How to Make Baked Potatoes Recipe
Introduction
Baked potatoes are a classic comfort food that’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This easy method ensures perfect potatoes with a tender center and a flavorful, seasoned skin. Customize them with your favorite toppings for a satisfying meal or side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water (130-140°F)
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- 4 (7-9-ounce) Russet potatoes, scrubbed and lightly pricked with a fork
- Vegetable oil or olive oil, for brushing
- Favorite seasonings or seasoning blend (optional)
- Butter, for serving
- Sour cream, for serving
- Shredded cheese, for serving
- Bacon crumbles, for serving
- Chives or green onions, chopped or sliced, for serving
- Additional toppings such as diced tomatoes, cooked broccoli, sautéed or caramelized onions, cooked hamburger or sausage, chili, goat cheese, sautéed mushrooms, grilled or rotisserie chicken (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack inside to allow air circulation around the potatoes.
- Step 2: Place an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Step 3: Dissolve the kosher salt in the warm water. Submerge the potatoes fully in the salted water and soak for about 10 minutes, ensuring they are completely moistened.
- Step 4: Remove the potatoes from the water and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet on the wire rack. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Use a food thermometer to check; the largest potato should reach an internal temperature of 205°F.
- Step 5: Take the potatoes out of the oven but keep the oven on. Brush the tops and sides with oil, then sprinkle with your chosen seasonings or simply salt and pepper. Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to crisp the skin.
- Step 6: Remove the baked potatoes and place them on a serving dish. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a large X on the top of each potato to release steam.
- Step 7: Hold the ends of each potato with paper towels and gently squeeze from both ends, pushing the fluffy interior outward slightly.
- Step 8: Add your favorite toppings such as butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and vegetables. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- For extra-crispy skin, brush the potatoes with oil and sprinkle with coarse salt before the final bake.
- Experiment with toppings like chili, sautéed mushrooms, or grilled chicken for a hearty meal.
- If you prefer softer skin, skip the oil brushing and seasoning step.
- Soaking the potatoes in salted water helps season the skin and improves texture.
Storage
Store leftover baked potatoes wrapped in foil or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 15-20 minutes to maintain a crispy skin, or microwave for 2-3 minutes if short on time.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use other types of potatoes for baking?
Russet potatoes are ideal for baking thanks to their starchy, fluffy texture. Other varieties like Yukon Gold can be used but may yield a denser interior.
Why should I prick the potatoes before soaking?
Pricking allows steam to escape during baking and helps water penetrate the skin, resulting in a better texture and more evenly cooked potato.
PrintHow to Make Baked Potatoes Recipe
Learn how to make perfectly crispy and fluffy baked potatoes with this simple step-by-step recipe. Soaking the potatoes in salted warm water softens their skins for an ideal texture, then baking at a high temperature ensures a crispy outside and tender inside. Customize your baked potatoes with classic toppings like butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, or any of your favorite extras for a comforting and satisfying meal or side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Potatoes and Seasoning
- 4 (7-9-ounce) Russet potatoes, scrubbed and lightly pricked with a fork
- 2 cups warm water (130-140°F)
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt
- Vegetable oil or olive oil, for brushing
- Favorite seasonings or seasoning blend (optional, e.g., salt, pepper, garlic powder)
Toppings (optional)
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
- Bacon crumbles
- Chives, chopped
- Green onions, sliced
- Tomatoes, diced
- Cooked broccoli
- Sautéed onions
- Caramelized onions
- Cooked hamburger or sausage
- Chili
- Goat cheese
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Grilled or rotisserie chicken
Instructions
- Prepare baking sheet and rack: Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack inside to allow air circulation around the potatoes for even baking.
- Preheat oven: Place the oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C), ensuring it’s hot enough to crisp the potato skins.
- Soak potatoes: In a bowl, dissolve kosher salt into 2 cups of warm water (130-140°F). Submerge the Russet potatoes fully in the salted water and soak for about 10 minutes. This step helps moisten and season the skins.
- Bake potatoes: Remove potatoes from the water and place them directly on the prepared wire rack atop the baking sheet. Bake in the 450°F oven for 45-60 minutes. Use a food thermometer to check the largest potato’s center; it should reach 205°F for perfect doneness and fluffiness inside.
- Oil and season: Take the potatoes out of the oven but keep the oven on. Brush the tops and sides of each potato with vegetable or olive oil, then sprinkle your choice of seasonings, at minimum salt and pepper, over them. Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to crisp the skins further.
- Cut and fluff: Remove the potatoes once more and transfer them to serving plates. Using a sharp paring knife, make a large X incision on top of each potato to release steam. Holding both ends of a potato with paper towels, gently squeeze from the ends and sides to puff out the fluffy interior.
- Add toppings and serve: Top each baked potato with your favorite toppings such as butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon crumbles, chives, or any other preferred ingredients. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Soaking the potatoes in salted warm water softens the skins for a better texture after baking.
- For a fluffier interior, ensure potatoes are fully cooked to 205°F internally.
- You can vary cooking time based on potato size; larger potatoes may need closer to 60 minutes.
- Be careful when squeezing potatoes after cutting to avoid burns from hot steam.
- Baking at a high temperature (450°F) achieves crispy skins without drying out the potato flesh.
Keywords: baked potatoes, crispy baked potato, Russet potatoes, how to bake potatoes, easy side dish, potato recipe
