Each day, thousands of people search “how to bake potatoes.” So please, don’t be embarrassed to be here — you’re definitely not alone. We love potatoes in every form, but oven-baked potatoes will forever hold a special place in our heart. An easy side dish to your steak or chicken dinner, they really don’t need anything else besides a bit of butter and salt for a stellar side. Not to mention they’re the perfect base for a more filling meal! Just load them up with bacon, cheese, and sour cream for a loaded potato dream, or try our French Onion Baked Potatoes if you’re feeling fancy.
Although the only kitchen skill you might need is knowing how to set your oven’s timer, we gathered our top baked potato tips for perfect results every time:
The Best Types Of Baking Potatoes
Russet potatoes make the best baked potatoes because of their thick skin and starchy, fluffy interior (once baked, of course). Leave the waxy potatoes for halving and roasting with some rosemary.
Why You Need To Scrub Them
Those Russets you’re about to eat came from the ground and are probably still covered in a considerable amount of dirt. Give ’em a rinse, people!
Poke Holes
Before baking, make sure to pierce your potatoes all over with a fork. This will help to release steam in the oven and prevent your potato from bursting (yep, you heard that right!).
The Key To Crispy Skin
Dry skin = crispy baked skin, and you definitely want to eat the skin — it’s got all the flavor. After you give the potatoes a good scrub, make sure to dry them thoroughly with a clean dish towel: Moisture will result in soggy sadness. You’ll also want to coat them with olive oil. Not only does it help the skin crisp up even more, but it makes it taste better. Rub the potatoes all over before baking, then season generously. Without enough salt, they’ll taste boring and plain.
No need to wrap them in foil! Wrapping your taters in foil keeps the moisture in, leaving you with soggy skin instead of the crispy exterior we want.
To Rack Or Not To Rack
If you have an oven-safe rack that fits inside a baking sheet, cook the potatoes on it. The greater the circulation under the potatoes, the better the results.
What Temperature To Bake Potatoes At
High heat makes all the difference in the world. We’re talking 450° high. Any lower than that, and you’ll likely be tucking into leathery, crinkly skin.
How Long To Bake Potatoes In The Oven
One hour is about right; you may have to go a bit longer. BUT, to get a really good gauge when they’re done, measure the internal temperature. A fully cooked baked potato should register 200°-205°. You want to turn to your instant read thermometer for this. Just insert it right into the middle of the potato. And once cooked, slice them open immediately to release steam (and therefore to avoid gumminess).
Break Out The Air Fryer!
It may be one of the longer air fryer cook times we have, but it’s a little shorter than the oven if you need to save some time. Prep the potatoes the same way you would for the oven by scrubbing them clean, patting dry, and poking holes all over with a fork. Place them in the basket of an air fryer at 400° for 40 minutes and you’ll have tender, crispy potatoes.
Storing Leftovers
Baked potatoes taste best straight from the oven. But if you want to make them ahead of time, slice them in half and let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Do not store them in foil as experts warn that this has been linked to botulism. To reheat the potato, take it out of the refrigerator and let it get back to room temperature. Then, bake at 350° until it’s warmed through, about 15 minutes.
Are you into grilling potatoes? Try our baked potatoes on the grill! Speaking of baked potatoes, why not do a casserole?
Tried it? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
Editor’s note: This intro was updated to add more information about the dish on September 19, 2022.