The smell of warm, delicious baked potatoes with a nice homemade meal can cheer up anyone. A perfect baked potato is a dish that can be enjoyed with different toppings, like sour cream, cheese, and bacon.
You can enjoy eating baked potatoes as a snack or side dish with chicken, meatloaf, and salads; they also have soft, fluffy insides with crispy skin.
You can learn how to bake a potato. There are endless ways to make perfect baked potatoes, and you can add many ingredients to make the seasoning or just the simple kosher salt and black pepper or stuff the potato with cheese, sour cream, or bacon.
So, let us look into some recipes to bake a potato in an oven.
Which is the best potato for baking?
When baked, Russet potatoes are high-fructose potatoes that give a pale, mealy texture. Russet potatoes are perfect for baking. These high-fiber potatoes provide an elegant-looking, mealy, light texture. It makes it a good choice for baking potatoes in the oven.
All you need to make a good baked potato are four simple ingredients, a few minutes of active prep time, and a hot oven. Before you even know it, our baked potatoes are ready to be served in minutes. Don’t forget to add the toppings of your choice.
The Wellness Expert’s Guide to Baking Bliss: Embracing Russet Potatoes for Fluffy, Crunchy Delight
Kate Nitkowski from Cooking Like Kate also suggests:
“[When] it comes to baking, my go-to potato [of] choice is the Russet Potato. Its high starch content and low moisture make it perfect for achieving that fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture we all crave in baked potatoes.
The Russet’s thick skin also provides a delightful contrast in texture, adding a satisfying crunch to each bite.”
Sweet Potato Delights: A Nutrient-Packed and Flavorful Journey in Baking
Jeanette Kimszal, RDN, NLC at The Radiant Root, emphasizes using sweet potatoes for baking delight:
“My favorite potato for baking is sweet potato. This potato offers a bit more nutrition than regular white potatoes. Its dark orange color tells it has the antioxidant beta-carotene.
They also have anthocyanins. These compounds are associated with anti-cancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory benefits.
[The] sweet potato is also high in fiber, so adding it to your meals could help with satiety and fullness. One cup of cubed sweet potato contains 4 grams of fiber.
The other thing I like about sweet potatoes is their versatility. Even just a few different spices can make a baked potato so different.
You can add a dash of cinnamon for a sweeter taste. Or [you can] add some garlic and oil for a [boost of savory] to complement the potato’s natural sweetness. The baked sweet potato also tastes great plain.”
1. Easy Baked Potato Recipe
The perfect baked potato is crispy outside and has a fluffy interior. The ideal potato is ready to get whatever toppings sprinkled cheese to the leftover gravy last night. Baking a potato in the oven takes slightly longer than zapping it in the microwave. Just remember to put the timer on.
- Before cooking, preheat the oven to 210 C (425F) while preparing the potatoes. First, thoroughly wash the potatoes and be careful not to peel off the skin (take one potato- small, larger potatoes depending on the number of people).
- For the seasoning, drizzle some olive oil on the potatoes using your hands or a pastry brush. Now, generously apply kosher salt and black pepper on both sides and place the potatoes directly inside the oven.
- Before you start baking potatoes, use a fork to prick them; it allows the steam to escape from the potatoes. If you don’t let the smoke out, there is a chance that the potato will explode inside the oven. Don’t forget to place the potatoes on aluminum paper.
- To ensure the baked potatoes are done perfectly, prick them with a fork. Place the potatoes directly into the oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour in between.
- Flip the potatoes every 20 minutes. The potato will have crispy baked skin on the outside and soft, fluffy inside, and the baked potatoes are done. Serve the baked potatoes while they’re still hot with some green onions and sour cream as a topping.
- You can also use small baby potatoes, and the only difference is the cooking time and oven temperature: preheat the oven to 204 C (400F) for 30 to 40 minutes. This is one of the best-baked potato recipes and is easy to bake.
- Do not forget to rub some oil, coarse kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper on the potato. Please place it in the oven racks; the thick skin will crisper. Once the baked potatoes are done, add some sour cream, parsley, or your favorite toppings.
- Note if you are using aluminum foil, the potato skin will be smoother, and the baked potatoes will stay warm for longer. But if you want crispy skin for the baked potatoes, do not use aluminum foil; instead, use a baking sheet and serve immediately.
