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The perfect oven baked potatoes are just a few simple steps away. Follow this easy method and get fluffy, delicious baked potatoes in the oven every time!
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Baked Potatoes Cooked to Perfection
Baked Potatoes were a staple in our home growing up. I remember many a times at the sink before Sunday dinner scrubbing down potatoes and wrapping them in foil. There was nothing like the smell of hot potatoes in the oven. I liked to softly squish my potato while it was still in the foil to make mashing it easier. Then of course I would load on the butter and sour cream and salt and pepper. It was the perfect side dish for whatever meat our dad was grilling up that day.
This recipe may seem a little basic. However, sometimes it is good to get back to the basics! Not all baked potato recipes are created equal. You know how sometimes when you make homemade baked potatoes they end up kind of gummy? We have evolved from the foil cooking method to make our potatoes more light and fluffy and less saturated. Follow this simple method and never have that problem again! This recipe produces potatoes with crispy, salty outsides and soft, fluffy insides. It is the best baked potato recipe.
How Long To Bake a Potato
A good rule of thumb is about an hour at 350 degrees for a perfect baked Idaho potato. However, if you’re baking more than four at a time, you’ll need to increase the baking time. I usually increase it by about 5-10 minutes for every two additional potatoes.
Foil vs. No Foil
Baked Potatoes without foil
Baking a potato without foil is generally considered the best method for several reasons:
- Less Prep: No cutting foil squares and making sure each potato is evenly wrapped. Simply season the potatoes and bake!
- Crispy Skin: Baking without foil allows the potato’s skin to become delightfully crispy. The texture contrast between the crispy skin and fluffy interior adds to the overall enjoyment of the dish.
- Faster Cooking Time: Without the barrier of foil, heat can directly penetrate the potato, reducing cooking time. This means you can enjoy your baked potato sooner!
- Enhanced Flavor: Baking without foil allows the potato’s natural flavors to shine. As the potato bakes, its sugars caramelize, resulting in a richer and more robust taste.
- Even Cooking: When baked without foil, the potato cooks more evenly, ensuring a uniform texture throughout.
Overall, baking a potato without foil yields a delicious, crispy-skinned potato with enhanced natural flavors and a faster cooking time. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a classic baked potato that’s full of flavor and texture!
Baked Potatoes in Foil
If you prefer a softer skin and a more “steamed” potato taste, wrapping your potatoes in foil may be your preferred choice. To bake a foil-wrapped potato at 350°F, it will take approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on the size of the potato. Because it is wrapped it will take a bit longer to cook, but it allows the potato to bake more evenly and thoroughly. You can check for doneness by inserting a fork or knife into the center; it should go through easily when fully cooked. Enjoy your perfectly baked potato with a fluffy interior and deliciously soft skin!
Ideas for Potato Toppings
Now, once you have your Perfect Baked Potatoes, you’re going to need some toppings to go with it! I’ll give you some of my favorite ideas. If you have other ideas let us know in the comments below!
- Simple: butter, salt, pepper, and chives
- Loaded: sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, green onions, salt, and pepper
- Tex Mex: salsa, cheddar cheese, black beans, guacamole and sour cream
- Chili Cheese Potato: chili and cheddar cheese
- Broccoli Cheddar Potato: broccoli and melted cheese
Potatoes are Good For You!
Don’t let the low-carb craze scare you away from a perfect baked potato at dinner. They’re actually very good for you! Here’s why:
- Potatoes have more potassium than a banana.
- They’re high in fiber, so potatoes in your diet can help lower cholesterol. It can also decrease your risk of heart disease.
- Potatoes are also chock full of Vitamin C and Vitamin B6.
- Plus, they’re quite delicious!
Ways To Cook Baked Potatoes
- In the Microwave – If you are short on time, you can definitely cook a (almost) perfect baked potato in the microwave. Unfortunately, I can’t promise the same crispy outside and fluffy inside. This is because the microwave will steam the potatoes rather than baking them. First, poke holes all over the potato with a fork. Then, cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 3 more minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your potatoes.
- In the Instant Pot – One of my favorite ways to cook potatoes when I am pressed for time is by “baking” potatoes in the Instant Pot! This method is great if you need your oven for another dish. However, this method comes with the same caveat as the microwave method. The texture will not be as perfect as it is from the oven. First, put a cup of water and the trivet into the Instant Pot. Next, poke holes all over the potatoes and place on the trivet. Then, cook on manual on high pressure for 14 minutes. Finally, once the timer goes off, let the pressure naturally release for 20-30 minutes. Then, add your toppings and enjoy your perfectly tender baked potato!
- In the Air Fryer – Potatoes cooked in the air fryer are fast, crispy, and delicious! See our post for Air Fryer Baked Potatoes! You can achieve similar results as an oven baked potato but in less time.
Baked Potato Recipes
Baked potatoes are versatile and can be used in various delicious recipes and dishes. Here are some more ways to enjoy them:
- Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes: Top them with sour cream, shredded cheese, chives, bacon bits, and any other favorite toppings for a hearty and satisfying meal. Want a twist on a classic? Try our BBQ twice baked potatoes!
- Potato Skins: Scoop out the insides, leaving a thin layer of potato, then fill them with cheese, bacon, and other toppings before baking until crispy. You can also try our broccoli cheese stuffed potato skins!
- Potato Salad: Dice baked potatoes use them in our famous Potato Salad Recipe! You won’t regret it!
- Hash Browns: Cube or shred baked potatoes and cook them in a skillet with oil or butter until crispy and golden brown.
