How To Wednesday- Baking a Potato

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Welcome to “How To Wednesday”!!

Today I have a Baked Potato.

I can’t tell you how many times I used to call my mom just to ask her how to bake a potato. I am pretty sure it drove her crazy, but I finally figured it out. There are several methods to baking a potato, but this is my favorite because the potato skin is crispy and the insides are soft and fluffy.

We like to have potatoes for dinner once in awhile. It’s a cheap meal, and it can be fun for the kiddos too. We put out all the fixin’s, {chili, cheese, sour cream, green onions, sliced olives, diced tomatoes, etc}and the kids have a blast creating their very own dinner.

Try to find potatoes that are similar in size for consistent baking.

To start off, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Scrub the potatoes under running water to remove all the dirt.

Pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel.

Using a fork, carefully pierce the potatoes two to three times per side.

Brush the whole potato with olive oil. This will make the skins nice and crispy.

Sprinkle the tops with some sea salt.

Place them directly on the middle rack of the oven. I like to place a foil lined baking sheet underneath just in case anything drips off of the potatoes.

Bake for 45-60 minutes or until a fork is able to pierce the potato with little resistance.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.

Run a knife lengthwise across the salted top, leaving about 1/2 inch on both sides.

Using both hands, pinch each side of the potato.

While pinching, push towards the center of the potato, forcing it to open up.

Keep pushing and squeeze the fluffy insides up. It might take one or two tries, but it will look like one fancy potato once you master this technique!

And there you have it! One crispy-skinned baked potato ready for all the fixin’s!!

What is your favorite topping on a baked potato?

**New** Check out all these great Themed Baked Potato Bar Ideas! From Mexican to Greek, and even Steakhouse…these potato toppings will help you create one fantastic meal!

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