This baked potato recipe helps to make the perfect potato with crispy skin and fluffy insides; it is a great comfort meal.
2. Perfect Baked Potato Recipe For Cheese lovers
What is a better combination than cheese and baked potato for anyone who loves potatoes, and is it the perfect side dish with salads, meatloaf, and chicken?
- Preheat the oven to 210 C (425 F), wash the potatoes thoroughly, and ensure the skin is not peeled (take one potato per person and use russet potatoes).
- Now thoroughly spread olive oil, rub salt and pepper on it, and place potatoes into the oven. Prick the Potatoes with a fork, or you will have exploding potatoes inside the oven.
- The baking time for the potatoes is 50 minutes to 1 hour. Poke the potatoes with the fork to check if it is done, then take the baked potatoes out and wait for a minute. Do not forget to wear oven mitts while taking out the loaded baked potatoes.
- Scoop out the potato flesh and put it in a bowl. Mix ⅓ cup of cheese (preferably cheddar cheese), sour cream, butter, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Then, put the baked potatoes stuffed with cheese back in the oven and bake them for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then, serve them immediately and enjoy your perfect baked potatoes with cheese.
3. Crispy Baked Potato Recipe
- To make delicious crispy baked potato wedges, first thoroughly wash the potatoes. Then, cut them in half, place the cut side down, and cut it in half. Now place the quarter cut side up and cut it in the middle again. Now, you get eight wedge slices from one potato(use russet potatoes).
- For the potatoes to have extra crispy skin, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes (not boiling but hot). After this, pat dry the potatoes, drizzle some olive oil, and rub salt on it. Then, generously add garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper, and place the potatoes on the baking sheet. Don’t forget to preheat the oven to 204 C (400 F).
- Place the potato in the oven rack and bake it for a cooking time of 50 minutes to 1 hour; flip it every 30 minutes, then prick it with a fork to know if it is done. Do not forget to wear oven mitts while taking out the potatoes.
- Serve it while it’s hot and enjoy crispy baked potatoes; you can also sprinkle some salt and pepper or some garlic powder in the end.
- This is entirely optional, but you can add cheese ( cheddar cheese ), sprinkle some on top, and place the potato on a parchment paper or baking sheet back for a cooking time of 5 to 10 minutes.
This is one of the best-baked potato recipes that everyone can enjoy eating.
4. Crispy Hassel Back Baked Potato Recipe
- This baked potato recipe is slightly different, and you must be careful while using the knife. While cutting the potatoes, make deep vertical cuts ⅛- inch apart, make sure not to miss the potato all the way through so the slices remain attached at the bottom.
- You can use chopsticks to help cut the potatoes (russet potato). While preparing the potatoes, preheat the oven to 210 C (425F). For the seasoning, drizzle or rub oil on the potato between each slice using a pastry brush, butter, Kosher salt, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder.
- Bake potatoes for 50 minutes to 1 hour or wait until the potatoes turn golden brown with crispy skin. Then, serve the baked potatoes with green onions while they’re hot. Do not forget to wear oven mitts while taking out the potatoes. This is one of those best-baked potato recipes that can be enjoyed as a side dish with steak.
5. Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe
- The twice-baked potato is named for how they are made. The whole potato is cooked until thick flesh is reached. The insides of the potato flesh are scooped out and mixed with bacon, cheese, butter, and cream to create the ultimate mashed potato filling. The mashed potato filling is put back into the empty skin and baked again till deliciously golden and bubbling.
- Preheat the oven to 204C (400F) to make twice-baked potatoes first. Until then, wash the potatoes ( use russet potato) thoroughly.
- For the seasoning, rub olive oil, salt, and freshly ground pepper on the potato, and make sure to poke the potatoes with a fork. Prick the potatoes from the tip of a knife so that steam escapes from the baked potatoes. You can place the potatoes on the baking sheet or place them about two inches apart on an aluminum foil-filled baking sheet.
- Place the baked potatoes on a baking sheet to cool off, and then cut a thin layer of baked potato skins from each potato. Now scoop out the potato flesh and place it in a bowl, then add a stick of butter, ½ cup of sour cream, 1 cup of cheese, and some green onions. Mix the mixture well so that the potato filling is fluffy inside with some chunks.
