gnu, this is how I achieve an excellent baked spud:

First, pick the appropriate variety of potato -- long and oval with white flesh rather than spherical with yellow flesh.

Run the raw potato through from end to end with a sharp skewer.

Nuke the potato on the High setting for five to ten minutes, depending on the size ofthe potato. If your microwave does nt ave a turntable, stop the cooking process every three minutes or so and give the spud a 90- degree turn.

When the potato is tender in the middle, put it in the toaster oven for a while -- ten minutes to half an hour, depending on how long it takes to cook the rest of your supper.

And thus, a person who lives alone can have steak with a baked potato without turning on the whole damned oven for one lousy spud.