How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Af fect the way it Cooks in a M icrowave ?

1. How Does Poking Holes in a Potato Affect the way itCooks in a Microwave? T. Grant Donley

2. Statement of the Problem Do potatoes cook better with or without hole in them?

3. Project Overview Potatoes without holes cook better than with holes.

4. 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

5. 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

6. Hypothesis If I poke holes in a potato, it will be softer (Cook better), because the steam can escape.

7. Materials • 6 potatoes, a microwave, a fork.

8. Procedure • Get six potatoes • Poke ten holes with a fork just barely puncturing the skin into three of the potatoes • Cook one potato for ten minutes • Let microwave cool for thirty minutes • Make observations of the potato • Record data • Repeat steps III-VI until all potatoes have been cooked • Create chart

9. Data/Observations (Analyzes)

10. Conclusion My hypothesis was disproven. My results showed that potatoes actually cook better without holes.

11. Possible Experimental Errors I could have cooked the potatoes too long or I could have used certain size or type of potato that cooks better with no holes.

12. 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.

13. 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.