Exact Answer: 2-3 minutes
Everyone enjoys a good “junk food” item every so often. Hot Pockets are the perfect quick snack or addition to any meal. They’re easy to cook and fun to eat. Everyone has a favorite Hot Pocket flavor, as there are so many different options to choose from. They may be delicious, but cooking times may vary, especially for microwave cooking.
How long does it take to cook a Hot Pocket? Why does it take the amount of time it does? Well, that depends, on the method of cooking and which Hot Pocket that’s being cooked, though most offer a standard cooking time.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Hot Pocket?
How long it takes to cook a Hot Pocket depends on the method of cooking, as well as the wattage of the microwave you’ll be cooking it in. For instance, cooking times vary:
1100 Watt Oven: For a microwave oven of 1100 watts, on high, cooking time should take around 2 minutes 15 seconds with a 2 minute cool-down period after cooking.
Under 1100 Watt Oven: For a microwave that is under the recommended 1100 watts, on high, cooking may take 3 minutes 15 seconds. This method also requires a 2 minute cool-down period for safe eating.
Conventional Oven: In a conventional oven, preheated to 350 F, a hot pocket should take around 28 minutes to fully cook, followed by a cooling period of a few minutes.
Of course, should one heat more than one Hot Pocket, the times will almost double from 2 minutes 15 seconds to over three minutes and increasing with each sandwich. For best results, follow the instructions on the package, removing the Hot Pocket from the plastic wrapping before cooking.
Times for cooking a single Hot Pocket sandwich may also be viewed below, times listed below are for one Hot Pocket Sandwich, actual cooking times may vary.
| Cooking Method | Cooking Time |
| 1100 Watt Microwave | 2 minutes 15 seconds |
| Under 1100 Watt | 3 minutes 15 seconds |
| Conventional Oven | 28 minutes |
But Why it Takes That Long to Cook Hot Pocket?
While cooking a Hot Pocket sandwich may be as simple as unwrapping the piece and popping it in the microwave, cooking times may vary and for good reason. Because Hot Pockets are frozen food, they’ll need more time to heat up than a portion of fresh food.
Hot Pocket sandwiches are already cooked but do need to be thoroughly heated before being enjoyed. The reason why it takes longer or shorter amounts of time is due to the power of the machine you’re cooking it in. Because they come frozen, it’ll take time to properly heat up the food before consumption.
The lower wattage and power your microwave has, the longer your Hot Pocket will take to cook. Cooking a Hot Pocket in a conventional oven will take longer because it will slowly heat the food, compared to using rays to quickly heat the molecules in the food.
No matter which method is chosen, none of them tend to take very long, making Hot Pockets a great choice for a quick, tasty snack.