My potato bag did the same thing, caught on fire and charred a chunk right out of it. I had made it with Warm&Natural cotton batting. Now the Warm Comapny has a batting called *Warm tater* ... 100% cotton for microwaveable projects. Think others had fires too ?

LOL, thanks Billy for that info.
Once about 30 something years ago I worked in St. Joseph's Professional Bldg. next to the hospital in Houston, Tx and I popped a potato in the microwave and before long the Fire Dept guys came busting through the office trying to find the fire that my potato started. I did not use anything at all with that potato and it really did not catch on fire but it smoked the place out and scared everybody especially me. I guess I thought I needed to cook it for an hour like the regular oven - hahaha I was not familiar with microwave ovens yet and after that it was a long time before I bought one. Gee how times have changed.

I'd be going back to that class; they owe you a new microwave at the very least and a refund on your class and fees.

Yikes! I've never heard that before. I've actually been thinking of making them for Christmas gifts for everyone. Guess I better put my thinking cap back on! :(

I bought one at the quilt quild show made to specs and it caught fire with its first use. Billy is right. A paper towel works well. The potato bag's claim to fame is that it absorbs the steam, so your potato is 'baked' not steamed. A paper towel does the same thing. A paper towel also keeps bread products from getting soggy when reheated for the same reason.

My church group wanted to make potato bags to sell - NOT.

Another thought, we really don't know what is in the sizing and the ink, etc. no way will I "nuke" fabric in a microwave.

Sandy

Is there anyone here that has been using these bags made with the special batting with success and no fires? I am making these for Christmas and would really love to know. It seems that I am getting two different stories about these bags. Need clarification please.

Never understood the reason for these bags. Poke holes in the skin, rub with olive oil (if you like to eat the skin), cook for 6 minutes more or less depending on size, then wrap in aluminum foil for 10 minutes to finish cooking outside if the microwave.

Further back on either the first or second page of this thread, someone posted that they had a fire using the "special" batting that was supposed to be safe. So I guess that answers your question - even the special batting can have issues.

But I do agree with those who say why use these bags in the first place? You don't need them and why risk a fire? I just poke holes in the potatoes (very important or they will explode in your microwave!!), wrap them in wax paper (some folks use paper towels) and microwave. No fires, perfect potatoes, no cloth bag to wash and store. Easy peasy!! :)

Are there any updates on this topic? I did find the warm tater batting, and want to make some, but not start fires. Has anyone used this? Thanks!

I have never had a potato explode in the microwave, white, red, or sweet potato. Ever. Only thing I've ever exploded was those marshmallow peeps and that was on purpose!

I do as previous poster - 5 minutes or so, out of the wave and wrap in aluminum foil to finish cooking.

Does a cotton bag makes the taste better?

In the winter, I bake them in the oven - the oven keeps the kitchen warm and saves on oil! Rub with oil, sprinkle with salt (oooohh bad! :) ) and the skin gets nice and crispy. MMMMMnnnnn when's dinner?

Tried new batting, all cotton fabric, still caught fire ! Not for me and I warn others about this !

I use ziplock steamer bags, or a regular zip lock bag with the top not zipped completely to vent. I do all my veggies like this. Love it! No dishes!

I learn the niftiest things on this board....not all of them sewing related! LOL

This thread reminds me of the late comedian Mitch Hedberg and one of his jokes... "It takes forever to cook a baked potato in a conventional oven. Sometimes I just throw one in there, even if I don't want one. Cause by the time it's done, who knows?" (OK, it's funnier if you hear it in his voice, he had a very unique delivery...)

I had many types of cotton batting. I cut a piece of each and put it in the microwave to test it. The warm and natural didn't even get hot after 6 minutes. The 100 % cotton started to turn black fast. None of the batting lasted up to 12 minutes in a microwave. Some microwaves are higher wattage then others so will get extremely hot faster. I use the microwave bowls to heat food not cook it. 3 minutes is long enough to heat soup piping hot with the low wattage ones. 1 minute with the high wattage.

There are Pellon rules 2 min at a time and no more then 8 min total in microwave. Potato batting and 100% cotton thread, plus I use only 100% cotton fabric.

So has anyone used the bag regularly? Am wondering now if I should make any? Would hate to give one and then it cause a fire, when I originally read a thread about it, it said all cotton was ok. I saw the batting with the elfin, and didn't buy it. Hope someone has had good luck and will share!

I bought the special potato bag batting that is 100% cotton and followed all the rules (all cotton everything) and my sister-in-law had one of her bags catch fire - she sent me pics of the bag - it was in the seam line - my husband said maybe there was too much thread buildup? I don't know what really happened - however I had a friend tell me if you leave them too long in the microwave they will catch fire. After that incident I quilt making potato bags and I no longer sell them either.

Recently I made microwave bowl holders for re-heating food. Used the special batting and have had no problems at all, but this makes me leery of giving some as gifts. My holders are basically a square with darts on the sides, so that it holds the bowl and you can remove it without burning your hands.

What I have heated in these doesn't go over 3 minutes, max.

I think I"ll pass on this project, too. Sorry about your microwave :(