Excellent Baked Potatoes - Barefeet In The Kitchen

Excellent baked potatoes with crispy pores and skin and a fluffy buttery inside are a kitchen staple you must know the way to make. Far out of your common spud, these baked potatoes could be lined in toppings to make a hearty meal or full of butter and cheese for a unprecedented aspect dish.

Right here’s the factor about this good baked potato recipe. It’s actually not rocket science, studying the way to make baked potatoes within the oven. However, this methodology does create spuds which might be deserving of the label good. And, that’s not a phrase I throw round flippantly.

This recipe for good baked potatoes has been my go-to for years now.

Whether or not I’m utilizing them to make BBQ chicken stuffed baked potatoes for the boys or making a giant, cozy pot of baked potato soup, it all the time begins proper right here. And, I by no means get uninterested in it.

The Excellent Baked Potato!

If you happen to’ve tended to shrug off baked potatoes as a boring aspect dish, now’s the time to rethink your stance. I assure you these potatoes can change your thoughts. Too usually baked potatoes prove waxy with robust pores and skin, or else overcooked and mushy. When carried out proper although? Oh boy. Buckle up, as a result of these are heavenly.

My youngest son was my helper once I first shot a video prepping these potatoes. I nonetheless grin on the reminiscence of his little palms drizzling the oil and sprinkling the salt. Belief me, if a 5 yr previous can do that, you possibly can too!

A close up on the interior of a fluffy baked potato with butter and herbs.

Components and Substitutions

Potatoes – There is just one sort of potato in terms of the recipe for the most effective baked potatoes. Russets. All the best way.

Oil – You’re going to wish oil to assist the pores and skin crisp up and get the salt to stay. I want olive oil. You possibly can swap for an additional oil with a excessive smoke level, although.

Salt – I all the time use kosher salt. And, this recipe is an efficient instance of why. Tremendous desk salt simply vanishes into the oil. Coarse kosher grains are the place it’s at!

Notes on Tools

Rimmed baking sheet – There is just one sort of baking sheet that has earned my complete hearted belief. I’ve acquired a number of sizes through the years, in order that I’m prepared for any activity within the oven. They’re sturdy however gentle, and the value is true.
Fork
Scrub brush or tough sponge

Cleaning the potatoes in a white colander under the faucet with cold water.

Tips on how to Make Baked Potatoes

Preheating the Oven: Crank it to 400°F. Let it preheat when you prep the potatoes.

Scrubbing the Potatoes: Potatoes develop within the floor (stunning, I do know!), and so you must clear them effectively earlier than the rest.

Drying: After washing the potatoes, I dry them fully. This helps the oil to stay, and retains further moisture out of the oven.

Piercing the potatoes with a metal fork.

Poking with a Fork: Stab every potato a number of instances. You’re making holes for the steam to flee. So, don’t skip this step. We don’t need them to bust open within the oven.

Oiling: I place the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle every potato with a couple of teaspoon of oil. Then, I simply rub the oil all them over with my palms.

Salting: A sprinkling of salt is the ultimate ingredient earlier than you pop these potatoes within the oven. I’m beneficiant with my salt. Don’t skimp on the flavour.

Drizzling olive oil over the potatoes on a sheet pan.

Baking: Into the oven they go. I discover that an hour is the candy spot, baking potatoes within the oven. Give or take just some minutes, and also you’ll have potatoes which might be gentle during, with crispy skins that make individuals need to rave about them.

Checking for Doneness: If you happen to’re unsure they’re completed, test them with a fork. The fork ought to pierce the potato simply and slide proper in. The pores and skin ought to look brown and crisp, not soggy in any respect.

Fluffing: When the potatoes are completed, I pull them from the oven and slice every one down the center. Then, I crack them open and fluff the insides with a fork.

Serving: Prime these good baked potatoes with the toppings of your alternative.

Sprinkling salt over the oiled potatoes on a baking sheet.

Skilled Tip

Can we speak concerning the foil factor for a second? As a result of I really feel fairly strongly about this. Rising up, I believed you HAD to wrap potatoes in foil earlier than making baked potatoes within the oven. That’s what everybody did, proper? However, foil traps all of the steam in there with the potato, and what you get is mainly a steamed potato with unhappy, limp pores and skin. Say goodbye to foil!

