (not cheap) and my potatoes come out flaky and delicious -- every time. I do have a "potato" setting on my high power microwave, which is a variable. However, I also used an older microwave (since re-homed) and all went well.

When I bake in microwave I do two at once unwrapped. Set time 6 minutes, let set in oven 10 minutes. Add 2 or 3 minutes depending on how they feel when you poke them after resting. They more resemble oven baked when I do mine this way.

Lamkin

Sue thanks for the laugh lol ♥

You did not do anything worng, it is just sometimes it gets too hot in there. Good thing you were watching.

Sorry Sue but I am howling with laughter. What fun you are having with your potato bag. One spud will cook in my microwave in about 4 mins. I prefer them in the oven with a nice crispy skin. Sounds like we in the UK are not into making potato bags. If there is a next one take care

I precook in microwave (without potatobag) but finish in oven

I've been watching this with interest as my DH is adamant that his potato NOT be baked in the microwave. I have watched the video (link below) and purchased one of the bags from this web site to try. I'll let you know as soon as I can sneak them into the kitchen and try them out. Dennis.......no telling! I hope he doesn't come back on here and look at this or the war is on.Just kidding- no war- my potato bags will just go to a new home. ;)

Oh Sue......I did have a little chuckle at your spud bag adventures. Maybe the Potato Bag is just not for us Brits. I have microwaved a spud before, but just put it into a pyrex dish "stabbed with the fork and cover with the lid for 5 mins then crunch the skin up in the oven. I just cant bring myself to put 100% cotton in the mickey yet! Jussy :)

I had this same experience Sue. Mine actually burnt the bag. I took it down to the quilt shop and showed them. I bought 100% cotton everything even the thread. They had never heard of it and have sold many of those bags and shared the pattern over the years.

I don't get it either. But I was a bit ticked.

Just thinking here. Was your bobbin thread 100% cotton too? Now I'm thinking mine was NOT!

Bummed here, too!
Penny

I've made and used several bags, given them as gifts. I use the warm and natural batting, and I wrap them in paper towels inside the bags. No fires here.

i used the quilt bat here in Canada for microwaves and mine are all fine ???Poor you hugs

I See that all cotton has been mentioned and this is true. The Amish make potato bags around here and use 100% cotton flannel as the lining. I did one with it and it worked great. I still use it. I did not have cotton natural batting handy when I made. I also made one and had stinky smoldering bag when I used cotton/poly thread by mistake. Gave several to friends with all cotton no problems.

dear dear Sue I am sorry that your spud bag is giving you problems. I have made & given many potato bags over the years & I have always had terrific results. The same as Carolyn I used 100% cotton thread in both top & bottom., 100% cotton fabric & 100% warm & natural batting for the middle. I bake 2 potatoes for 5 minutes in a damp paper towel with no ink on it & they do indeed come out moist & fluffly. Perhaps your paper toweling had a design on it? Not sure about the toweling either as my instructions say to use the batting? Do try again Sue they really are a terrific convienence & are super for making quick potato salad too. Best of Luck, hugs Loralye

I have made hundreds of them and never had a problem. I'm still using the first one I made about 3 years ago.

First, never heard of using a towel. Are you sure it's 100% cotton? Must be. I use cotton thread. And warm n natural in the center. Your towel would not give you the desired results, I think. My bag cooks 2 good size potatoes in 9 minutes and it's an old microwave. Only 1,000 watts.

I never embroider on my bags. Too much trouble to find cotton thread.

Have a friend who told me about her friend who had one blow up in the microwave. Was not 100% cotton or she left a pin in it when sewing. The only way cotton will explode is if it's wrapped around a stick of dynamite.

This is so funny (though I'm sure you don't think so, Sue), whole thread made me chuckle. I guess when I heard about Potato Bags I thought it was a whole lot like embroidering on toilet paper--we CAN do it, but is it really necessary? I've always just poked the potato skin so the steam can escape and the potato won't explode, put it on the turntable, and nuked it for a couple minutes to 5 minutes, depending on size or how many. I had a friend who poked the potato, then wrapped it in Saran Wrap (plastic) and nuked it. I know how much you all love a challenge, but Sue, perhaps you need a potato bag as much as a fish needs a bicycle, hee hee hee. Perhaps it has to do with England being an island? Or maybe your electricity--don't you use 220 over there, or some other variant? We use 110 here in the USA for everything but the electric clothes dryer and the electric range (stove), and I know I needed adapters for my hairdryer, etc. when I went to London. Maybe your watts aren't the same as our watts, more power? After all, wasn't this Potato Bag thingy invented in the USA? I'll be interested in following your continuing saga. Perhaps you should just consider Fish & Chips, preferably takeaway, much easier, hee hee hee. Best of luck to you, your thread cheered me up, anyway, big hugs, Marji

Sue, would overlok thread be considered 100% cotton? Says that on the inside of spool.

I have done many of these, never had one burn. I use all cotton materials, Warm and Natural for the batting and follow these directions which I print out for each bag I give away.
The best baked potato that you have ever eaten!
Wash and dry your potatoes. Do NOT prick potatoes.
Wrap potatoes in a paper towel and place in the bag.
Microwaves vary; Microwave 4-8 minutes; Do not leave unattended

yes i am laughing also. what fun! i am a nurse and have microwaved damp and dry towels for patient uses. yes they have burned. you have to watch them while microwaving.switch to the batting. lynne

I have a potato bag but I just wash the potato and put it in a zip lock bag and it cooks great

I have a potato bag but I just wash the potato and put it in a zip lock bag and it cooks great

My husband torched one of mine and it was 100% cotton - thread included. He baked the potato for 8 minutes :-) One of the things I do is wrap my potato in a wet paper towel. It's the steam that bakes the potato, so the more moisture you can add the better. Your bag was probably too dry after being in the microwave for 5 minutes.