There are several methods to bake a potato, but this is the Perfect Baked Potato Recipe because the potato skin is crispy and the insides are soft and fluffy.
We love to top our potatoes with butter, salt and pepper, as well as my homemade chili for a delicious meal.
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.
How To Bake a Potato
- 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.
How To Get Crispy Skinned Baked Potatoes
Tired of soggy potato skins? DON’T wrap your potatoes in foil when baking, use these simple steps to get crispy skin with a delicious salted crust!
- Brush the whole potato with olive oil. This will make the skins nice and crispy when baked.
- Sprinkle the tops with some sea salt.
- Place them directly on the middle rack of the oven.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes or until a fork is able to pierce the potato with little resistance.
PRO TIP: I like to place a foil lined baking sheet on the shelf underneath the potatoes just in case anything drips off of the potatoes.
Tips For Opening a Baked Potato:
Once the potatoes have cooked, you’ll want to pop them open to enjoy those fluffy insides. To get that restaurant quality baked potato, follow these simple steps!
- 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 To Serve With Baked Potatoes
Baked Potatoes are a delicious side dish to go along with just about any meal, but here are a few of my favorite main dishes to pair them with.
- Classic Meatloaf
- Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
- Garlic Mushroom Steaks
- The Best Chili (great for topping those potatoes!)
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The Perfect Baked Potato
Ingredients
- 4 Baking Potatoes - make sure they are all similar in size
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- Salt - I prefer to use a coarser sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat 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, then sprinkle the tops with 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.
Notes
To Open Potatoes:
- 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. Fill with any toppings you would like!
Nutrition
Easy Gingerdoodle Cookie Recipe
Terri
Another tip: When you can squeeze your potato, it’s done.
For some reason it won’t squeeze until it’s completely done, I thought it was crazy but it works!
Crystal
You can also cut the potato with the fork instead of a knife (after it is cooked) and it will tear up the insides insead of cutting so well. This makes the potato fluff up better (when you are pinching the sides) when you are serving and makes the fluffing part easier (especially on a hot potato).
Christy @ My Invisible Crown
Love it! I buy potatoes at my local butcher shop and he has pre-oiled and salted and adds dried basil. Thanks for sharing!!
MP Burgin
I love to empty out the potato skins, mix the potato meat with some butter and sour cream (have used yogurt) then gently mix in baked salmon, garlic shrimp cut into small pieces,baked halibut, and other seafoods you have. Put the potato meat back into the skins and bake until light brown on top then add grated pramesan cheese and a hollandaise sauce. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm very good.
Tracy
OMG! You had me at hollandaise sauce! I love you!!!
Wanda
I used to get the “Princess Potatoes” at the college cafeteria, and they were topped with cottage cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped scallions or chives and then I added salt. Surprisingly good, and a change from butter and sour cream.
Cyndi G
I bake my potatoes in the crock pot! I like just sour cream on mine.
Sam G
I do the same thing with the oil and salt, only let mine cook all day on low in the crockpot! So simple and so perfectly cooked.
Kay
This is how I usually bake mine, but I usually use butter instead of olive oil. I’ll have to try it with olive oil, but it’s probably about the same. Yum!
Donna
Even easier, turn your oven to 475 and just put the plain clean potato in the oven for 45 minutes. Crispy outside and fluffy inside
Donna
No need to prick the skin or oil it. So healthy to just bake and eat…
frankie
Yall got me straving to death now and its to late to go fix a potato, but I like mine with butter, sour cream, chives, bacon,and cheese, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper…OMG!! Me Hungry…..
Tracie
We love potatoes! I love a taco potatoes….taco seasoned hamburger meat, queso sauce, and grated cheese. My boys love to add ranch to a regular potato….Just thought I would share!
