Either approach can work. Smaller pieces cool faster without the need to cut up a very hot potato and it’s obvious you’ve done it correctly. The fork approach

Either approach can work. Smaller pieces cool faster without the need to cut up a very hot potato and it’s obvious you’ve done it correctly. The fork approach generally works fine, but it’s not obvious when you mess up. Same deal with hotdogs, cut it with a knife and it’s really obvious it worked, get a little lazy with a fork and you get uneven heated and the occasional pop. correct stab a few times with a fork and it doesn’t pop.