Description
This classic recipe for the Best Baked Potato delivers perfectly crispy skins with fluffy and tender insides. Whether you prefer simple butter and salt or loaded with your favorite toppings, these baked potatoes are easy to prepare and perfect as a comforting side or main dish.
Ingredients
Potatoes
- 1 to 4 medium Russet potatoes (7 to 9 ounces each)
Coating
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or extra-virgin olive oil
- Flaky sea salt or kosher salt, for sprinkling
Toppings (optional)
- Sour cream
- Butter
- Chives
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a rack in the middle of the oven. Prepare an oven-safe steel cooling rack inside a large rimmed baking sheet and set it aside on your countertop. Alternatively, you can place the potatoes directly on the middle oven rack and position a rimmed baking sheet on a lower rack to catch drips.
- Prepare the potatoes: Scrub each potato thoroughly under running water using a vegetable brush to remove dirt. Prick each potato with a fork 6 to 8 times about ¼-inch deep to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Bake the potatoes: Arrange the potatoes on the steel rack inside the baking sheet or directly on the oven rack. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until a fork or skewer inserts easily into the center of the largest potato.
- Butter and salt the skins: Remove the potatoes from the oven and lightly brush each potato all over with melted butter. Sprinkle flaky sea salt or kosher salt on the skins evenly.
- Crisp the skins: For extra crispy skins, move your oven rack one or two levels higher before returning the potatoes to the oven. If you prefer nicely crisp skins, leave the rack in place. Bake the potatoes for an additional 10 minutes.
- Prepare for serving: Take the potatoes out of the oven. Using a paring knife, cut two slits across the top of each potato to form an 'X'. Using a clean dish towel to protect your hands, gently push the ends of each potato inward to let the fluffy flesh ribbon out.
- Add toppings and serve: Top the potatoes with your favorite toppings such as sour cream, additional butter, chives, and seasoning. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Russet potatoes are ideal for baking due to their starchy texture which results in fluffy interiors.
- Pricking the potatoes prevents them from bursting in the oven.
- Using a cooling rack over a baking sheet allows heat to circulate evenly for crispier skins.
- Adjust baking time based on the size of your potatoes; larger ones may need more time.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil or a plant-based spread.
- Leftover baked potatoes can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven to maintain crispness.
