A perfectly baked potatoes recipe is hard to beat. The skin is brown and crisp, coated in a sea salt crust. Once you pierce it with a fork, its soft, fluffy interior becomes apparent.
If you are looking for an easy way to make the perfect baked potato, then look no further. Everyone loves a good baked potato, follow these tips and tricks to have the perfect baked potatoes every time.
Easy Side Dish Recipe
Are you looking for a side dish that is easy to make, delicious and will compliment almost any meal? Then these easy baked potatoes recipe are just what you need.
I prefer to bake russet potatoes, since their skin really puffs up and becomes crispy in the oven. To make this baked potato recipe, you’ll only need olive oil and salt. Once you’ve put your ingredients together, follow these steps:
How to Bake a Potato
It’s not hard to bake a potato, but there are some things you should know before you put it in the oven.
For example, potatoes come in many different sizes and shapes so cooking times will vary.
What Kind of Potatoes Are Best for Baked Potatoes?
I like to use russet potatoes, as their skin puffs up and becomes crisp in the oven and the high starch content creates a delicious fluffy interior. You can really use this recipe with any kind of potato, red potatoes, even sweet potatoes.
Ingredients in This Easy Baked Potatoes Recipe
Along with the potatoes, you’ll just need olive oil and salt to make this baked potato recipe.
Oil. While I generally use olive oil, you can use an avocado oil or even a vegetable oil.
Salt. Because we like to eat the crispy skins, we like to use flaked sea salt. However, if you do not have this no worries. Go ahead and use your regular table salt or kosher salt.
Once you’ve assembled your ingredients, follow these easy steps:
First, preheat the oven to 425, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare the potatoes while the oven preheats. Wash the potatoes well and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. After that, poke the potatoes with the tines of a fork a few times or a small paring knife to create small holes on their surface.
Next, season the potatoes. Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with sea salt or kosher salt. Then place them on a baking sheet and place them in the oven to bake.
Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes. Depending on the size of your potato, the baking time will vary. The larger the potato, the longer baking time you will need. Use oven mitts to remove the hot baking sheet from the oven.
How to Tell if Baked Potatoes are Done
When potatoes are fully baked, the skin will appear wrinkly and papery on the outside. When piercing a potato with a fork, it should easily pierce the skin and slide into the fluffy interior. Another way to test if a baked potato is done is to give it a gentle squeeze. It should give and feel soft when gently squeezed.
Add Your Favorite Toppings
The best part about this recipe is that there are so many different ways you can personalize your potato. Many years ago, there used to be a potato restaurant in the local mall. We would love to stop there and add our favorite potato toppings. by adding additional vegetables, cheese, meat, your options are really endless. Dress up your potato with your favorite toppings or entertain your guests with a potato bar.
Here are a few ideas for you.
- Bacon Bits
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
- Butter
- Salsa
- Steamed Broccoli
- Steamed Cauliflower
- Top your potato with homemade chili.
- Chicken
- Ham
- Barbeque Sauce
- Ranch Dressing
- Shredded cheddar cheese or other cheese
- Onions
- Chives
- Green peppers
What to Pair with Oven Baked Potatoes?
Baked potatoes pair well with everything from chicken, roast beef, steak, fish, and ham.
Country Style Pork Ribs and Sauerkraut
Slow Cooker Coffee Roast Beef with Garlic
Restaurant Style Poor Man’s Lobster
How Do You Store Leftover Baked Potatoes
Let the baked potato cool completely and place in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator safely up to 5 days.
Baked potatoes place in an airtight container can be frozen up to 1 year.
To use, just thaw and reheat. If you pop them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the skin will crisp up again and the inside will be hot.
Campfire Baked Potatoes
In addition to being a camper’s favorite, campfire potatoes are also a natural complement to the actual camping experience. But best of all, they are much easier than most people believe if they haven’t tried them yet.
This is how I prepare my potatoes for backyard grilling too.
When baking the potatoes this way, I do use aluminum foil. When baking in the oven, I do not use foil as I get a crispier skin. However, when baking over the campfire, I amp up the flavor during the cooking process. Aluminum foil keeps all the goodness in one convenient package.
When baking potatoes over the campfire, rather than leaving the potato whole and piercing with a fork, I slice the potatoes in half. Then add a quarter of a medium onion sliced thin. To really add more flavor, touch in a clove of garlic. The diced onions and garlic will caramelize during the cooking process and their flavor really packs a punch. Yum. Add a few pieces of butter, approximately 2 teaspoons, and generously salt and pepper.
Wrap the foil around the potatoes and place them on a cooled bed of coals. If the coals are too hot the outside will burn before the inside is done. You can also place in a basket hanging over the hot coals or place the foil packets on a rock near the coals turning them every 10 minutes until done.
Perfect Baked Potatoes Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 1 8 Ounce Russet Potato
- 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Flaked Sea Salt
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 425, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare the potatoes while the oven preheats. Wash the potatoes well and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. After that, poke the potatoes with the tines of a fork a few times or a small paring knife to create small holes on their surface.1 8 Ounce Russet Potato
- Next, season the potatoes. Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with sea salt or kosher salt. Then place them on a baking sheet and place them in the oven to bake.1 Teaspoon Olive Oil, 1 Teaspoon Flaked Sea Salt
- Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes. Depending on the size of your potato, the baking time will vary. The larger the potato, the longer baking time you will need. Use oven mitts to remove the hot baking sheet from the oven.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
There is a Short Video on This Recipe
How to Tell if Baked Potatoes are Done
When potatoes are fully baked, the skin will appear wrinkly and papery on the outside. When piercing a potato with a fork, it should easily pierce the skin and slide into the fluffy interior. Another way to test if a baked potato is done is to give it a gentle squeeze. It should give and feel soft when gently squeezed.Add Your Favorite Toppings
Dress up your potato with your favorite toppings or entertain your guests with a potato bar. Here are a few ideas for you.- Bacon Bits
Sour Cream
Greek Yogurt
Butter
Salsa
Steamed Broccoli
Steamed Cauliflower
Top your potato with homemade chili
Chicken
Ham
Barbeque Sauce
Ranch Dressing
Shredded cheddar cheese or other cheese
Onions
Chives
Green peppers
How Do You Store Leftover Baked Potatoes
Let the baked potato cool completely and place in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator safely up to 5 days. Baked potatoes place in an airtight container can be frozen up to 1 year.To use, just thaw and reheat. If you pop them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the skin will crisp up again and the inside will be hot.
