We love a good potato dish. You can make potatoes in many ways, including mashed, smashed, or sliced. We think that baking potatoes in the oven are the best way to cook them. Baked potatoes are delicious as a side dish to steak or chicken. They have crispy skin and fluffy inside. You can also make them into a meal by simply topping them with cheese, bacon, and sour cream. Before we go on, let’s take a look at how to make the perfect baked potato.
Baking potatoes in the oven is easy. You only need the correct type of potato (russet works best) and oil for crispy skin. In just an hour, they’ll be baked in the oven without any foil. While some people prefer to bake potatoes in the microwave, the oven cooks potatoes evenly and produces perfect results every time. Once you know the basics, you can be as creative as possible. Try BLT Baked Potatoes, Twice Baked Potatoes, or even Baked Sweet Potatoes.
Which type of potato is best to bake? You can bake almost any potato. However, the best potatoes for baking include those with low moisture and high starch like a russet, or Idaho potato, when baked, waxier potatoes such as Yukon golds or red-skinned potatoes won’t have a fluffy center.
What Temperature Do You Bake Potatoes At?
To get the best texture and crispiest skin, we recommend baking potatoes at 400°F.
Should Baked Potatoes Come In Foil?
No! Foil wraps potatoes can keep moisture in, which will cause them to steam. You’ll end up with soggy potatoes if you wrap them in foil. For a more even baking experience, bake them on a baking tray or directly on an oven rack.
Do I Need To Poke Holes In The Potatoes Before Baking?
Yes! Yes! This will prevent your potato from burping open in the oven.
What Time Should A Potato Take To Be Baked?
Depending on your size, it should take 50 minutes to an hour at 400@. This will produce perfectly smooth flesh and crispy skin.
How Can You Tell If A Potato Is Cooked?
After the timer has elapsed, you can test if your potato’s done by poking it with a paring blade. It should slide in easily. With oven mitts, you can give the potato a gentle squeeze. You can feel the potato’s texture to determine if it is soft.
Recipe
YIELDS: 4 serving(s)
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 1 hour
TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
4 baking potatoes (such as russets)
1 1/2 tbsp. canola oil
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400@ Clean the potatoes and dry them. Then, use a fork to poke holes in them.
- Place the potatoes on a baking tray—Bake for about an hour, or until the potatoes are softened in the middle.
You can store leftover baked potatoes in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up 3 days. They won’t get as crispy on the outside but they will still taste great!