Identical Measurement Potatoes – I really feel like a damaged file at this level, however I’m going to say it once more as a result of it issues. Uniform sized gadgets will usually prepare dinner on the identical time within the oven. If you happen to put an enormous russet on the sheet with three smaller ones, there’s going to be an underdone spud at meal time. Spare your self the trouble, and be sure to’re choosing potatoes which might be the identical measurement.

Fluff, Fluff, Fluff – PLEASE don’t skip this. I do know it appears minor. However once you slice that potato open, you must actually work the insides with a fork and push the 2 ends towards one another. Opens the entire thing up. That’s how you find yourself with all these fluffy little pockets that the butter melts into.

Feeding a Crowd – Baked potatoes are my favourite reply to the query of what to feed a crowd with out spending a fortune. They’re economical and everybody simply loves a potato bar. Simply add a second pan into the oven for those who want extra russets.

Candy Potatoes Work Too – One in every of my readers, Charlene, requested if she may use this identical method with candy potatoes. YES. Identical oil, identical salt, identical temperature. Simply give them an additional 10 to fifteen minutes within the oven as a result of they are usually a bit denser. You’ll love the crisp skins!

The potatoes are oiled and salted and ready to go into the oven.

Serving Recommendations

I wish to pair an ideal baked potato with garlic butter steak bites at our home. It’s like having a steakhouse dinner at dwelling. And, for those who haven’t drizzled cowboy butter excessive of a scorching baked potato but? Do it. Quickly. You’ll not be sorry.

For one thing inexperienced on the plate, sauteed broccoli and asparagus is a superb alternative. Or, simply set out bowls of toppings and let everybody construct their very own.

Perfectly baked potatoes on a sheet pan with crispy skins, ready to cut open and serve.

Make Forward & Storage

Make Forward: I do that ALL the time. If I’m internet hosting a dinner or prepping for the week, I’ll bake all of the potatoes I want, allow them to cool on the counter, then stick them within the fridge. Achieved. Then when I want them, it’s only a matter of reheating them and crisping them again up within the oven. One in every of my readers, Tiffany used this methodology to bake 50 potatoes the day earlier than a workers lunch!

Tips on how to Retailer: Allow them to cool first. Then I simply wrap every potato individually (or throw all of them in a giant container with a lid, no matter’s simpler). They’ll hold within the fridge a strong 4 to five days like that. We undergo ours quick, however you can even freeze them to make them last more.

Tips on how to Reheat: You need to use the oven or the air fryer. You want that dry warmth to get them to crisp up in order that they style such as you simply made them. In a pinch, I’ll use the microwave if I’m in a rush.

Extra Potato Recipes

A potato on a sheet pan, topped with butter and seasonings.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

What potato makes the most effective baked potato?

Oh, my gosh. Russet. Fingers down! The starch content material is what offers you that fluffy inside, and the thicker pores and skin holds as much as oil and salt in a manner that thinner skinned varieties simply don’t.

Do I have to wrap baked potatoes in foil?

No! Please don’t. I do know it’s a standard behavior, however foil traps the steam and steams the potato as an alternative of baking it. Spare your self all that soggy pores and skin with no crunch. Simply put them on the sheet pan with oil and salt and depart them alone.

How lengthy do you bake potatoes at 400?

An hour is my common rule, but it surely actually relies on the potato. I’ve had smaller russets end in about 50 minutes. And I’ve had massive ones that wanted nearer to 75. The fork check tells you every part you must know. If it slides in straightforward? Pull them out.

Can I bake a whole lot of potatoes without delay?

As many as will slot in your oven. The tactic simply works, whether or not it’s just some potatoes for dinner otherwise you’re making baked potatoes for a crowd. Simply give them area to breathe on the baking sheets. They shouldn’t be touching or they’ll steam.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes to take away all filth after which rinse and dry completely. Poke a number of holes into every potato with a fork after which place them on a baking sheet.
Drizzle every potato with about 1 teaspoon of oil. Rub the oil throughout every potato. Generously sprinkle every potato with salt after which place within the oven.
Bake for simply over an hour, till fork tender. They need to be crisp on the skin and tender inside.
When the potatoes are completed, take away from the oven and slice every one down the middle and fluff with a fork. Prime every potato with the toppings of your alternative. Get pleasure from!