I recently made a potato bag in a sewing class. They assured me that by using 100% cotton batting, that it would not catch fire in the microwave, "It's the cheap batting that has metal in it that catches fire". Well, not so! not only did it catch on fire, it ruined my new microwave! I made several for others as gifts and I had to call, email,or Facebook them all warning them to not use them. I was wondering how many of you have had Potato bag fires?

There have been several threads about it. There's a special batting you must use to make these and not the regular warm and natural.

I'm so sorry that happened to you and your new microwave :(

a woman at our LQS had one catch on fire that was made with the special batting. It broke into flames after she took it out of the micro. Everything was 100% cotton. Don't think I'll be making any

Pat

So sorry to hear that happened to you and your microwave but thanks for the warning.

Don't think I'll be making any either. Thanks for the heads-up and so sorry about your microwave....and dinner.

Mine is lined with a white cotton flannel. It was a gift.

Someone gave me one last year and I only used it once. I guess I don't be using it again. Thanks for letting us know.

Wow! That is awful. Thanks for the warning. I have seen others say the same thing, as well.

It's a shame because it seems like such a good idea.

I just poke holes in the taters and wrap them up in a paper towel, never burned the house down yet........

But if you forget to poke the holes it will blow the door open!!

Billy

My late MIL made mine.. I love it.. use it all the time, daughter loves baked ( ok well Micro) potatoes.. but then again my micro isn't a high wattage one either.. maybe that makes a difference?!?!?!?

If the bag gets any oil/grease on it, that may cause even a 100% cotton bag to catch on fire :wink:
Also, I would hesitate to put more than 2 potatoes in the bag... any more and the bag gets really hot...

I do the same as Billy, but dampen the paper towel. No problems so far.

I only had one potato in the bag. I've used it in my older microwave about five times with 2/3 in the bag with no problem. It may be the newer microwave was a higher voltage? not sure, as I have thrown it out and replaced it with the older one. LOL! I may have left it in the oven too long as well. I'm not going to make another one to find out :) better safe than sorry! :thumbup:

I do mine the plain way... just stick em in ...DIL uses a plastic bag I think.. but I'm just don't it the plain way. Never had a tator sent back, so I guess it tasted good.

Wow! I am so glad for the warning. I was thinking about making some of these for Christmas gifts!

I never understood putting fabric into a microwave oven.
I just wrap my baking potatoes in paper towel, wet thoroughly, and bake in the microwave. When the paper is dry, the potato is done. Like 12 minutes or so for big potato.

I am with you. I just poke holes in the potato after washing it and fill a glass of water and in the microwave they both go for 8-12 minutes depending on the size.

I am so sorry that happened to you, and thanks for the warning.

That's scary.
Sorry it happened to you & the microwave.
Don't think I'll be making any.

Guess I won't be making any of these!

Did you know you can bake potatoes in the crockpot? Prick potatoes with fork and wrap in foil. Place in crock. Do not add water. cook 8-10 hours.

Most people forget to use all cotton thread also. All other threads will cause the bags to catch fire. I found this out the hard way also.

That is scary! I live at high altitude, almost 7300 ft so everything takes longer to cook. In the oven a baked potato takes almost 2 hours so I was going to make one of the bags for the microwave. Maybe only use them to keep the baked potatoes warm on the table before eating, but I wont be using one in the microwave now.

I didn't know this. Interesting.

Same thing happened to me a few months ago. There is a thread someplace on the board that I started. Mine were also for gifts and 1 for me. In a second it was up in flames. I used 100% cotton everything, includeing thread. The fire was not in a seam but in the middle of the bag in several places.

100% cotton batting has scrim. Scrim is a very thin layer of poly over the batting. Too little amount to be listed on the package. Scrim is what will catch on fire. The batting has to say NO SCRIM or it will have scrim. Low wattage microwaves will not get hot enough to cause the scrim to flash so that's why some can use it and never have a problem. There is no excuse for any fabric shop owner/manager to not know this information.

I have one and have used it quite a bit. Only once did it catch on fire, but I caught it right away. I am still using it. Don't know why it started on fire the one time - maybe something on the bag??

Sorry for your trouble but thanks for the warning! I just stick mine in the microwave aftre poking a hole in each and cover them with one of those plate microwavable covers. Maybe when you take them out, you can put them in the bags to keep them warm?

I wanted to make them for Christmas but think I will try something less flamable.

Whew! I thought I was the only one who used this method.

i just wash the potato, poke a couple of holes with knife or fork and throw in the microwave for 4 minutes/one potato. No complaints at my house.

I agree. Just don't get putting the fabric in with the tater. I can see a 'hot spot' below the tater and catching fire.

Never had a problem with the rice bags though. Only heat 3 minutes, no longer.

Glad it was only yor microwave.

Wow. Sorry to hear what happened.

So sorry this happened to you . I saw a woman in our guilt guild making a bunch of these so I will pass on the info, maybe it can save someone else from fire

PS I don't know how this little smiley guy got in this post but it wasn't suppose to be and I don't know how to get it off.Sorry.

I just wanted to mention. When I bought my first potato bag the direction that came with it were:

Simply wash and dry your potatoes. DO NOT PRICK!!!Wrap the potato in a white paper towel and place in the bag. Microwave as instructed by your manufacturer. "Best if used in a rotating microwave."
Other uses:
Tortillas:Put tortillas in the bag, microwave. Take bag to your table they will stay warm during your meal.
Corn on the Cob:Leave in husk, trim excess hair from cob, wrap in white paper towel and put in bag. Microwave for about 4 minutes. One to three ears of corn can be micr-waved at a time, adjust time for your microwave.

Food for thought:
(The do not prick!!! was capitalized and written in red.)
This is how I cook mine all the time in the bag following those directions. I have never had a potato blow up or fire/burn up doing this. I have since asked my son how he did the ones that smelled burny and he said he had pricked them before putting them in the bag.(that "might" be the problem along with the spilled cheese that was in our micro) though I am not saying it is, but something to think about.

I use to just do the prick and throw in the microwave(no bag) but had pretty much quit making them in there because they always turned out (to Us) Dry and just not cared for. In the bag they are moist and yummy so my guys say.
******
Now with all the said I have to say I would not be using the bag and doing them this way if they had started on Fire either. But from here on out "if" using the bag we will be right there to watch it.
I am sorry too that this has happened to you.

So sorry that happened, but Thanks for the warning!

More Potato Bag Fires
 

Alisa,
I have just registered on this site so that I could reply to your comments about the potato bag fire. My poor daughter made many of them and gave for gifts and also sold many at craft shows over the past few months. We have recently been told by a friend and a family member that their bag caught fire. We feel awful. She did the research and, like you, she sought out all the 100% cotton components. What the heck?!?!? I think it is just not wise to take a chance. We will not be making more, unless some kind of sure fire proof can be established as to why they caught fire. Thanks...Sandy

I have thought about making some of these but after reading issues on here, I will just pass. Thanks for letting us know.

Thank-you for the warning