The tips below will make baked potatoes with crisp skin and a fluffy interior. Top them with lots of butter, sour cream, bacon, and chives!
What are the best potatoes for baking?
Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes are the best potatoes for baking because they’re starchy and have a fluffy texture with a thick skin that crisps beautifully when lightly oiled and salted. That being said, you can bake any type of potatoes. The texture of potato flesh in thin-skinned potatoes (like red-skinned potatoes or Yukon gold) is more buttery and less starchy/fluffy than Russets.
How To Bake a Potato
A perfect baked potato is very simple to make with just 3 ingredients. The method below ensures crisp skin and a fluffy inside. Slice the potato open with a paring knife, top with butter, salt, and sour cream or scallions if you’d like.
Baked Potato Tips
Poke with a fork to prevent the potato from bursting as steam can build up inside the skins or the potato. Pierce the skin on each potato about 5-6 times. For a crisp skin, do not wrap the potatoes in foil and place them directly on the rack! For a softer skin, wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil before baking. The steam from cooking will keep the skin from crisping up. To check if a potato is done cooking, poke a fork into the center and ensure it is tender throughout.
How Long to Cook Baked Potatoes
The best-baked potato recipe is one that is kept simple. A high oven temperature is ideal; I bake potatoes at 400°F in the oven for 45-55 minutes. If you have other dishes cooking in the oven at the same time, you can add the potatoes to the oven. Cooking times can vary slightly based on the size of the potatoes and oven temperature.
350°F 60 to 75 minutes 375°F 50 to 60 minutes 400°F 45 to 55 minutes
Toppings for Baked Potatoes
Top baked potatoes with your favorite toppings like bacon, sour cream, or chives or green onions to create a perfect bite! More great ideas:
Chili, cheddar, and a handful of corn chips Taco meat with your fave taco toppings Alfredo sauce, steamed broccoli & cheddar cheese Sloppy Joe meat or leftover pulled pork Buffalo Chicken with cheddar and blue cheese
Fun Serving Idea: If you’re serving a crowd, create a baked potato bar at home and let everyone top their own! Did you enjoy this Baked Potato Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and a rating below!
More Potato Favorites
Potatoes Au Gratin The BEST Mashed Potatoes Potato Pancakes Grilled Potatoes in Foil (potato packets) Baked Sweet Potato Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
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