If you like your Baked Potato to be crispy and salty on the outside, with a perfectly fluffy inside, read on to learn how to bake the best baked potato!
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Table of Contents
- Perfect, Fluffy Baked Potatoes, Every Time!
- Ingredients
- How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Oven
- Should Potatoes Be Wrapped in Foil to Bake?
- How Much Time Does It Take to Bake a Potato?
- Handy Tips and Tricks
- Serving Suggestions
- How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Can I Freeze This?
- Get the Recipe
- More Great Side Dish Recipes
Perfect, Fluffy Baked Potatoes, Every Time!
Baked potatoes are a majorly overlooked side dish, don’t you think? There’s almost no other dish that you can make with such minimal prep, with such great results. A good baked potato is filling, fluffy, and flavorful. You can serve baked potatoes as a side dish, or even make them your main dish, with the right toppings.
I love this basic method for baking up the perfect fluffy potato with a crispy and salty skin. If you’ve ever wondered about using foil, adding seasonings, poking with a fork or not poking with a fork, or any other baked potato strategy, this recipe will clear all of that up. The good news is, there’s no need for bells and whistles! My perfect baked potato recipe is so simple, you’ll want to make them every week!
(You don’t have to stick to oven baking if you want the perfect potato – you can also make Air Fryer Baked Potatoes or Microwave Baked Potatoes!)
Ingredients
To make the best baked potatoes, you only need four ingredients – that’s right, four! Told you this recipe was easy! Here’s what I use to bake my spuds:
- Russet Potatoes: Use large russet potatoes, scrubbed clean.
- Olive Oil: Coating the potatoes in olive oil helps crisp up the skin, and adds a subtle boost of flavor.
- Salt: I like kosher salt, but you can use any salt, to taste.
- Pepper: Freshly ground or cracked black pepper.
What Kind of Potatoes Should I Use?
For baking, you want a “floury” potato rather than a “waxy” potato. Waxy potatoes are the kind that stay firm and hold up well even when cooked, like potatoes in potato salad. Red potatoes and fingerling potatoes are both waxy varieties.
However, with baked potatoes, you want to be able to fluff and mash the potatoes a bit. That means using a floury potato, the kind that gets soft and falls apart after cooking. Russet potatoes (or Idaho potatoes) are the classic floury potato available in the US. You can also use Yukon Gold potatoes, which are kind of an in-between variety that works for salads and baking.
How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Oven
It doesn’t get easier than this wholesome, old-fashioned recipe for baking potatoes in the oven. This is a great recipe to show your older kids as you’re teaching them to cook (but be sure to help supervise anything dealing with ovens and hot food, of course!).
- Get Ready to Bake. The first thing to do is get the oven preheating and get your pan ready. Preheat the oven to 400°F, and line a medium-sized baking pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the Potatoes. Using a fork, poke holes into the potatoes several times with a fork, and then place them on the baking pan. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and rub the seasonings into the potatoes.
- Bake! Slide the pan into the oven and bake the potatoes for 45-50 minutes, or until a knife slides out easily when inserted into the center of the potatoes.
- Serve. Slice the potatoes open, and fill them with all your favorite toppings. Or slice your baked potato and fluff the insides almost like a mashed potato, and then add the toppings. Yum!
Should Potatoes Be Wrapped in Foil to Bake?
It’s often recommended to wrap potatoes in foil before baking, and you can definitely do that if you prefer. I like to bake the without foil, though. The steam escapes from the potato more easily that way, which gives the inside of the potato a fluffier texture rather than a moist texture.
How Much Time Does It Take to Bake a Potato?
It really depends on the size of your potato and the temperature of your oven, but most potatoes are fully done in about one hour. I like to budget 15 – 20 minutes of extra time just in case. That way, if the potatoes are done early, that’s no problem. If not, you have some wiggle room!
Handy Tips and Tricks
It’s hard to ruin baked potatoes if you stick to this easy method, but there are a few ways to make sure that your potatoes turn out perfectly. I’m happy to share my favorite tips! Here’s the scoop:
- Convection Oven: If you have a convection setting on your oven, turn it on for extra crispy potato skins!
- Cooking More Than One Potato: If you want to make more than one baked potato at a time, go for it – and be sure to choose potatoes that are all about the same size for even cooking.
- Oil Options: I love using olive oil on my baked potatoes, but you could substitute another kind of oil if you like. Avocado oil is a great choice! Just avoid oils that don’t perform well in high heat – you don’t want the oil smoking and turning bitter in the oven.
- No Baking Pan: Another option for baking the potatoes includes just placing the prepared spuds right onto your oven rack, no pan needed. This is a great way to get them crispy all over, but it may dirty the oven a bit.
Serving Suggestions
Baked potatoes make a great addition to a lot of different meals and recipes, from gorgeous and elegant to plain and simple. Check out these flavorful options:
- Chili Colorado: Baked potatoes with chili are a big-time favorite around here, but instead of making regular chili, try making this amazing Chili Colorado! It’s a dark, flavorful stew made with tender chunks of slow-cooked beef and dried chilis.
- Steak and Mushrooms: Cook up your favorite steak (like my favorite Carne Asada or Juicy Flank Steak) and smother it in this Mushroom Sauce for Steak, and you’ve got a meal that will make your mouth happy! A baked potato on the side is the perfect finishing touch.
- Honey Mustard Chicken: My favorite recipe for Grilled Rosemary Honey Mustard Chicken is the sweet-and-tangy dinner of your dreams! This super-easy chicken is even better with a buttery baked potato.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover baked potatoes store well in the fridge for about five days. Keep them in an airtight storage container or zip-top bag for maximum freshness. Reheat in the microwave, or in the oven at 350F.
Can I Freeze This?
I don’t actually recommend freezing baked potatoes, because the freezing and thawing process tends to make them watery. For the fluffiest baked potatoes, make them the day of.
The Best Baked Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed clean
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a medium size baking pan with aluminum foil.
- Poke the potatoes multiple times with a fork and then place them on the baking pan. Drizzle potatoes with the olive oil, salt, and pepper and rub it into the potatoes.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a knife slides out easily when inserted into the center of the potatoes.
- Slice and fill with all your favorite toppings. Or slice your baked potato and fluff the insides and then add all your favorite toppings!
Notes
Nutrition
Categories:
More Great Side Dish Recipes
- Best Mashed Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Maduros (Fried Plantains)
- Roasted Green Beans
- Ranch Style Beans
- Herb Roasted Potatoes
- Candied Carrots
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The only thing I can add is to soak the whole potatoes in a bowl of water for about an hour before baking. Once baked the potato will pull away from the skin easily and you will have more potato.