- Potato Soup: Use baked potatoes as a base for a creamy and comforting potato soup with added vegetables, broth, and seasonings. Our Baked Potato Soup is the perfect recipe for this method!
- Potato Casseroles: Layer sliced baked potatoes with cheese, cream, and seasonings to create a tasty and comforting potato casserole.
- Potato Breakfast Burritos: Stuff baked potatoes into tortillas with scrambled eggs, cheese, and your favorite breakfast toppings for a hearty breakfast burrito.
- Shepherd’s Pie: Use baked potatoes as a topping for a classic shepherd’s pie with seasoned ground meat and vegetables.
- Potato Gnocchi: Mash baked potatoes and combine them with flour and egg to make homemade gnocchi.
Frequently Asked Baked Potato Questions
Not necessarily. This comes down to personal preference. Wrapping the potatoes in foil actually steams them instead of baking them. This is because it traps all the moisture inside. You will end up with a soft skin and the inside just won’t be as fluffy. Piercing the skins of the potatoes then rubbing oil and salt on the outside and placing them directly on the oven rack ensures a crispy skin outside and fluffy interior. That is what makes a perfect baked potato! Additionally, make sure you put a baking pan on the rack below the potatoes to catch any drippings.
In our opinion, Russet potatoes make the best baked potatoes. They have thicker skins that crisp up really well in the oven. However, you can also use this method for Yukon Gold potatoes. They have a thinner skin, but they will get nice and fluffy on the inside.
About one hour is a good estimate depending on your oven. You can try piercing the center with a paring knife and if it comes back out easily it is ready.
If you want to make sure that your potatoes are done, you can use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be between 208 and 211 degrees.
Keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can re-heat them or use them for other recipes like Baked Potato Soup, Twice Baked Potatoes, Potato Skins, or Hash Browns.
READ NEXT: Best Potato Recipes
More Potato Side Dishes
Potatoes are so versatile and go well with many meats and vegetables. After you’ve tried our Perfect Baked Potatoes, venture out to our other favorites!
- Pesto Potatoes – These diced potatoes are coated in pesto and roasted to perfection. So easy and packed with flavor!
- Roasted Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts – Another easy side dish! The bacon adds a tasty dimension – a must try!
- Roasted Red Caesar Potatoes – Red pepper, Caesar salad dressing, and Parmesan cheese flakes give these potatoes a unique Italian zest.
- Grilled Foil Ranch Potatoes – These potatoes are great in the summer. Throw them on the grill at your next BBQ. The packets can be loaded with bacon, ham, onions, peppers, or cheese. Additionally, the clean-up is so easy!
- Parmesan Baked Potato Halves – This is one of the most popular recipes on our site. The potato halves are cooked in butter and Parmesan cheese giving the potatoes a crispy, flavorful topping.
- More Delicious Potato Recipes – Here is a full list of our most popular potato recipes as chosen by YOU, our readers!
Oven Baked Potatoes
Video
Ingredients
- 1 large Russet potato
- 1 teaspoon oil vegetable or canola oil
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees and position racks in top and bottom thirds. Scrub and rinse potato (or potatoes) thoroughly with cold water. Dry well. Using a fork, poke 8 to 12 deep holes all over the potato.
- Place in a bowl and coat lightly with oil.
- Sprinkle with Kosher salt and place potato directly on the wire rack in the middle of oven. Place a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any drippings.
- Bake 1 hour or until skin feels crisp but flesh beneath feels soft. Serve by creating a dotted line from end to end with your fork, then crack the potato open by pushing the ends towards one another. The potato will be hot and steamy, so be careful!
Notes
Recipe Tips
If you’re cooking more than 4 potatoes, you’ll need to extend the cooking time by up to 15 minutes. Now, once you have your Perfect Baked Potatoes, you’re going to need some toppings to go with it! I’ll give you some of my favorite ideas. If you have other ideas let us know in the comments below!- Simple: butter, salt, pepper, and chives
- Loaded: sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, green onions, salt, and pepper
- Tex Mex: salsa, cheddar cheese, black beans, guacamole and sour cream
- Chili Cheese Potato: chili and cheddar cheese
- Broccoli Cheddar Potato: broccoli and melted cheese
Nutrition Information
I’m a novice learning how to cook for me and my wife now that we are both disabled and on a fixed income. I have tried making baked potatoes using several recipes now and this recipe is the best by far that I have found.
I’m glad your direction said not to wrap in foil. Everyone should know what your potatoes look like after unwraping them from the oven. Oil, salt and baking is the way to go.
Excellent recipes. I will definitely try them all. Thank you
Excellent recipes. Thank you
Wonderful recipe! What could be better than a hot, buttery baked potato for a simple dinner on a cold night? I love mine with the chili, cheese and sour cream toppings or maybe even a touch of Jamaican Jerk sauce (I like everything with a spicy kick!)
Thank you for your review and rating! I’ve never tried Jamaican Jerk sauce on a loaded baked potato, thanks for the tip!
My family loves the Instant Pot method. I recently cooked 8 russet potatoes (could have fit 2-3 more) in my 6 quart IP for 25 minutes with a 5 minute NPR. I then brush them with Olive Oil and Kosar salt and place in my convection toaster oven at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes to crisp up the skin. Great way to cook up a big batch of baked potatoes.
We definitely bake our potatoes out-in-the-open in an oven, fantastic! (Ever since I discovered (online search) Restaurant Hasselbacken potatoes, I’ve updated my potato prep to include slicing and a “butter bath” for more internal flavor.) We love winter baking, too! Thanks for your great email ideas.