Baked potatoes are one of the all-time favorite side dishes, and they’re also super simple to prepare. This frequently becomes a side dish that everyone must have when they go to a restaurant. Some enjoy it with a great compliment of melty butter, coupled with a nice dash of salt and pepper and some people have different preferences.
You can learn how to bake potatoes such that the inside is wonderfully fluffy and tender with a crisp exterior. Every time you use this method, the baked potato will turn out perfectly! Add your favorite toppings, like cheese, butter, sour cream, and more! You’ll also enjoy these twice-baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, and garlic mashed potatoes if you enjoy.
We’ll explain to you exactly how to bake a potato perfectly, whether you want plain baked potatoes or loaded baked potatoes.
Which Potatoes Bake Best?
We think russet potatoes bake the best. These are the ones that are baked in every restaurant. Although they are extremely starchy, they also contain little moisture, giving them a beautiful meaty, fluffy texture when baked. It’s lovely how the skin also becomes so sharp. They are the greatest, so you can bake potatoes with ease.
Avoid choosing potatoes that are excessively huge or even excessively little when choosing russets to bake. To guarantee even baking for the recipe and advice below, choose a beautiful medium size.
How Long Should A Potato Bake?
In an oven, you can bake potatoes at a very high temperature of 425 to 450 degrees. This speeds up the process and also helps with getting that crisp outside peel because it does take some time to transform that hard spud into delicate delight. Your potato may need to be baked for around an hour to reach the desired level of tenderness.
Making Baked Potatoes
Here are our top recommendations for making sure your baked potatoes are flawless every time.
- Scrub your potatoes thoroughly. A good place to start is by giving the potato a good scrape and cleaning.
- Pierce that Stud – Always make sure to prick your potato’s skin with a fork or a knife a few times. Your potato won’t blow up in the oven if you do this to help the steam escape!
- Rub down – Be sure to oil your potato thoroughly. Olive oil or vegetable oil might be used. Pro tip: An oil spray keeps things a little bit neater and cleaner if you don’t like to rub it down. Forget the foil at this point.
- spice them up! sprinkle kosher salt liberally on the exteriors
- Then bake them! Depending on the temperature you set them at, these baked potatoes will bake for 50 to 70 minutes, as said above. When you can easily drive a fork through the potato’s skin and into the meat with little resistance, they are ready to eat. Even with mittened hands, pinch it to see whether it gives easily—if it does, it’s ready to eat!
Best Baked Potato Toppings
Here are some suggestions for how to spice up a baked potato now that you know how to do it!
- Butter, naturally! Use one that flavored that potato and is good and high grade.
- Sour cream (a family favorite).
- Cheddar cheese here is a clear winner.
- Bacon (dice up some bacon and add to your spud).
- Chili (a delectable dish in and of itself!
- Chervil (for a beautiful vibrant garnish).
- Broccoli (you can add cheese for a nice variation that also adds some veggies).
- Alternatively, you could prepare something like these Simple Air Fryer Potato Skins using an air fryer.