- Fill the mixture inside the potatoes and top it off with some more cheddar cheese. Bake the stuffed potatoes for 15 minutes; there you have it, the twice-baked potatoes. You can enjoy eating the twice-baked potatoes as a meal or a side dish. ( Do not forget to wear an oven mitt before you take out the potato)
- The potatoes will have crispy skin and fluffy insides. The bonus part is that the extra layer of potato skin can be used as chips or potato skin crispy chips.
- Are you wondering what to do about the extra potato skins? Bake the potato skins again while baking the stuffed potatoes, and they will become crispy baked potato chips. Top it off with your favorite toppings.
- Place the twice-baked potatoes back into the oven rack at 204C (400F) for 15 to 20 minutes to reheat the twice-baked potatoes. Also, add a little olive oil.
6. How to Reheat the Baked Potato in an Oven?
Just in case you decide to bake a potato early or there are some leftovers. Then, these instructions will help.
To reheat the baked potato first, make sure the baked potato is at room temperature and preheat the oven to 210 C (425F). Place the potatoes on a cooking sheet or parchment paper. Place the potatoes inside the oven and cook them for 10-12 minutes, flipping them between the cooking times.
Now check if the potato is warm all the way, and if it is not, then put it back in the oven for another three minutes. Once the baked potato is done, add your favorite toppings.
If you want to reheat the baked potatoes in a pan, make sure that the potatoes are at room temperature. Put some olive oil in the pan and wait for it to heat. Then cut the potatoes in half and put the cut side in the pan. Cover the potatoes with a lid for three to four minutes, then flip the potato for another three minutes.
When you use a microwave for reheating baked potatoes, there is a chance to dry the potatoes. Cut the potato and cover each half with a wet towel to prevent that. Place the potato in a dish ( make sure that the dish or pan is microwave-safe) and bake it for 2 to 3 minutes or until it is thoroughly heated.
7. How do you store the leftover baked potatoes? And things you can make from the leftovers!
Baked potatoes taste best straight from the oven. But if you want to make the potatoes ahead of time, then let the potatoes cool completely. Please place it in an airtight container and store it for five days. Do not store the potato in a foil because experts warn that this has been linked to botulism.
To reheat the potato, make sure that the potato is at room temperature. Then bake at 180°C until it is warmed, about 15 minutes.
When the potato is golden, I place it on the side of a pan and pop an extra few ingredients in the center. A slice of quick meat and veggies is also lovely. You can add pieces of country sausage or some leftover ham, bacon, or steak and have great comfort food ready. Any leftover potato would make a nice soup.
8. Are baked potatoes good for your health?
Potato has been a staple food around the world for hundreds of years. You can fry or bake a potato and make cheese pancakes. So when you have potatoes daily, you need to know whether they are healthy.
If you are worried about gaining weight, don’t worry; the fiber in baked potatoes helps with digestion. Also, vitamin B6 helps break down carbohydrates and improves metabolism. Baked potatoes are full of choline, an essential nutrient that most people within the US don’t eat enough of.
Current research suggests that choline deficiency could also be a minimum of partly responsible for inflammatory diseases like atrophic arthritis and fibromyalgia. One of the benefits of eating baked potatoes is the choline will increase in your body and reduce inflammation.
The best thing about baked potato is that it is high in fiber, which helps with digestion. If you have digestion problems, the high-fiber diet can help with diarrhea and constipation. If you have a health condition such as irritable bowel, there is no need to worry as this helps manage the symptoms and helps regulate digestion.
Nearly one-third of USA citizens have high cholesterol, putting them at higher risk of a heart condition and stroke. An interesting fact about baked potatoes is that they are naturally low-fat, low-cholesterol food. Some research suggests they’re also full of potassium and can significantly reduce heart condition risks.
Another interesting fact is that potatoes are starchy vegetables with top-quality protein and no fat, and they are also a great source of vitamins and minerals. It would help if you kept in mind that the cooking methods may change the macronutrient and micronutrient content in the potato.
Final Note
I hope this will help you bake a potato into one of the best. Five different recipes here will help you bake a potato perfectly without ruining it.
Don’t worry if it looks like dry potatoes; it could just be the crispy skin. Some recipe notes are mentioned in between that will help you out.
Now, you do not need to worry about gaining weight or whether it will affect your diet. These recipes will help you make the best-baked potatoes. So enjoy a warm meal with your family.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology