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Microwave Potato Bag Pattern | Make Perfect "Baked" Potatoes

Written by Kimberly Coffin · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

304 shares

A Microwave Potato Bag Makes it Easy to Cook Perfect Baked Potatoes in Under 10 Minutes. Learn How to Sew One With This Simple Tutorial!

If waiting (what feels like) ages for your baked potatoes to cook in the oven isn't your jam, you may want to try making baked potatoes in the microwave! But often microwaved potatoes just aren't the same - they can be dry with a papery, tasteless skin... a microwave potato bag solves that problem!

a closeup angled view of a pink microwave potato bag with two potatoes inside and two more potatoes next to it

With a microwave potato bag, you can have moist, fluffy baked potatoes on the table in under 10 minutes!

I'm bringing you my free, easy-to-sew potato bag pattern so you can stitch one up to try for yourself! I promise, you'll never bake a potato in the oven again!

Table of Contents

  • What is a Microwave Potato Bag?
  • How to Make a Baked Potato in the Microwave
  • What Fabric to Use for a Microwave Potato Bag
  • Supplies to Sew the Potato Bag
  • Click Here to Download the Free Microwave Potato Bag Pattern
  • Step 1: Download and Assemble the Pattern
  • Step 2: Cut Out the Potato Bag
  • Step 3: Stitch the Materials Together
  • Step 4: Turn Right Sides Out
  • Step 5: Topstitch and Finish the Potato Bag

What is a Microwave Potato Bag?

A microwave potato bag is a fabric pouch that you place potatoes (or other veggies) into before cooking in the microwave.

When baking potatoes uncovered in the microwave, a lot of moisture tends to get sucked out, resulting in a dry, crumbly potato. Even the skin is usually brittle and papery.

The pouch helps to keep moisture locked in during the cooking process, allowing you to make a tender, moist baked potato in the microwave.

A Microwave Potato Bag Makes it Easy to Cook Crispy Baked Potatoes in Under 10 Minutes. Learn How to Sew One With This Simple Tutorial!

Using a microwave potato bag also speeds up the cooking process. You can cook a perfect baked potato in less than 10 minutes using a potato bag in the microwave!

You can also use your potato bag to cook other veggies in the microwave, such as corn, sweet potatoes, and squash!

How to Make a Baked Potato in the Microwave

To use your microwave potato bag, first place your potato (or potatoes) inside of the pouch. Note that you do not need to poke holes in your potatoes when cooking them with this method.

placing a potato into the microwave potato pouch

Next, fold the flap down to close the opening in the top of the bag.

Place the potato bag, with the potatoes inside, into the microwave with the flap side down. This will keep the flap closed during the cooking process.

Next, if your microwave has a "baked potato" button, you can hit this button. If not, turn the microwave on high for 4 minutes.

After the 4 minutes is up, open the bag and check the potatoes.

If they are not cooked enough, return them to the microwave inside the pouch and cook for an additional 2-4 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes.

The exact cook time for the perfect potato will depend on your tastes as well as the power/wattage of your particular microwave, so I highly recommend experimenting with the time until you find your favorite cook time.

Here are the cook times that I've found I like with my microwave. You can use these times as a good starting place for estimating cook times.

  • 2 Medium Russet Potatoes: 8 minutes
  • 2 Medium Sweet Potatoes: 10 minutes
  • 2 Ears of Corn: 6 minutes

What Fabric to Use for a Microwave Potato Bag

When sewing a microwave potato bag - or any project that will go in the microwave - it's essential to only use 100% cotton materials. This includes fabric, batting, and thread.

If you were to use materials that include synthetics, such as polyester, your potato bag may melt or burn in the microwave. In addition, make sure not to use Insul-bright Heat Resistant Batting, because it contains metalized fibers that will spark in the microwave.

the finished microwave potato bag next to a stack of materials

I recommend using high-quality quilting cotton for your microwave potato bag along with cotton thread. For your batting, you can use any 100% cotton batting. My favorite batting for this project is Pellon Wrap-N-Zap, which is made to be used in microwave-friendly projects.

Supplies to Sew the Potato Bag

Here are the supplies and materials you'll need to make this microwave potato bag.

  • 0.75 Yard 100% Cotton Fabric
  • 0.75 Yard Wrap-N-Zap Cotton Batting
  • Scissors
  • Rotary Cutter
  • Rotary Cutting Mat
  • Cotton Thread
  • Sewing Pins
  • Point Turner
  • Iron
  • Ironing Board
  • Fabric Pen
  • Sewing Machine
  • Sewing Machine Needle
  • Printer
  • Printing Paper
  • Tape
supplies to make a microwave potato bag

Click Here to Download the Free Microwave Potato Bag Pattern

Step 1: Download and Assemble the Pattern

Start by downloading the free pattern to your computer using the link above. Open the pattern in your PDF viewer - I highly recommend Adobe Acrobat.

the potato pouch pattern open in adobe acrobat

It's important not to print the pattern directly from your browser. This can result in the pattern printing at the wrong size and with wonky border lines.

Next, click on "print" in your PDF reader. This should bring up a print settings box. In this box, change the scaling to "Actual Size" or "Custom Scaling: 100%".

the print settings dialog box in adobe acrobat

Then, print Page 1 of the pattern. This page contains a 1" x 1" test square.

Measure the test square. If it measures 1" x 1", then proceed with printing the remaining pages of the pattern. If it does not measure 1" x 1", you will need to recheck your print settings and print the pattern again.

measuring the test square on the first page of the pattern

Next, you will need to assemble and tape together the pattern according to the layout chart below.

the pattern layout chart

Each page has a large number printed in the center to help you keep the papers in the correct order.

