I have been wanting to make the baked potato bags for the microwave. Does anyone know an easy way to explain how to make them to me?

I use this one it works great!
http://web.archive.org/web/20071202190308/http://www.atimetostitch.com/potato_bags.htm

First link would not take me there, second link did, but would not show aby of the pictures? Any advice?

Ok try this link

http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-potato-baker-bags/

Go down to where it says:

"Free pattern/tutorial to make your own potato bags found on the web archive here: Potato Baker Bags"

click on the Potato baker bags

that worked for me

Just pulled it up. If you click on the freebies there is a disclaimer to not use the bags as they might be a fire hazard.

Maybe this is a silly question - why do you need a bag? I just put the potatoes in there on a paper towel.

It is on this site.

The only time I put material items in the microwave is to warm my corn bag for aches & pains. That is not over 3 minutes.

I usually put them in the oven but wanted to try the microwave bag, but am to cheap to buy one when I can make one.

If you make one, make sure you don't use fabric with the shiny gold or silver on it. They will catch fire for sure. But I have two that I made -- one for baked potatoes and one for warming tortillas. They work great as long as you are very careful that they do not touch the sides of the microwave or that you don't cook in them for longer than 4 1/2 minutes at a time. If baking potatoes, you can stop after 4 1/2 minutes, let it rest for 30 seconds or so and then start the microwave again. It only takes about 30-45 seconds to warm tortillas -- no more frying them ever.

Never in a million years would I have ever thought of one of those bags. I just put mine in a bowl with a little water cover it and nuke it. Or if I am making a roast chicken or something that takes a while in the oven them I do it the old fashioned way.... wash, poke out the eyes and wrap in foil.

Thanks for sharing the website. I want to make some of these for Christmas this year.

Just had a lady bring hers to our Guild meeting tonight. It burned the whole corner out. I mean blackened fabric/blackened batting. She didn't know how long her husband put it in the microwave for. But the warning on the 2nd webpage said no more than 4 1/2 minutes at a time. It WAS cotton fabric and cotton batting. It burned from the outside in. Very concerning.

http://web.archive.org/web/20071202190308/http://www.atimetostitch.com/potato_bags.htm

I googled and found this one.

Wet a paper towel and wrap it around each potato and then put it in the microwave bag and it shouldn't burn.

Have any of you made the bean or rice bags. They are for heat. Just make a sleave type bag. Turn right side out and add your beans or rice. I use beans. About 2 cups. Then sew the end closed. You put it in the Microwave and nuke for about 2 to 3 minutes. When you take it out it will be very hot. use hot pads or another towel. Then put it where you need it. I have had both knees replaced. This really helps on these cold and rainy days. Makes a nice gift also.
Dee Dee

I have made small rice bags for grandsons for earaches. On the big ones I use deer corn if the boys don't steal it all.

Several of the ladies in my quilting group had problems with potato bags. Important to use all cotton fabric, batting and thread. I absolutely love sweet potatoes cooked in it. No more mushy orange mess, just cooked and wonderful!

We made some for our church sale, they work great.

I've made and sold hundreds of these bags ( Nancy's Crafts in Nebraska ) and only if your microwave is extreme voltage OR you use poly filling rather than all natural, is it a fire hazard. You have to use 100% cotton throughout. Naturally you have to keep it soil free on the outside as well as inside and the potatoes need to be damp as well as the paper towels. Can't let them dry out. They work great! I've used one for 4 years now and no problem.

We checked her bag when she brought the remains in. It caught fire on the sewn corner. It had all cotton outside, all cotton batting, all cotton thread, and all cotton muslin inside. Did not know about the damp paper towel but since it was a gift to her and had instructions with it from the maker, I'm thinking she did that.

I will find out at next guild meeting. I really wanted to make some for my family for Christmas 2010, we'll see.
Thanks for the information.
Sharon

I love the microwave potato bag. And second the motion everything needs to be 100% cotton and use a wet paper towel. Nice gifts!

the first link does not work the second one does but no pictures for us visual learners.

I have one but never used it what do I do?

A friend gave me one of these for Christmas. I love it. Wonder how I did without all these years. A marvelous invention.

