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How To Bake a Potato Recipe

4.7 from 118 reviews

A simple and classic recipe for perfectly baked russet potatoes with a crispy skin and fluffy interior. This method involves coating the potatoes in olive oil and seasoning them with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper before baking at a high temperature for about an hour until tender and cooked through.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 russet potatoes, scrubbed
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for rubbing
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 450°F (232°C) to begin warming up while you prepare the potatoes.
  2. Prepare the potatoes: Pierce each russet potato multiple times all over with a fork to allow steam to escape during baking. Rub each potato thoroughly with extra-virgin olive oil to help crisp the skins.
  3. Season the potatoes: Generously sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper all over the coated potatoes to enhance flavor.
  4. Arrange for baking: Place the prepared potatoes on a baking sheet or a heatproof rack inside a baking sheet for even heat distribution and a crispy exterior.
  5. Bake: Bake the potatoes in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads between 200°F and 205°F, ensuring they are cooked through and tender inside.

Notes

  • Use russet potatoes for best results; their high starch content yields a fluffy interior.
  • Piercing the potatoes prevents them from bursting during baking by allowing steam to escape.
  • Rubbing with olive oil helps create a crispy and flavorful skin.
  • Adjust salt and pepper amounts based on personal preference.
  • For softer skins, wrap potatoes in foil before baking, but this will reduce crispiness.
  • Check for doneness with a fork or thermometer rather than relying solely on time, as oven temperatures vary.

Keywords: baked potatoes, russet potatoes, crispy skin, oven-baked potatoes, simple side dish