Updated on April 9th, 2023
Potatoes, when cooked properly, can make for a really amazing meal. Baked potatoes, in particular, are pretty difficult to rival, with a world of great-tasting goodness to enjoy both inside and outside the potatoes. However, as with all meals, the degree of relish to expect is dependent on how well the cooking process goes.
That’s why in this article, we’ve provided you with everything you need to know to make unrivaled and absolutely delicious baked potato recipes. Also, ensure that you take special note of the timing guidelines, as this is crucial to getting properly baked potatoes.
Baked Potatoes Nutrition Facts
Tips for Cooking Baked Potatoes
If you want the absolute best-baked potatoes, then you’ll be needing these tips we’ve provided below:
The best potatoes to use are their thick exterior and starchy, fluffy interior; russet potatoes make the tastiest baked potatoes (once baked, of course). Leave the waxy potatoes halved and roasted with rosemary in other recipes.
Scrub the potatoes clean – Those russets you’re about to eat are probably still covered in dirt because they came from the earth, like every other potato variety. It is in your best interests to scrub them thoroughly before cooking them.
Poke holes in your potatoes – If you don’t pierce the potato before baking it, it will almost certainly burst in the oven. It’ll also make a weird whistling sound (we’re not sure why this happens). Pricking it with a fork or paring knife all over helps steam escape and avoids both of the above (unpleasant) scenarios.
How to get perfectly crispy skin – Dry skins mean that the potatoes have baked crisply, and you’ll surely want to eat them because they’re loaded with taste. After you’ve scrubbed the potatoes, make sure they’re completely dry with a clean dishtowel. Soggy potatoes are the only outcome you’ll get if potatoes are moist.
You should also brush the potatoes with olive oil, and it not only helps the skin firm up even more but also improves the flavor. Before baking, rub the potatoes all over (you want them slick) and season generously. Potatoes tend to taste bland and dull if you don’t add enough salt to them.
Don’t be stingy with the salt – If potato skins aren’t a favorite snack, they will be if you bake potatoes with salt. Salting the potatoes makes the skins crispier and more delicious. Plus, because each mouthful has a little of the salty peel, you won’t have to season the potato flesh as you eat.
Remove the foil from the equation – The key to a nice baked potato is getting the skin to be really crispy. The potato skins will shrivel and soften in the oven if you wrap them with foil. Leave the potatoes uncovered for the best results.
Keep in mind that cooking times will vary – It is typically recommended that you bake your potatoes for 45 to 60 minutes but follow the instructions in your preferred recipe. The cooking time for potatoes will differ depending on their size. When they’re fork-tender, and the skin is crisp, remove them from the oven. Larger potatoes will take longer to bake, whereas smaller potatoes will take less time.
Patience is required while making a baked potato. Increasing the temperature because you’d rather speed up the cooking process of the potatoes will not work, and the outside will overcook, leaving you with a sad, hard, semi-raw center.
How to store leftovers – The best way to eat baked potatoes is straight out of the oven. If you wish to make potatoes ahead of time, let the potatoes sit and cool completely before storing them in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Experts have warned against using foil to store potatoes because this is linked to the risk of botulism.
Remove potatoes from the refrigerator and reach room temperature before reheating them. Then bake for 15 minutes at 350° until they’re warmed through.
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Cooking time for Baked Potatoes
It is important to remember that the time is taken to bake potatoes largely depends on the size of the potatoes. The skins should be droopy and wrinkled if they’re properly done. You might even hear a faint hissing sound or observe little bubbles emerging from one of the poking holes. If you squeeze one, it should easily yield to your fingers’ pressure and perhaps crack open a little. If the potato is still hard, bake it for a few more minutes.
To get the best results with baked potatoes, adhere to the following timing guidelines:
| Cooking temperature | Cooking time |
| 400 F | 30 to 60 minutes |
| 425 F | 50 to 60 minutes |
| 450 F | 45 to 55 minutes |
Perfect Baked Potatoes
Instructions
- While you’re prepping the potatoes, place a rack in the centre of the oven and preheat to 425°F.
- Under running water, scrub the potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry. You don’t have to remove the eyes, but you can use a paring knife to remove any blemishes.
- Rub some olive oil all over the potatoes. The best method is to use your hands, but a pastry brush will suffice.
- Season the potatoes generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
- With the tines of a fork, prick the potatoes in a few places. This permits the steam from the baked potato to escape.
- You can either choose to bake the potatoes on the oven rack directly, or place them on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet a few inches apart from each other. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the potatoes for 50 to 60 minutes. Turn the potatoes over after 20 minutes has passed, then pierce them with a fork to see if they’re done. When the skins are dry and the insides are entirely soft when poked, the potatoes are done.
There are some important things to note when following this recipe:
- Cook the potatoes for 3 to 4 minutes in the microwave before baking to shorten the baking time.
- Wrap the potatoes in foil before baking for softer skins.
- Brine the potatoes for extra-crispy skins. Put 2 tablespoons of kosher salt in 1/2 cup of water and whisk until dissolved. Dip each potato into the brine. As directed above, drain and bake immediately on the rack. During the last 10 minutes of baking, brush with oil.
This baked potato recipe produces well-baked and great tasting results, as expected. The entire cooking time for this recipe is 50 minutes to 1 hour, with a prep time of 5 minutes. If you’d like to explore more ideas on how to make baked potatoes, then take a look at this video recipe.
