How long do you cook a Hot Pocket in the microwave, air fryer, convection oven or traditional oven? We will explain Hot Pocket cook time for each of the methods so they come out perfect.
The question of the day is how long do you cook a Hot Pocket. It’s not rocket science and there are directions on the box but that is only for one way. You may be curious about others. If you don’t have a microwave NO worries, you can still cook your favorite snack other ways. (affiliate links present)
Pepperoni Hot Pocket Cook Time
It does not matter whether you are going to make the meatballs and cheese, pizza, beef wellington hot pocket or other how to cook a hot pocket ham and cheese doesn’t change.
They all have the same timing no matter which way go. You can certainly follow the cooking hot pockets instructions on the box but I do think they are 10 seconds off. I opt for a bit less so it doesn’t bust out of the seams.
You can make them in a microwave, air fryer, a convection oven or traditional oven. Cook times vary for all 4 methods.
From 1 minute 50 seconds to 28 minutes in the oven you have your choice on how to heat it up and crisp the outside. All work great, we’ll explain every method here.
One would be 2 minutes, or 1 minute 50 seconds if you ask me is more perfect. Two is almost double but not quite. You don’t want to heat them too much or the insides will start to ooze out of the sides and start to dry up. 3 minutes 30 seconds is a better bet.
Hot Pocket Cook Time in Microwave
This is the most common way to heat these up. They have directions on the back but just like I stated, I feel like for the most part it is 10 seconds too much.
Reason I say that is we have made these for years. Lean pockets is what we typically buy. At 2 minutes many many times the sides would burst open.
How Long to Cook Hot Pockets
SO I suggest cooking it just a bit shorter than recommended on the package. Try it first before you question what I am saying and see what I mean by this. There is a method to my madness here friends.
- First you MUST remove and discard the plastic wrapper off of the pocket.
- Then use the crisping sleeve that is included in the clear baggie. Slide your piece into the sleeve and set on a paper towel.
- Then heat in your microwave, if that is your method of choice, for 1 minute 50 seconds. If you choose to heat in your oven, air fryer or toaster oven you will not use this sleeve and the timing will be longer. I explain the proper time for those below.
- Fold the bottom pieces inward and seal. Slide the pocket up a bit and sit on the folded pieces as a holder. Enjoy.
Should you cook a Hot Pocket frozen?
Yes, you should not thaw it first. It was designed specifically to go straight from the freezer to the heat source directly, placed inside the sleeve. The timing would be off if defrosted and it will not get crispy either as the outside gets soft and mushy.
Timing may vary depending on the wattage of your machine. Really small ones like in an RV aren’t as hot so this is based on a 1,000 wat machine.
Did you know that was the intention?? If you push up just a bit and fold the bottom pieces in you can hold it and eat as you see here. I don’t think a lot of people realize this. There’s not a lot of instruction for it other than it says which end to push in first, then you can clip it in so it doesn’t open back up.
Can you cook a Hot Pocket in a Toaster Oven?
Yes!! We have directions for Hot Pocket in Toaster Oven right here in fact. If you live in a small area and that is all you have then by all means you can make dinner that way too.
Well of course you can add as many as you want but on the back of the box it does say “for best results cook 1 at a time”. You would need to increase the cook time to 3 minutes 30 seconds vs. 1 minute 50 seconds to account for the added food.
It is better to just cook one so that the hot air can circulate around the whole item. When adding more than one even if there is space between them, one side will not get as hot as the other that doesn’t have something next to it which will mean it won’t get as crispy and cook as fast.
Hot Pocket Cook Time in Air Fryer
Ok so you can use this small kitchen appliance to heat it up too. It takes a bit longer than microwaving. We did make homemade air fryer hot pockets the other day with defrosted Rhodes dough. Adding pizza filling into the center turned out fabulous but you can cook frozen hot pockets this way too.
You won’t need the inner sleeve for this one though so you can discard that. Always preheat your machine so that every minute it is in the basket it is surrounded by the same temperature the entire time.
How Long do you cook a Hot Pocket in the air fryer?
You can see our homemade version here filled with pizza ingredients. You could easily make a dessert version too this way using refrigerated or frozen dough. Even with the frozen versions it is my favorite method by far.
Hot Pocket Cook Time Conventional Oven
This is the longest method. You’d need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees F to bake your hot pockets. Set on a cookie sheet without the sleeves and bake for about 28 minutes. In a convection oven it would only take about 12 to 15 minutes, better but still a lot longer than the other methods.
Heating hot pockets in the oven work well if that is all you have. I think a piece of parchment paper is handy to have on the bottom in case anything leaks out.
Carefully remove baking sheet with an oven mitt of course. Let sit for a minute or two and then enjoy. Internal temperature of 165 is recommended but the insides are previously cooked.
If you only have a toaster oven you’d use the same temperature as above but since it is a smaller unit you’d be closer to 12 ish minutes too.
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How Long do You Cook a Hot Pocket
Equipment
- 1 microwave
Ingredients
- 1 hot pocket
Instructions
- Remove hot pocket and sleeve from the box. Unwrap the plastic wrap and discard that. Slide the hot pocket inside the wrap with the silver liner inside.
- Place on top of a paper towel and microwave for 1 minute 45 seconds. Leave in microwave for remaining 15 seconds.
- Fold end closed and push hot pocket up. Hold wrap and eat from the open end.