Georgia
I LOVE baked potatoes any old way! However, my favorite toppings are lots of butter, lots of sour cream, green onions (chopped), and real bacon bits. Occasionally we go to BBQ place and get chopped beef to top also. Yummy! ♥
Kieran
Ooooh, I am so going to try this! I really like cottage cheese with my baked potatoes! My boyfriends thinks I’m nuts.
antonija
I made this, loved it, will definitely do it again. My family had great things to say as well. Best of all, it’s so easy.
Thanks for the post!
Shawn
That’s so great to hear Antonija! Glad your family loved it! 🙂
Peggy
I only like salt and pepper on my baked potato. I know, weird but I hate butter and hate sour cream too.
Shawn
Hey, nothing wrong with simplicity! Sounds delish!
TJ
Butter, Salt, Pepper, Shredded cheese, Pull BBQ pork, Sour Cream, Green onions, EXTRA BBQ- In this order! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shawn
Oh my goodness! That sounds like a whole delicious meal! Yum!
Maggie Hall
I’ve worked in restaurants most of my life. When you’re expediting orders (getting the plates ready for the servers) and have to plate as many as 10 baked potatoes at a time, you learn how to “pop” those potatoes just right without slicing into it. Same as you’d do after slicing; just a little more pressure.
I’ve seen this on Pinterest, but I’ve done it for years in the restaurant business, as well as at home. Whip butter with equal parts butter and water to cut down on calories but not the taste OR (in the restaurant business) whip equal parts butter and margarine. AND while I’m on the subject of butter, whip 2 sticks butter, 2 sticks margarine and 1 cup of frozen strawberries for strawberry butter… or 3/4 cup honey for honey butter (and 1 teaspoon cinnamon for cinnamon honey butter).
My favorite tater toppers are butter, 1 tsp sour cream, steamed broccoli, cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. And the roast beef with added cheddar on a baked potato is awesome.
Katie
When are you coming over? I’ll have the table all set!
Jenny
I found this post via Pinterest — and finally I know how to make them crispy and salty! Thanks!
p.s. I always eat mine with a bit of butter and A-1 steak sauce. I discovered that once while having steak – and a baked potato! LOL!
Tiffany
Ha ha I love mine with A1 too! My husband thinks I am a wierdo 🙂 So yummy though! When I do not have that I have mine with a bit of butter, garlic salt and cheese.
GiadasMama
i thought i was the only one that likes mine with A1 sauce also bbq sauce
i usually eat mine with butter, sour cream, sea salt and pepper
then when i get to the skin i like to dip it in A1 or bbq.. yum!!
Beth Foster
I have an additional tip to share that I picked up in the restaurant business…instead slicing the potato open with a knife, take a fork and prick holes in a cross pattern on the top- end to end and side to side. Then squeeze. You will be AMAZED! it’s almost like the potatoes are diced inside.
Great blog! Found via Pinterest. (of course) 🙂
Beth Foster
That was supposed to say “riced.” darn auto-correct!
Shawn
Great tip! Thanks for sharing Beth! 🙂
Not Supermom
My favorite baked potato topping?
POT ROAST.
Seriously.
NOM.
Shawn
That sounds fantastic, what a great meal idea! 🙂
Casey
Pot Roast baked potato. Genius!!!!
iwashyoudry
I have never tried Greek yogurt! That sounds fabulous!
Georgia
We love greek yogurt, Fage or Oikos are our favorites. Either one of these are so thick and creamy that the are delicious on baked potatoes, or any other dish that you ordinarily use sour cream on. When you try it try the best! Oh my gosh, I just read the date that you posted so you probably have already tried it. If you tried another brand and said yuk! before you make your final decision try Fage or Oikos. And no I have no interest in these two other than we love the brands.
Villy
Very nice and helpful post! I like sour cream, or Greek yogurt on top of mine! 🙂
iwashyoudry
That sounds great! (the toppings, not the explosion!!) lol
Chad
Would you mind if I dried the dishes? Or maybe, could I take you out?
Danielle
I love to top my with sour cream, chives and chopped olives. So So yummy.
I had a potato explode in the oven once. Such a mess.