Excellent Baked Potatoes - Barefeet In The Kitchen

Excellent baked potatoes with crispy pores and skin and a fluffy buttery inside are a kitchen staple it is advisable to know learn how to make. Far out of your common spud, these baked potatoes will be coated in toppings to make a hearty meal or full of 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 learn how to make baked potatoes within the oven. However, this methodology does create spuds which are deserving of the label excellent. And, that’s not a phrase I throw round evenly.

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 a giant, cozy pot of baked potato soup, it at all times begins proper right here. And, I by no means get bored with 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 end up waxy with powerful pores and skin, or else overcooked and mushy. When completed 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 Belief me, if a 5 yr outdated can do that, you may too!

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

Substances and Substitutions

Potatoes – There is just one type of potato with regards to the recipe for the very best baked potatoes. Russets. All the best way.

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

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

Notes on Gear

Rimmed baking sheet – There is just one type 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 process 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 whilst you prep the potatoes.

Scrubbing the Potatoes: Potatoes develop within the floor (stunning, I do know!), and so it is advisable to clear them nicely 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 occasions. 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 only a few minutes, and also you’ll have potatoes which are comfortable during, with crispy skins that make folks wish to rave about them.

Checking for Doneness: If you happen to’re undecided 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 each down the center. Then, I crack them open and fluff the insides with a fork.

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

Sprinkling salt over the oiled potatoes on a baking sheet.

Professional Tip

Can we discuss 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 report 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 ensure you’re choosing potatoes which are the identical dimension.

Fluff, Fluff, Fluff – PLEASE don’t skip this. I do know it appears minor. However whenever you slice that potato open, it is advisable 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 if you happen to want extra russets.

Candy Potatoes Work Too – One among 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, if you happen to 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 good 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. Carried out. Then when I would like them, it’s only a matter of reheating them and crisping them again up within the oven. One among my readers, Tiffany used this methodology to bake 50 potatoes the day earlier than a workers lunch!

Methods 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 maintain within the fridge a strong 4 to five days like that. We undergo ours quick, however it’s also possible to 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 so 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 very best 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 have to 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 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 go away them alone.

How lengthy do you bake potatoes at 400?

An hour is my common rule, nevertheless it 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 take a look at tells you all the pieces it is advisable to know. If it slides in simple? Pull them out.

Can I bake loads of potatoes directly?

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 grime after which rinse and dry totally. 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 each down the middle and fluff with a fork. Prime every potato with the toppings of your alternative. Get pleasure from!