How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Affect the way it Cooks in a Microwave?

T. Grant Donley

Statement of the Problem Do potatoes cook better with or without hole in them?

Project OverviewPotatoes without holes cook better than with

holes.

Research Potatoes without holes explode Potatoes with holes cook better

Potatoes don’t cook well in the microwave Potatoes shrink in the microwave

Potatoes shrivel up in the microwave

Variables

Independent variable: The holes in the potato. Dependent variable: The hardness of the potato

Constant variables: Time potato cooked, temperature cooked at. Control group: Potatoes without holes

 

HypothesisIf I poke holes in a potato, it will be softer

(Cook better), because the steam can escape.

Materials 6 potatoes, a microwave, a fork.

Procedure

I. Get six potatoesII. Poke ten holes with a fork just barely puncturing the skin into three of the

potatoesIII. Cook one potato for ten minutesIV. Let microwave cool for thirty minutesV. Make observations of the potatoVI. Record dataVII.Repeat steps III-VI until all potatoes have been cookedVIII.Create chart

Data/Observations (Analyzes) No holes A No Holes B No Holes C 10 Holes D 10 Holes E 10 Holes FSoft all the way through

Soft all the way through

Soft burnt in middle

Soft all the way through

Completely burnt

Soft all the way through

No holes A No Holes B No Holes C 10 Holes D 10 Holes E 10 Holes F

ConclusionMy hypothesis was disproven. My results showed that potatoes

actually cook better without holes.

Possible Experimental ErrorsI could have cooked the potatoes too long or I could have used certain size or type of potato that cooks better with no holes.

Applications and Recommendations

I think that if this experiment is tested in the future the person conducting it should use bigger potatoes. In everyday life if you are cooking small potatoes in the microwave then

you should not poke holes in the potato.

Works Cited Works Cited

"Best Way to Microwave a Baked Potato? (10K)." BigSpud: The 'Biggest' Potato Recipes Collection. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://bigspud.com/files/pmicrobest.htm>.

"Could a Baked Potato Explode in the Microwave? I've Heard It Can, but Has Never Happened to Me! | Answerbag." Answerbag.com | Ask Questions, Get Answers, Find Information. Web. 23 Jan. 2011.

<http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/635089>. Crocker, Betty. Potatoes-white. Betty Crocker's Cookbook. New York: Golden, 1986. 657. Print.

"Do Baked Potatoes Explode in the Microwave If Not Stabbed with a Fork? | ChaCha Answers." Questions & Answers | ChaCha. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://www.chacha.com/question/do-baked-potatoes-explode-in-the-

microwave-if-not-stabbed-with-a-fork>. "How to Cook Baked Potatoes in the Microwave | EHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How

To Videos & Articles. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/how_4879174_cook-baked-potatoes-microwave.html>.

Leochko, Sylvie. "How To Cook The Best Baked Potato – Baking Potatoes, Recipe." How To Do Things » How To Articles & How To Videos. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://www.howtodothings.com/food-drink/how-to-cook-the-

best-baked-potatoes>. "Poking Holes in Potatoes....... (20K)." BigSpud: The 'Biggest' Potato Recipes Collection. Web. 23 Jan. 2011.

<http://bigspud.com/files/ppokingholes.htm>. Donley, Ted H. "Does Poking a Hole in a Potato Affect the Way It Cooks?" Personal interview. 24 Jan. 2011.