Description
This recipe guides you to make the perfect baked potato with a crispy skin and fluffy interior, ideal as an easy and versatile side dish. Using simple ingredients like russet potatoes, olive oil, and kosher salt, you can bake them to golden perfection and serve with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed clean and dried
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it is hot enough to crisp the potato skins while cooking the insides evenly.
- Prepare the potatoes: Prick each potato several times with a fork. This allows steam to escape while baking, preventing them from bursting.
- Season the potatoes: Rub each potato all over with olive oil to help the skin crisp nicely. Sprinkle kosher salt evenly over each potato for seasoning.
- Bake the potatoes: Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet if you prefer easier cleanup. Bake for 45–60 minutes or until the skins are crisp and you can easily pierce them with a fork.
- Finish and serve: Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool slightly. Slice open lengthwise, fluff the insides with a fork, and top with your favorite toppings such as butter, sour cream, cheese, chives, or bacon bits.
Notes
- For an extra crispy skin, bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack without any foil.
- To reduce overall cooking time, microwave the potatoes for 5–6 minutes before baking.
- Leftover baked potatoes can be transformed into hash browns, potato skins, or creamy mashed potatoes.
