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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Jacket potato for lunch

180 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:
Luckyingame · 16/01/2026 18:08

MidnightMeltdown · 16/01/2026 13:35

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

A very big one does, depends on the settings.
Otherwise, a petty issue.

OnlyHasEyesForLoki · 16/01/2026 18:15

Surely they could pre-cook it at home and just warm it up!! Even the frozen ones only take 5 minutes!!

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 16/01/2026 18:17

Tillow4ever · 16/01/2026 14:48

Our office is huge - around 400 people. You absolutely CANNOT see the canteen from 95% of the office with where it’s positioned. From my corner, it’s a couple of mins walk down there, so if I were to walk down to see if the microwave was free (and I would have to go in as the microwaves are located after the canteen part so you can’t see them unless you are inside and go around the corner), find its in use, it would take me away from my desk for 5 mins. How many times can you do that each day before it’s taking the piss?

The last office I worked in was in a separate building to the canteen - you had to go over a bridge to get to that! Was a good 5 mins walk at a brisk pace.

The only other office I worked in was over 20 years, that was tiny (5 of us). From the upstairs office you couldn’t see the kitchen as it was downstairs. You could see from downstairs if you looked around the door. But there were so few of us, and we staggered lunch, so it really didn’t matter.

My point is, you can’t categorically state that you can see other kitchen from “most offices”. My experience would have me saying the exact opposite - and that would likely be wrong too.

So how about we don’t go making up scenarios and base it on what we are told about a situation?

I said my office! We don't have a canteen, we have a floor that can have up to 100 people but usually less, and the kitchen is down one end so yes we can see it. Crikey, the anger on this thread about a microwave 😂

DotAndCarryOne2 · 16/01/2026 18:21

MidnightMeltdown · 16/01/2026 13:35

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

Depends on the size and the microwave power. A large potato in our 950w oven takes about 12-15 min.

CatsSleepFatandWalkThin · 16/01/2026 18:24

How inconsiderate of her.

Unicornmagic568 · 16/01/2026 18:39

Always cook at home then reheat

Ljzjta · 16/01/2026 18:40

No jacket potato takes 15 minutes. I’ve just done two in the microwave for 8 and perfectly fluffy! One is max 6 minutes.

CautiousLurker2 · 16/01/2026 18:40

They need to precook it at home and just reheat it for 3mins at work. IMHO.

MrsJeanLuc · 16/01/2026 18:43

Biscuitz1 · 16/01/2026 13:50

Not sure why she goes for 15 mins then as it isnt a massive potato.

This is the third time shes done this hence my rant.

A. I think you're right, it's selfish.
B. My DP cooks potatoes in the microwave all the time. A medium sized potato (about the size of his fist) takes 6-8 minutes. And let it stand for a couple of mins, it will continue to cook after you take it out.

sunflower85 · 16/01/2026 18:51

Had this years ago back in the days when we were all in the office 5 days a week, guy in the office used to batch cook, and instead of putting his lunch in the fridge the night before to defrost, he used to ensure he was the first one in the kitchen at 1pm sharp, plonk his frozen brick in for 10-15 mins, and swan off out for a smoke whilst others stood waiting.

GlitteryRainbow · 16/01/2026 18:59

wishingonastar101 · 16/01/2026 14:22

She's confusing rice with a potato... you can't leave rice warm and then re-heat because of bacterial growth.

Tell her...
potato = fine.
Rice = death

It’s not bacteria in rice it’s the toxins they produce that make you ill. Reheating kills the bacteria in the rice but not the toxins they’ve produced and they make you ill.

catmothertes1 · 16/01/2026 19:06

DotAndCarryOne2 · 16/01/2026 18:21

Depends on the size and the microwave power. A large potato in our 950w oven takes about 12-15 min.

Same!

Obviously,most people on here must have tiny potatoes or amazingly fast microwaves because I've been told I was wrong.

Tulipvase · 16/01/2026 19:16

I wouldn’t eat a microwaved jacket potato through choice but I can’t imagine how awful one cooked for 5 mins would be. I have started them in a microwave for 5 mins and then in the oven for 90 mins or so.

ItsDdayalloveragain · 16/01/2026 19:18

I’d take it out and leave it on the side ( no plate) just straight on the side and deny I put it there

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 16/01/2026 19:22

I’ve got 2 fair sized jackets in the microwave at the moment. 12 minutes is usually about right, from scratch.

We’re having them with cauliflower cheese. 😋

Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/01/2026 19:22

One microwave? Is it 1995 there?
(yes, also thoughtless to hog one like that)

Hopingforaholiday · 16/01/2026 19:24

I think that’s unreasonable if only one microwave. They sell frozen jackets designed to be reheated quickly - McCain or bannisters.

Vitriolinsanity · 16/01/2026 19:24

Chip in and buy a second microwave, which is what we did. It’s January, she’ll be back on the old Meal Deal on Feb.

Cappie73 · 16/01/2026 19:26

Cook it at home and bring it in a food flask that will keep it hot/warm for a good few hours

Missstified · 16/01/2026 19:35

You could suggest your colleague purchases her own personal microwave, though naturally this would require written approval from HR, facilities management, and the building's electrical safety officer. Once approved, she'd need to arrange PAT testing at her own expense on a quarterly basis, with certificates filed in triplicate and stored in perpetuity.

Of course, before plugging it in, she'd need to submit a formal desk modification request, complete with a comprehensive risk assessment. This should cover potential trip hazards from the power cable, any heat exposure risks to passing colleagues, additional physiotherapy requirements for the poor souls forced into excessive standing from having to queue, nutritional deficiencies for those forced to forgo lunch while they look longingly at their microwave meal that should only be 2 minutes away, and crucially, the psychological impact on those forced to witness her daily potato ritual from their desks – the trauma of watching someone lovingly rotate a steaming spud at 1pm every single day cannot be underestimated.

Failing that, she could investigate whether the company cafeteria offers a jacket potato pre-cooking service, or perhaps spearhead a campaign to lobby management for a dedicated "high-volume potato station" in a separate break room, ideally on a different floor entirely, possibly in a different postcode.

If none of these options appeal, she might consider enrolling in a time management course to explore whether her 15-minute cooking window could be optimised through advanced microwave techniques, or alternatively, consult a nutritionist about foods that require less nuclear radiation to achieve basic edibility.

YANBU - The dude is rude!

CraverSpud · 16/01/2026 19:36

As my user-name suggests I do love a well cooked baked potato.
I would suggest a coordinated "Baked Potato day" and forget to tell 'Selfish Miss Potato Head" all bring your potatoes for baking- Start early and organise a written queue.

Leyak · 16/01/2026 19:54

Well, they can't possibly be heating that up for just one person (unless they are overweight?). That's lunch for two people, at least.

BunnyLake · 16/01/2026 19:59

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/01/2026 17:39

Was just coming on to say that! (Although probably now we'll here there is on,y one mini fridge in the whole workplace)

I really don’t like all the clashing smells that come from microwaves at work. I only ever take cold food (salads, baguettes, etc).