Delicate pancake stuffed with mushrooms and cheese
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Hot Pockets were designed with convenience in mind so that a hungry individual can simply microwave one and have a meal be ready to eat in just minutes. While handy for those who need to eat on-the-go, if you have time to spare or don’t own a microwave, you can also cook a Hot Pocket in the oven. Baking a Hot Pocket in the oven may take longer than microwaving, but the results are superior crispness that even the crisping sleeve cannot achieve.

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using a conventional oven, leave the Hot Pocket in the freezer until the oven has finished preheating. If you are using a convection oven, the Hot Pocket should be thawed in the refrigerator prior to cooking.

Step 2: Bake the Hot Pocket

Remove the wrapper from the Hot Pocket. Place the Hot Pocket directly on a baking sheet, or on an aluminum foil-covered baking sheet. Exact baking times will vary depending on the size of the Hot Pocket you are preparing, and can also vary based on the oven it is being prepared in. Refer to the package instructions for specific cooking times.

If you are using a conventional oven, a 1/4-pound Hot Pocket will need to bake for approximately 24 minutes, whereas you should bake a 1/2-pound Hot Pocket longer, for about 34 minutes.

If you are using a convection oven, a 1/4-pound Hot Pocket will need to bake for approximately 12 minutes and a 1/2-pound Hot Pocket will need to bake for about 15 minutes.

As the package-recommended cooking time approaches, check on the Hot Pocket to see if it is fully cooked. Insert a digital thermometer into the center of the Hot Pocket to accurately determine doneness; when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit it is fully cooked. If the Hot Pocket needs more cooking time than recommended, cook for a few additional minutes.

Step 3: Cool and Eat

Remove the Hot Pocket from the oven and let cool for at least 2 minutes before eating.

Tips

While you do not need the crisping sleeve when cooking a Hot Pocket in the oven, you can place the cooked Hot Pocket in the sleeve to make it easier to eat hands-free.