![Page 1: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Affect the way it Cooks in a Microwave?
T. Grant Donley
![Page 2: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Statement of the Problem Do potatoes cook better with or without hole in them?
![Page 3: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Project OverviewPotatoes without holes cook better than with
holes.
![Page 4: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Research Potatoes without holes explode Potatoes with holes cook better
Potatoes don’t cook well in the microwave Potatoes shrink in the microwave
Potatoes shrivel up in the microwave
![Page 5: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Variables
Independent variable: The holes in the potato. Dependent variable: The hardness of the potato
Constant variables: Time potato cooked, temperature cooked at. Control group: Potatoes without holes
![Page 6: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
HypothesisIf I poke holes in a potato, it will be softer
(Cook better), because the steam can escape.
![Page 7: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Materials 6 potatoes, a microwave, a fork.
![Page 8: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Procedure
I. Get six potatoesII. Poke ten holes with a fork just barely puncturing the skin into three of the
potatoesIII. Cook one potato for ten minutesIV. Let microwave cool for thirty minutesV. Make observations of the potatoVI. Record dataVII.Repeat steps III-VI until all potatoes have been cookedVIII.Create chart
![Page 9: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Data/Observations (Analyzes) No holes A No Holes B No Holes C 10 Holes D 10 Holes E 10 Holes FSoft all the way through
Soft all the way through
Soft burnt in middle
Soft all the way through
Completely burnt
Soft all the way through
No holes A No Holes B No Holes C 10 Holes D 10 Holes E 10 Holes F
![Page 10: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
ConclusionMy hypothesis was disproven. My results showed that potatoes
actually cook better without holes.
![Page 11: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Possible Experimental ErrorsI could have cooked the potatoes too long or I could have used certain size or type of potato that cooks better with no holes.
![Page 12: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Applications and Recommendations
I think that if this experiment is tested in the future the person conducting it should use bigger potatoes. In everyday life if you are cooking small potatoes in the microwave then
you should not poke holes in the potato.
![Page 13: How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062410/56816190550346895dd12abf/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Works Cited Works Cited
"Best Way to Microwave a Baked Potato? (10K)." BigSpud: The 'Biggest' Potato Recipes Collection. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://bigspud.com/files/pmicrobest.htm>.
"Could a Baked Potato Explode in the Microwave? I've Heard It Can, but Has Never Happened to Me! | Answerbag." Answerbag.com | Ask Questions, Get Answers, Find Information. Web. 23 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/635089>. Crocker, Betty. Potatoes-white. Betty Crocker's Cookbook. New York: Golden, 1986. 657. Print.
"Do Baked Potatoes Explode in the Microwave If Not Stabbed with a Fork? | ChaCha Answers." Questions & Answers | ChaCha. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://www.chacha.com/question/do-baked-potatoes-explode-in-the-
microwave-if-not-stabbed-with-a-fork>. "How to Cook Baked Potatoes in the Microwave | EHow.com." EHow | How To Do Just About Everything! | How
To Videos & Articles. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://www.ehow.com/how_4879174_cook-baked-potatoes-microwave.html>.
Leochko, Sylvie. "How To Cook The Best Baked Potato – Baking Potatoes, Recipe." How To Do Things » How To Articles & How To Videos. Web. 23 Jan. 2011. <http://www.howtodothings.com/food-drink/how-to-cook-the-
best-baked-potatoes>. "Poking Holes in Potatoes....... (20K)." BigSpud: The 'Biggest' Potato Recipes Collection. Web. 23 Jan. 2011.
<http://bigspud.com/files/ppokingholes.htm>. Donley, Ted H. "Does Poking a Hole in a Potato Affect the Way It Cooks?" Personal interview. 24 Jan. 2011.