Valentina's Corner
Learn how to make the perfect baked potato in the oven with this detailed tutorial. Baked potatoes with crispy skin and with a tender and fluffy interior, the ultimate side dish for almost any dish!
We have so many favorite potato recipes. From scalloped potatoes to crispy oven-baked french fries and this amazing baked potato recipe.
PERFECT BAKED POTATO RECIPE-
There is nothing better than serving a perfectly cooked baked potato as a side dish. This baked potato in the oven is truly such a SIMPLE recipe and the potato has a crunchy and crispy outside and tender and fluffy insides. We love the added salt and the flavor it gives the potato!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED-
With just 3 basic ingredients that you most likely already have, you can have this recipe ready in no time!
- Potato– To get the ultimate baked potato you want to use Russet potatoes, aka Idaho potatoes. Make sure you use even-sized potatoes so that they cook evenly.
- Olive oil– The secret to this potato recipe is the olive oil, which gives you crispy and crunchy skin.
- Salt– Adding the salt to the skin of the potatoes is the key, but you can opt-out of the salt.
HOW TO BAKE A POTATO-
All you need is 5 minutes of prep time and then the oven does the rest of the work!
- CLEAN– Scrub and wash the potatoes with water and a scrubber. Pat the potatoes dry.
- PREP– Add the potatoes to a baking sheet and drizzle with oil and rub all over the potato then sprinkle with salt.
- BAKE– Bake the potatoes at 425°F for about 55 minutes, or until the fork pierce through easily in the center of the potato. (Tip: Handle the hot potatoes with tongs.)
IS MY BAKED POTATO READY?
The key to making the perfect baked potato is to make sure the potato is fully cooked.
How to know that your potatoes are done? When you pierce the potato with a fork, then it will easily slide into the middle. If the fork doesn’t pierce through easily then the potato needs more time to cook.
THE ULTIMATE LOADED BAKED POTATO-
The BEST way to serve baked potato is by loading it with toppings! Here are some of our favorite ways to serve baked potatoes for added flavor.
- Butter
- Sour Cream
- Chives
- Shredded Cheese
- Bacon Bits
- Chili
- Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese
- Jalapenos
- Green onion
- Mushroom Sauce
- Leftover ham
- Ground Black Pepper
- Guacamole
We love making a baked potato bar (charcuterie board style) and adding all these toppings to the bar!
SERVING IDEAS-
There are so many different ways that you can serve a baked potato! Here are some of our favorite ways:
- BAKED POTATO BAR– for the best potatoes, we love serving them as a bar and adding a bunch of toppings to the bar.
- WITH SOUP– Baked potatoes go so well with a bowl of hearty soup like Creamy Vegetable Soup or Broccoli Soup.
- LIGHT LUNCH– Add the potato to a salad for a light lunch. Classic Caesar Salad, our Coleslaw, and even Greek Salad.
- WITH DINNER– Serve as a side dish to your entree.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-
Yes! The skin is actually loaded with more nutrients than the inside of the potato! This is why we thoroughly recommend you clean the potato before cooking it.
You do not have to poke the holes but if you want to avoid the risk of them exploding then you want to poke holes in the potato before baking to allow the steam to escape.
No, if you wrap the baked potato in aluminum foil it will trap the moisture and steam in giving you a boiled taste and texture.
The internal temperature of a cooked baked potato will read between 205°F and 212°F.
Store the leftover baked potatoes in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Add the baked potato to a baking sheet and reheat at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until reheated.
Reheat in an air fryer for 1 minute, or until reheated.
Microwave in the oven until, or reheated.
Try these other side dish recipes-
Baked Potato Recipe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Wash and scrub the potatoes with water. Pat the potatoes completely dry.
- Add the potatoes to a baking sheet and coat in oil and then sprinlke with salt. Optional– Peirce the potatoes with a fork all over.
- Bake the potatoes at 425°F for 50-55 minutes or until a fork piereces through easily to the center of the potato.