How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven
Baking potatoes in the oven is very easy to do and perfect as a side for a meal or used to make potato skins, twice baked potatoes and more!
Potatoes are a staple and there are so many ways to cook them. They can be boiled, fried, grilled, baked and more. One of the simplest sides is oven baked potatoes and they could not be easier to cook.
Oven baked potatoes are light and fluffy on the inside and are perfect with some butter and sour cream. If you really want to get fancy with your baked potatoes, you could even top them with crumbled bacon, chives, grated cheese or sliced green onions.
What Kind of Potato is Best for Baking
There are many different types of potatoes and some are better for baking than others. Potatoes can be either waxy or starchy and the ideal type for baking are potatoes that are high in starch.
The types of potatoes that are perfect for baking include russet, Yukon gold and Idaho. There are some larger white potatoes that are more like an all purpose potato that can also work well for baking.
How to Prep the Potatoes for Baking
Some potatoes need a good wash before they are cooked. Give them a good scrub while rinsing in some water. The skin should look clean with no bits of dirt. If there are any eyes starting to sprout, use a paring knife to cut those off the potato.
Why Should You Poke a Potato With a Fork?
Potatoes have lots of water and sticking a fork in a potato will create holes that allow the steam to escape during baking. Once the potatoes have been cleaned, take a fork and stick it into the potato so it goes about halfway into the potato. Do this three or four times for each potato. Don’t be surprised if you see a little bit of water coming out of the potatoes after they have been poked as you can see in the picture above.
How Long to Bake Potatoes in the Oven
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and make sure they are spaced at least one inch apart. This allows the heat to evenly surround the potato for baking.
Preheat the oven to 375F and once the oven has come to temperature, place the baking sheet with the potatoes in the oven. Bake for 60-75 minutes. The potatoes are cooked through when they are soft when stuck with a fork.
Baked Potato Ideas
Oven baked potatoes are great as a side and perfect alongside a steak or filet of salmon. I love the potatoes with some butter and a dollop of sour cream.
Baked potatoes are also great to use for other recipes. Check out these other recipe ideas!
- Bacon and Cheddar Potato Skins
- Buffalo Baked Potato Wedges
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Buffalo Chicken Twice Baked Potatoes
How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes , russet, Yukon gold or Idaho
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Wash the potatoes so the skin is clean.
- Poke the potatoes 3 or 4 times with a fork sticking the fork about halfway into the potatoes. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet.
- Bake the potatoes in the oven for 60-75 minutes or until they are soft when stuck with a knife.
Nutrition
Per serving:
