How to Make a Great Baked Potato

Baked potatoes are a simple and tasty side to any meal.  They can even be a great meal all on there own.  

I wasn't always a big fan of baked potatoes.  When I had them I would load them with 'fixings' and only eat the insides.  Everyone would tell me that the skin had the most nutrients in it, but it never tasted good.  However, when at a restaurant I would love the baked potatoes with salty, chewy skin and I would gobble up the whole thing.  For the longest time I could not duplicate this at home until, finally, I found the secret (I searched how to bake a potato online and found great instructions). Here are the steps I follow to make a great baked potato.

First it is important to thoroughly rinse and scrub your russet potato.  With these simple steps the potato skin turns out delicious and you won't want to waste it.

Then you will pierce the potato all over with a sharp knife or a fork (about 10 times, a couple of centimeters deep).  I use a sharp knife just because it is easier for me to insert and remove.

Next pour about 1 Tbsp of olive oil over the potato and rub/massage the oil all over the potato.

Sprinkle on about 1 tsp coarse sea salt or kosher salt and rub it in.  Not all of the salt and oil will adhere to the potato but some of it should. You can adjust the oil and salt to suit your tastes.

Bake in a 350 degree oven (right on the rack) for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until soft.

Depending on the size of the potato it may take longer (you can bake sweet potatoes the same way).  I usually only bake 2 potatoes so I use a toaster oven, but I think that baking is very important.  I know a microwave is quick, but once you try a potato this way you won't want to go back.  The skin is lightly salty and has a great texture.  I kind of want to try this, sometime, with butter instead of oil, I don't know how it would turn out but I am curious.

Enjoy.

Other posts with baked potatoes:  Loaded Potato Skins, Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin (baked sweet potato), Twice Baked Potatoes

Original post 12/24/12 (50 views and 2 pins) re-posted with new pictures and minor editing.

Linked to:  2 Cup, Teach Me, Lou Lou Girls, Tasty, Whimsy, Full Plate, Cook Craft Share, Foodie Friends, Pretty Pintastic,Best of the Weekend, Snickerdoodle


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