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 might want to know the right way to make. Far out of your common spud, these baked potatoes could be coated in toppings to make a hearty meal or filled with butter and cheese for a rare aspect dish.

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

This recipe for excellent 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 an enormous, cozy pot of baked potato soup, it all the time begins proper right here. And, I by no means get bored with it.

The Excellent Baked Potato!

In the event you’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 end up waxy with robust pores and skin, or else overcooked and mushy. When finished 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 arms drizzling the oil and sprinkling the salt. Belief me, if a 5 yr outdated can do that, you possibly can too!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 relating to the recipe for the most effective baked potatoes. Russets. All the way in which.

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

Salt – I all the time use kosher salt. And, this recipe is an effective 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 entire hearted belief. I’ve acquired a number of sizes through the years, in order that I’m prepared for any job within the oven. They’re sturdy however mild, and the worth is true.
Fork
Scrub brush or tough sponge

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

Methods 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 might want to clear them effectively earlier than anything.

Drying: After washing the potatoes, I dry them utterly. 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 few teaspoon of oil. Then, I simply rub the oil all them over with my arms.

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 only a few minutes, and also you’ll have potatoes which might be smooth throughout, with crispy skins that make folks wish to rave about them.

Checking for Doneness: In the event you’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: High these excellent baked potatoes with the toppings of your alternative.

Sprinkling salt over the oiled potatoes on a baking sheet.

Professional 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 assumed 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 Dimension 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 objects will typically cook dinner on the similar time within the oven. In the event you put a large russet on the sheet with three smaller ones, there’s going to be an underdone spud at time for dinner. Spare your self the effort, and be sure to’re selecting potatoes which might be the identical dimension.

Fluff, Fluff, Fluff – PLEASE don’t skip this. I do know it appears minor. However once you slice that potato open, you might want to 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 should you want extra russets.

Candy Potatoes Work Too – One in every of my readers, Charlene, requested if she may use this similar method with candy potatoes. YES. Identical oil, similar salt, similar 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 Options

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, should you haven’t drizzled cowboy butter excessive of a sizzling 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 would like, allow them to cool on the counter, then stick them within the fridge. Performed. Then when I would like 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 technique to bake 50 potatoes the day earlier than a employees lunch!

Methods to Retailer: Allow them to cool first. Then I simply wrap every potato individually (or throw all of them in an enormous container with a lid, no matter’s simpler). They’ll preserve within the fridge a strong 4 to five days like that. We undergo ours quick, however you may as well freeze them to make them last more.

Methods to Reheat: You wish 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.

Often 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 approach that thinner skinned varieties simply don’t.

Do I must wrap baked potatoes in foil?

No! Please don’t. I do know it’s a typical behavior, however foil traps the steam and steams the potato as a substitute 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 basic rule, nevertheless it actually relies on the potato. I’ve had smaller russets end in about 50 minutes. And I’ve had huge ones that wanted nearer to 75. The fork check tells you every part you might want to know. If it slides in straightforward? Pull them out.

Can I bake a variety of potatoes without delay?

As many as will slot in your oven. The strategy simply works, whether or not it’s only a few 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 dust 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. High every potato with the toppings of your alternative. Get pleasure from!