cheryl222

My daughter was given a set of these (all made with the "correct" materials). I warned her about them but she said she was assured by giver that they were safe. First time she used them she had a fire in her microwave. Fortunately it did not spread beyond microwave. Hmmmm....Mother knows best!

ptquilts

I have a microwave that sparks when I put frozen bread in it. Microwaves are weird. I just nuke potatoes plain, no covering. Then you can wrap them in a damp towel when they come out and you get the same effect.

Nammie to 7

I've heard too many stories of these catching on fire so won't use them or make them as gifts.

Claire123

Thank you for mentioning this and warning others. I don't have an explanation, but appreciate you bringing it up as I don't remember ever hearing of this before.

renda

I have made and given close to a hundred of these potato bags. Have only had one instance where it caught fire and that was me checking to see if the thread would make a difference (the problem happened because I put the bag in there empty - think that made the difference). Yep, I had used cotton covered poly thread and as I was standing right there I caught it just as it started to smoke. I love my potato bag, have even continued to use the one that the seam burned. Some people don't realize that a lot of cotton thread is really cotton covered poly. You have to make absolutely sure that everything is cotton. My microwave is one of the high powered ones.

illinois

I consider this to be the same warning with the bowl cozies that are so handy. Some say they have no problem heating something in the microwave with those in place. I don't chance it. I put the heated bowl in the cozy when taking it out. Hint: these work nicely for keeping a cold bowl of ice cream from your fingers, too!

ka9sdn

Remember you are not supposed to use them for longer than 3 minutes.

KnitnutBZ

Excellent thread. Especially this year the microwave bowls seem to be the hot item. I had the same problem with the POTATOE bags.

SusieQOH

I've never used or made one but to me it's just one of those things you need to find a place for in your kitchen. I have enough stuff already that I can't find lol

Sewnoma

I share your confusion. When I was a teenager we were given a brand-new digital microwave and Dad & I had a great time catching stuff on fire inside our giant old dial-style one. It's really not that hard to get stuff to burn in there...

I like the IDEA of a potato bag, but I just don't trust it enough to endanger my microwave's safety, or the safety of the microwaves of my loved ones.