The Best Baked Potato has perfectly crispy skin and fluffy insides using just three ingredients. Top with butter, sour cream and your favorite potato fixings for a simple, satisfying and delicious side dish.
Jump to:
The Perfect Potato
We’re getting back to the basics with this one. Anyone can bake a potato, but our Best Baked Potato recipe is the difference between good and ah-mazing!
With just a few simple instructions and tips, we’ll show you exactly how to achieve those ultra fluffy insides and crispy golden skin that you crave. We have also included some of our favorite topping ideas, as well as answers to your frequently asked questions (hint: ditch the aluminum foil!).
All you need now are a few large potatoes, oil, sea salt and your favorite potato fixings and you are ready to go.
Toppings for Baked Potatoes
It might be better to ask, what can’t you top a baked potato with? Some of our favorite homemade and purchased toppings include:
- Butter (duh!)
- Sour cream
- Cheese of all kinds
- Chili
- Diced onions and green onions
- Cheddar Queso Dip
- Alfredo Sauce
- Taco meat with taco toppings (shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce and salsa)
- Guacamole
- Broccoli
- Salsa
- Ranch dressing with cheddar cheese and bacon bits
What are the Best Potatoes for Baking?
Russet potatoes are the gold standard for baked potatoes. They have a high starch content that makes for a perfectly fluffy texture once cooked. Plus, the skins are thick enough to get nice and crispy in the oven. Here in the United States, you might also find them called Idaho potatoes.
Waxy potatoes, such as Yukon gold or red potatoes, tend to clump if you try and fluff them. They have a much higher water content and are better for boiling, or roasting whole.
Oven Baked Potato Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes - these are hands down our favorite potatoes for baking. Sometimes also called Idaho potatoes, this variety is starchier which makes for super fluffy insides. They also have a nice thick skin which bakes up nice and crispy.
- Avocado Oil - you can also substitute another kind of cooking oil, but you want to try and use one that won’t smoke at a high temperature. Grapeseed, canola, vegetable or pure olive oil will work, too.
- Sea Salt - both coarse or fine sea salt (or kosher salt) will work great. Whatever you use, just don’t skimp! You may also want to season with additional salt and pepper just before serving.
How to Make Perfectly Baked Potatoes in the Oven
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Prep and season: Scrub the potatoes, then dry well. Using a fork, poke the potato skins with 6-10 holes about a ½" deep. Continue to pierce all of the potatoes, then put them into a large ziplock bag with the avocado oil. Seal the bag and roll the potatoes around inside until all the potatoes are covered in oil (Note: if you don't have a ziplock bag, you can use a large bowl). Place potatoes onto a 9" x 13" baking dish or cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Sprinkle sea salt all over each potato, making sure to get the sides, too.
- Bake: Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a fork inserted does not stick. Remove from the oven and slice open. Use a fork to lightly fluff the insides and serve warm with your favorite toppings.
- Enjoy!
How to Reheat a Baked Potato
The best way to reheat a baked potato isn’t necessarily the fastest way, but it crisps up the skin and make sure your potato doesn’t dry out.
Pull your baked potatoes out of the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees. You can place the potatoes directly onto the rack in your oven, or else onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
If you want to go with the quickest method, you can use the microwave. It’s very easy to dry the potatoes out this way, so we recommend covering them with a damp paper towel and reheating for about 2 minutes, until warmed through.
Baked Potato FAQ
- Is it better to bake a potato in the oven or microwave? If you are short on time, making a baked potato in the microwave is definitely quicker! However, we much prefer the texture of a baked potato made in either a convection oven or regular oven. You will get a much crisper skin and fluffier insides.
- Should I wrap potatoes in foil to bake? This may come as a surprise, but it’s actually preferable NOT to wrap baked potatoes in foil. The foil steams the potatoes, so you will never get that beautifully crispy skin.
- What should be the internal temp of a baked potato? A baked potato is fully cooked once the internal temperature reaches 210 degrees F.
- How long to bake potatoes at 425? The baking time depends on your oven, as well as how full your oven is and how often you open the oven door. But generally speaking, it will take approximately 40-45 minutes to bake a potato at 425 degrees F.
- How long to bake potatoes at 375? Again, cooking time depends on a few different factors but it should take approximately 60-65 minutes to bake a potato at 375 degrees F.
- What is the best baked potato oven temp? We like to bake potatoes at 400 degrees F. The high temperature is crucial if you want to get the fluffy insides and crisp skin.
More Delicious Baked Russet Potato Recipes
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Steakhouse Style Baked Potato
- Loaded Baked Potato Skins
- 3 Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes
- 33 of the Best Potato Recipes
Best Baked Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large Russett Potatoes washed
- 3 Tablespoons Avocado Oil can substitute another cooking oil
- 4 tsp Sea Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Using a fork, poke 6-10 holes, about a ½" deep, into each potato.
- Put the potatoes into a large ziplock bag with the avocado oil. Seal the bag and roll the potatoes around inside the bag until all the potatoes are covered in oil (Note: if you don't have a ziplock bag, you can use a large bowl).
- Place potatoes onto a 9" x 13" baking dish or cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Sprinkle sea salt all over each potato, making sure to get the sides, too.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a fork inserted does not stick. Remove from the oven and slice open. Use a fork to lightly fluff the insides and serve warm with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
How To Microwave Baked Potatoes
- Microwave the baked potatoes on a paper plate or directly on the microwave turntable. If cooking two or more potatoes, an additional 5 minutes. Check the potatoes. When done, the potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork or paring knife all the way to the center. Continue to microwave in 1-minute bursts as needed until the potatoes are cooked through.
- Let the potatoes cool for about 5 minutes, then slice through the top of the potato and using 2 forks, fluff the inside.
How To Cook Baked Potatoes in the Crockpot
- Prick the potatoes with a fork several times, then rub potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and wrap tightly in foil.
- Place the potatoes into a crockpot, cover, and cook on high for 4 ½ to 5 hours, or on low for 7 ½ to 8 hours until tender.
Nutrition
If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest, feel free to leave a comment and photo there too. Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!
Our recipe for the Best Baked Potato is simple, full of flavor and uses just three ingredients. With just a few simple instructions and tips, we’ll show you exactly how to achieve those ultra fluffy insides and crispy golden skin that you crave.
Mojoblogs
Thank you for the recipe and all the tips that you shared. Cannot wait to try this! 🙂