Potato Bags are just not worth it!
 

I bought a 'potato bag' kit yesterday from my LQS. Was excited to make it today to give as a gift! I read lots of threads regarding the pros and cons of the bag on the QB here so made sure I washed/dried the fabric, used only 100% cotton thread, and tested it in the microwave with a damp paper towel inside, hit the 'potato' button and.....the bag is now outside in the rain on the steps. It started smoking so bad and has a big brown burn spot in the inside and now I have a stinky kitchen to boot. Will never make one of these again. Perhaps others have had better luck but I feel it's just not worth the anxiety!

Some microwaves have a very high wattage and can set anything flammable on fire. Cotton is flammable and has a lower burn point than the potato. Personally , I never got the enthusiasm for these.

It's probably the batting. It has to be 100% pure cotton, no scrim batting. The only batting I know of that is safe to use in the microwave is Warm Tater Batting. Why use batting anyway? I roll a potato up in a cotton kitchen towel and it works just fine.

Wow, glad to hear this news. Actually, I roll a potato in a very wet paper towel after I poke some holes in it and zap it for 7-10 minutes depending on the size of the potato. It is perfect, fluffy, and delicious. Yum, could eat one right now!

I may eat a potato too after replying, sounds good to me too. I had some 100 percent cotton batting left after a project and gave it to a coworker to make potato bags and I was one of the recipients when she was done. Mine also ended up outside, on the back patio, complete with smoke and a small blue flame. Worked ok the first time, but the second time was it's demise.

I did use the Warm Tater batting as recommended which came in the kit. The dog took off with it so now I'll have to hunt down the 'smoking gun'! :) Oh well...nobody hurt and nothing major ruined!

hmmm... I just rub butter on the outside of the potato, poke some holes in it, and it comes out fine. Why should it be better in a bag? Or in a towel or anything at all?

I know this is not going to be a very popular response, but the truth is truth, even if nobody believes it. ;)

These bags are dangerous. The fiber in batting and woven into the fabric is so fine that it is easily vaporized (a condition for combustion) and it does not contain enough moisture to prevent vaporization or extinguish combustion.

There, I said it. I'm a fire chief's daughter and I will probably still be acting like a fire chief's daughter the day I die. But, I won't die because I smoked in bed, plugged in a frayed cord, overloaded a circuit, used gasoline to start a barbecue or because I used a little quilt to cook my potatoes in. :D

I've never seen the need for these anyway. I think they're a silly waste of time and energy. I agree...not worth it on so many levels!

Well, I must be misinformed as I thought the purpose of the potato bags were to keep the potatoes warm while serving at the dinner table. I just poke a hole in each potato and set them in a bowl with a little bit of water to cook them in the microwave. Then...I would place them in the bag...if I had one, lol!