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Original poster

Jacket potato for lunch

181 replies

Biscuitz1 · 16/01/2026 13:13

Just really annoyed right now as someone from work believes it is perfectly appectable to put a potato for 15 mins in the microwave!

There is already a queue as it is.

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 16/01/2026 17:30

BlackCat14 · 16/01/2026 17:14

We’ve had this problem at work before too… in a school, 45min lunch. Some days six or seven people need the microwave, let’s say each meal is around 3mins… the poor sod in seventh place has to wait over half their lunch break to get their food in the microwave. And then to top it off, some days one woman brings in frozen slimming world meals that take about 12mins, it’s chaos! We’ve asked for a second microwave but have been told there’s no money on the budget for one… but every member of the leadership team has their own personal microwave in their office 🙃 some days people have knocked on their door and asked to use theirs but they make it known they aren’t happy!

We had someone who thought it was acceptable to get separate bits - so a microwaveable main, follpwed by separate vegetables and then would stick something like a sponge pudding in while she was eating the first stuff! I kid you not.

Womaninhouse17 · 16/01/2026 17:30

There's room for other stuff at the same time.

CasperGutman · 16/01/2026 17:29

It isn't unreasonable to eat a jacket potato for lunch, and a microwave is a reasonable thing to use to cook a jacket potato. It's not very considerate to tie up the only microwave for 15 minutes when colleagues want to use it to reheat their lunches, but in the absence of any rules around use of the microwave from your employer it's difficult to know what you can do about it.

If I were you I'd speak to the appropriate person (manager in a smaller business, or facilities manager in a larger organisation) and ask whether an additional microwave can be provided because it's frequently in use and queues form, keeping staff from their work. This isn't an unreasonable request.

I'd approach this as asking for improved facilities rather than complaining about your colleague's behaviour. Of course, your employer may choose to introduce some rules about reasonable microwave use instead of buying a second microwave, but that can't be helped.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/01/2026 17:28

MatildaTheCat · 16/01/2026 13:15

Can’t other items go in at the same time?

Then everything would take even longer ...

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/01/2026 17:27

catmothertes1 · 16/01/2026 13:39

If they are cooking it from raw,it probably take that long.

Show quote history

It really doesn't, it really doesn't. I eat the largest baked potatoes generally available and cook in an elderly microwave with weak power and it still doesn't approach 15 minutes. Sounds like the OP microwave at work is pretty shit and they need o e that works like a normal microwave

Uhghg · 16/01/2026 17:23

MidnightMeltdown · 16/01/2026 13:35

No way does a jacket potato take 15 minutes in the microwave. 5 minutes max. Massive exaggeration.

5 minutes!
Unless you are eating baby potatoes then mine take a minimum of 12mins.

Pinkbluegreeb · 16/01/2026 17:17

This wouldn't be a problem in my work, we have 2 microwaves and work provide raw potato's for people to heat up. Id start my lunch after she was done.

Spookyspaghetti · 16/01/2026 17:16

Say Potato

BlackCat14 · 16/01/2026 17:14

We’ve had this problem at work before too… in a school, 45min lunch. Some days six or seven people need the microwave, let’s say each meal is around 3mins… the poor sod in seventh place has to wait over half their lunch break to get their food in the microwave. And then to top it off, some days one woman brings in frozen slimming world meals that take about 12mins, it’s chaos! We’ve asked for a second microwave but have been told there’s no money on the budget for one… but every member of the leadership team has their own personal microwave in their office 🙃 some days people have knocked on their door and asked to use theirs but they make it known they aren’t happy!

Gwenhwyfar · 16/01/2026 17:10

"Who wants a microwaved spud?!"

Me. It's very nice and presumable better for the environment than having the oven on for an hour.

Jellybean23 · 16/01/2026 17:09

If she's putting it in the microwave and leaving it unsupervised, I'd take it out and warm up my own food. She'll soon get the message. Of course she can reheat potato. Supermarkets sell chilled mash. It's not a hazard.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/01/2026 17:09

MidnightMeltdown · 16/01/2026 13:35

No way does a jacket potato take 15 minutes in the microwave. 5 minutes max. Massive exaggeration.

Mine take 10 minutes.

BunnyLake · 16/01/2026 17:09

Or no microwave.

Mapletree1985 · 16/01/2026 17:06

Your office needs a second microwave

NotTonightDeidre · 16/01/2026 16:55

We only get 30 minutes for lunch (I work in a SEN school). There's probably around one third of our total staff on lunch at any given time - a 15 minute microwave hogger would be outcast!!

If we ever have jacket spuds we stick them in the oven in the home ec. kitchen anyway. Who wants a microwaved spud?!

One of our colleagues often brings fishe based dishes. She apologises when she microwaves them, usually followed by a panto style evil laugh. Stinky fish will never be the worst smell we encounter on a daily basis though.

Emmz1510 · 16/01/2026 16:52

If anyone has one at my work they usually put it in early before anyone is starting lunch, like 11:45

carpetfluffs · 16/01/2026 16:52

How many microwaves for how many people?

drypond · 16/01/2026 16:45

Team up with everyone else and make sure you all get in that queue first so they won’t have time to warm it up

Boomer55 · 16/01/2026 16:36

I’d sooner a jacket spud taking a while than sone of these foul smelling ready meals, which stink the whole place out.. 🤮

80smonster · 16/01/2026 16:28

MatildaTheCat · 16/01/2026 13:15

Can’t other items go in at the same time?

You absolute animal.

BashfulClam · 16/01/2026 16:25

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 16/01/2026 14:16

Surely not everyone is trying to use the microwave at exactly the same time? If I need the microwave, I'll take my lunch when it is free, otherwise I'll just carry on working until then

Lucky you, we got 12-1 or 1-2 so there is cover if someone phones.

Lifestooshort71 · 16/01/2026 16:13

Egg sandwiches are just as anti social. My jacket potato takes longer than 6 mins - more like 10. Precook at home and reheat it, selfish behaviour.

Zanatdy · 16/01/2026 16:09

It should be cooked at home and re-heated. Selfish behaviour.

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 16/01/2026 16:08

I regularly have a microwave jacket potato for lunch, microwaved from raw it takes around 7 mins for an average sized potato. No longer than someone cooking a ready meal, especially if it’s a frozen one.

Pepsi4Eva · 16/01/2026 15:57

AngelinaFibres · 16/01/2026 13:38

I worked with someone who always brought broccoli and Stilton soup for lunch. I like that soup but, in our tiny staffroom, it just stank the place out and made everything else taste of broccoli and Stilton

Indeed. I worked with someone once who was doing some sort of body building. His lunch every day was rice and tinned tuna- which he heated up in the microwave.

One person using a single appliance many need to use for 25% of a lunch hour is ridiculous. And selfish.