When lining up the pages, it can help to trim away the excess paper along the border lines. Alternatively, you can simply overlap the paper margins. If you decide to overlap the edges, holding the pages up to a light can help you see through the paper and align the pattern lines correctly.

the assembled pattern

Once assembled, cut out the potato bag pattern piece.

the cut out microwave potato pouch pattern piece

Step 2: Cut Out the Potato Bag

With your pattern prepared, it's now time to cut out the pieces of your potato bag.

potato pouch pattern piece along with the 3 cut materials

Cut the following number of pieces from your outer fabric, lining fabric, and wrap-n-zap.

Outer: Cut 1

Lining: Cut 1

Wrap-N-Zap: Cut 1

Next, transfer the fold line marking below the triangular top of the pattern piece onto the right side of your lining fabric.

marking the fold line on the lining fabric

Step 3: Stitch the Materials Together

You're now ready to start stitching!

First, place the outer fabric piece right side up on your table, then lay the lining on top of it with the right side down.

two pink fabrics with food-related prints stacked on top of each other

Next, place the wrap-n-zap piece on top of the wrong side of the lining.

two fabrics and wrap n zap layered on top of each other

Align all the edges of the 3 materials and pin them together.

potato bag pinned around all 4 edges

Take the potato bag to your sewing machine and sew around all the edges with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Leave a 3 inch opening in the bottom straight edge to turn the pouch through later.

Make sure to rotate at each corner as you stitch. To do this, stop sewing when you reach 3/8 inch from the first corner. Leave the needle down in the fabric, raise the presser foot, then rotate the fabric so the next edge is in front of the presser foot. Put the presser foot back down and continue sewing the next edge. Repeat this process to rotate around each remaining corner.

Step 4: Turn Right Sides Out

Once the materials are stitched together, trim the seam allowances down by half.

trimming the seam allowance down by half

Next, cut away the corners from the seam allowance to reduce bulk. Be careful not to accidentally cut through your stitching!

trimming away the corners of the seam allowance

Turn the pouch right sides out through the opening in the bottom of the bag.

turning the pouch right sides out through the opening in the bottom seam

Push the corners out with a point turner or a chopstick to get nice, sharp corners.

holding a wooden point turner above the pink potato bag

Then press the bag flat with your iron, pressing the seams to the edges. At the opening in the seam, press the raw edges to the inside to create a continuous straight edge.

pressing the pouch with a pink iron and grey pressing mat

Step 5: Topstitch and Finish the Potato Bag

Topstitch the bottom straight edge with a 1/8 inch seam allowance. This will close up the opening in the seam.

topstitching line marked along the bottom edge of the microwave potato pouch

Next, fold the bottom edge up towards the lining side until the edge meets the fold line marked on the lining.

Pin the folded-up bottom edge in place, then pin the two edges together along each side of the pouch.

two edges of the potato bag pinned with colorful pins

Finally, using a 1/8 inch seam allowance, topstitch the two sides of the pouch as well as around the top edges of the triangular flap.

stitching lines marked along sides and angled edges of potato pouch

This topstitching will finish off your microwave potato bag - easy, right?!

pink microwave potato bag next to a cutting board and kitchen utensils

Did you make your own potato bag? Post a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #sweetredpoppy - I would love to see how it turned out!

how to sew a microwave potato bag

Looking for more awesome (and free!) kitchen-friendly sewing patterns? Try one of the patterns below!

  • Microwave Bowl Cozy Sewing Pattern
  • Easy Oven Mitt and Pot Holder Sewing Pattern
  • Free Apron Sewing Pattern

Don't forget to join my Facebook group where you can show us what you're making, ask questions, and learn from others.

A Microwave Potato Bag Makes it Easy to Cook Crispy Baked Potatoes in Under 10 Minutes. Learn How to Sew One With This Simple Tutorial!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda Hartmann says

    November 22, 2022 at 9:04 pm

    can't wait to make these been looking for a good pattern thank you

    Reply
  2. Kathleen says

    November 22, 2022 at 10:34 pm

    I go to download the pattern and it downloads the directions but not the pattern. Download 4 times but it doesn’t work

    Reply
  3. Joanne Paup says

    November 24, 2022 at 7:50 pm

    I was not able to print this pattern in PDF form, all the choice was which program I used to open your email and print. Also my printer printed on both sides of the paper, so I have a lot of tracing to do. I printed out your BLOG to get the sewing instructions. That was 20 sheets of paper, double sided with mostly blanks on the sheets - I think that might have been advertising or possibly the pictures which would have been helpful.
    Now you are a nice, talented lady, but paper and ink are expensive, so I'm hoping I never again have to try to print your BLOG.

    Reply
    • Barbara Faver says

      December 08, 2022 at 3:30 am

      Same thing happened to me. She needs to put the instructions in PDF form. So that way you don’t get all the junk and blank pages. All the patterns are that way.

      Reply
  4. Glynis Finigan says

    December 10, 2022 at 6:23 am

    Made the microwave potatoe bag. So easy and quick. Will make a few more for Chrissy gifts. Used your bucket hat pattern and bowl cozy. Hats and bowl cozies a hit with friends and family. Thank you

    Reply

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Hello, I’m Kimberly, the creator of Sweet Red Poppy!

I’m a wife, mother to 3, seamstress, and lover of all things crafty! Sweet Red Poppy is my creative outlet where I find and create inspiration. It’s a place where I can share my never-ending sewing projects and my love of learning!

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