I have made dozens of the potato bags and they are very easy to make and do make wonderful gifts. I use mine all the time. You do have to make sure you use a wet paper towel and do not put in microwave for more than the 4 mins. I usually do 3 mins, let set and do another couple of mins (depending on potato size) they come out so nice and fluffy. No need to poke with fork before cooking. I also have used mine to cook corn on the cob. It works but one end does get dried out. Personally I like my corn cooked in a pot, but it can be done in the bag. They are wonderful for warming rolls and muffins.

I also make the corn and rice bags. I put lavender in my rice bags. Makes a nice relaxing scent when warmed. The corn bags are great for warming then putting between the sheets to warm the bed up on these cold winter nights. You can also put the rice and corn bags in the freezer and use as ice bags. I make mine with a removable outer cover so they can be laundered. I use plain muslin for the inside and a pattern material (all 100% cotton) for the outer. These make great gifts too for the sports members in your family, elderly, those with arthritis. I have even made (Kids sizes) for my grandchildren. They think they are the greatest thing for those bumps and all they get when falling from their bike, skating or climbing trees. There are wonderful sites out there with tons and tons of information. You just have to make sure you use precautions (as with everything) and keep safe. Happy sewing and hope all this info everyone has posted is helping you. :D

To bake my potatoes in microwave, I just use a wet face cloth. Skin stays moist & potatoe is perfect.

Years ago some one tole me to wet a paper towel and wrap the potato in that and micro wave it. It works great for me.

This is really kind of funny. When #2DS was in 3rd grade they made all their moms a sock filled with corn for aches & pains. Well ours got put in the bathroom cabinet & slowly it got pushed to the back & forgotten about. We kept finding these weird looking black bugs & couldn't figure where they came from. So Dh started pulling out stuff from cabinet & there hid in the back was the corn sock with holes in it. Seems that the corn had cornbore eggs in it& since it was never heated to kill them, they hatched & were crawling out all over the bathroom. So if you make some besure to nuke them so the bugs get killed.

I have been making these for several years to sell at our local hospital Gift Shop...to date I have made nearly 1200 and have had problems with only about 3 of them (can't diagnose the reason)...The real key to success with them is to use 100% cotton fabrics and polyfill that is labeled "fire retardent"....they are marvelous...corn on the cob becomes especially sweet when steamed in these bags...I use dry paper towels....

I've been making these and they are selling like "hot potatoes" if you'll excuse the pun. But, I do include a disclaimer about scorching, etc. indicating that microwaving over 7 minutes can cause this problem.

I like the idea of cooking for 4 or so minutes, let it rest, then finish cooking. I'll change the verbage on my instruction sheet.

I love my bag. The potatoes turn out perfect -- fluffy and soft. Sweet potatoes are awesome made this way. I only use 100% cotton materials - fabric, muslin lining, thread. This reduces any potential fire hazard. I do have the applique design if anyone is interested.

oh, that is what I do so maybe that's why I haven't had any problems yet.

My friend was in a serious auto accident (wheelchair for over 9 mos.). Her therapist wanted her to use moist heat. I made a rice bag for her with about 5 # of rice. The therapist was thrilled because she then had her use it as a weight when she started lifting her legs. That was 9 years ago and finally she had to make a new one to replace it this year.

not sure this is for me .......I am one of those that LOVES a crispy hard skin on my potato..

what kind of corn do you put in them ?

I put mine in a plastic bag (don't seal it) - keeps the taters moist. No more steaming them for tater salad!!! Yippie

I've made several of these lately, be sure to use 100% cotton fabric and batting. Otherwise it will BURN!!

same her fts didnt work sec no pictures

Me too. I scrub the potato, shake off any excess water, wrap in a paper towel, and microwave for 3-4 minutes. Potato bags and tortilla warmers, to me, are just excess stuff to keep in the kitchen. Now if someone would make me some nice potholders????

soannesew

Janice4, I use the deer corn that they sell at feed stores & Walmarts has it most of the year. Just regular old feed corn. It is usually about 6 to 7 dollars for 50 lbs. Real cheap.