Learn how to make Baked Potatoes in the oven with all of the best tips and tricks! Customize this classic easy side dish with any of your favorite toppings -- butter, sour cream, cheese, chives or bacon -- anything goes. The foolproof baked potatoes have a crispy outside and a fluffy inside, making them a perfect companion for almost any entrée.
Crispy Oven Baked Potatoes
A baked potato in the oven sounds like a fairly simple task, right? If you've ever had a crunchy, under-baked spud or a soggy, mushy version of this dish, then you probably understand the importance of learning how to make baked potatoes that come out perfectly every time!
The goal is an evenly-cooked potato with a crispy exterior (but not too charred), and a tender, fluffy interior (but not too mushy). With a few important tricks, this easy baked potatoes recipe always gives you the foolproof results that you're looking for.
The Best Potato for Baked Potatoes in the Oven
Russet potatoes make the best baked potatoes! These potatoes have a thick skin, which gets nice and crispy in the oven. Russets also have a lot of starch in them, which creates a dry, fluffy interior.
What temperature for Baked Potatoes?
I prefer to bake potatoes at 375 degrees F for about 70 minutes. That said, you've got some flexibility here, because sometimes you have other dishes that also need to go in the oven at a different temperature.
How Long to Bake a Potato
As I mentioned above, my preferred oven temperature for perfect baked potatoes is 375 degrees F. This yields a crispy (but not charred or burned) exterior, and a tender, dry and fluffy inside. If you want to adjust that temperature to accommodate other parts of your meal, I've included a cooking time chart below. For instance, you might have an entree that bakes at 400 degrees F, in which case you'll want to add your potatoes to the same 400 degree F oven. That's fine! Remember that the total baking time will vary depending on your oven and the size and shape of your potatoes.
Cooking Times
- 350 degrees F: 75 to 90 minutes
- 375 degrees F: 65 to 75 minutes
- 400 degrees F: 55 to 65 minutes
- 425 degrees F: 45 to 60 minutes
Do I need to Wrap the Potatoes in Foil?
No, you do not need to wrap the potatoes in foil. It's important to let the skin of the potato dehydrate in the oven to create that crisp exterior. Wrapping the potatoes in foil traps steam and moisture, which yields a soft skin.
How to Bake a Potato
Here I'll show you the step-by-step process for how to make the perfect baked potato. It truly could not be easier!
Ingredients for the Fluffiest Baked Potatoes
- Russet potatoes
- Olive oil or melted butter
- Coarse kosher salt
Step 1: Prepare Potatoes
Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry. Use a fork to prick holes in about 3 or 4 different places around each potato.
Step 2: Season Potatoes
Place the prepared potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Coat with olive oil or melted butter and season with kosher salt.
Step 3: Bake
Bake the potatoes in a 375 degree F oven for about 70 minutes, or until the outside is crispy and the inside is tender when poked with a fork.
Step 4: Serve
Cut slits in the tops of the potatoes with a paring knife, squeeze the potatoes open (be careful...steam will come out), use a fork to fluff up the insides, and add your favorite toppings.
Baked Potato Toppings
- Butter
- Salt and pepper
- Sour cream
- Crispy chopped bacon
- Grated cheese
- Chopped fresh chives or thinly sliced green onions
- Chili and cheese
- Taco meat, guacamole, sour cream, cheese and salsa
What to Serve with Baked Potatoes
There are so many delicious entrees that go well with baked potatoes. Here are a few options to get you started:
- Grilled Steak or Steak Tips
- Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
- Fried Chicken or Cornflake Chicken
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Oven BBQ Chicken Breast
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Garlic and Herb Grilled Chicken Breast
- Grilled Salmon or Salmon with Dill Sauce
- Crock Pot Pulled Pork or Beef Barbecue
- Meatloaf
- Sweet Tea Brined Chicken or Crispy Roast Chicken
How to Bake a Potato in the Microwave
While it's definitely the fastest way to cook a potato, the microwave is not my preferred method for "baking" potatoes. First, the microwave cooks foods unevenly. Second, rapidly heating the potato yields a dense, gummy interior. All of that said, you can certainly use this quick method for a weeknight emergency!
To do so, prepare the potatoes by scrubbing and pricking them with a fork. Place one potato on a microwave-safe plate and cook on HIGH for 5 minutes. Turn the potato over and microwave for 3-5 more minutes, or until tender inside. Repeat with remaining potatoes. Do not use foil if you're baking potatoes in the microwave.
Storage
Leftover baked potatoes will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat the potatoes, place on a baking sheet and warm in a 350 degree F oven for about 20 minutes.
Can you freeze Baked Potatoes?
Yes! Allow the potatoes to cool completely, wrap individually with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat the potatoes directly from the freezer, unwrap the potatoes, place on a baking sheet, and tent loosely with foil. Warm the frozen potatoes in a 425 degree F oven for 35 to 45 minutes. If the skin isn't crisping back up, remove the foil during the final few minutes.
What to do with Leftover Baked Potatoes
There are so many great ways to take advantage of leftover baked potatoes. Use the potatoes in Baked Potato Soup, prepare Taco Stuffed Potatoes or Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Potatoes, or use the leftovers for Twice Baked Potatoes.
Tips to Make the Best Baked Potatoes
- Prick each potato with a fork before baking. This allows steam to escape so that your potato doesn't explode in the oven.
- Select potatoes that are all roughly the same size and shape so that they will bake in the same amount of time.
- Turn the potatoes over once or twice during the baking process to ensure even cooking.
- Cut a slit in the top of your potatoes shortly after they come out of the oven. If you allow a baked potato to sit for too long before cutting into it, the insides will develop a gummy texture.
- The coarse kosher salt adds nice texture to the potato skins, but you can use a smaller amount of regular table salt if that's what you have on hand. Seasoned salt is also a good option!
- Coat your potatoes with olive oil or melted butter. This adds flavor and also helps them turn a nice, crispy golden brown in the oven.
More potato recipes that you'll love:
- Baked Potato Wedges
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Skin-On Mashed Red Potatoes
- Easy Potato Salad
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Cheesy Party Potatoes
- Great Grandmother's Potato Pancakes
- Grilled Potatoes
How to Make Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes
- ¼ cup olive oil or melted butter
- 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
- Optional toppings: sour cream, cheese, chives, parsley, butter, crispy bacon, black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Scrub the potatoes clean; dry them with a towel. Use a fork to poke holes all over each potato.
- Place the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle each potato with olive oil or melted butter and use your hands to rub it all over the potato skin. Sprinkle each potato with a generous pinch of kosher salt.
- Bake the potatoes for 60-75 minutes, or until tender when poked with a fork. I like to turn the potatoes over once or twice during the cooking process to ensure that they cook evenly. The total baking time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes.
- Use a paring knife to slice the potatoes open lengthwise. Squeeze each potato to open, fluff the insides with a fork, and add your desired toppings.
Notes
Cooking Times
- 350 degrees F: 75 to 90 minutes
- 375 degrees F: 65 to 75 minutes
- 400 degrees F: 55 to 65 minutes
- 425 degrees F: 45 to 60 minutes
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