Baked Potato
Ingredients
- Four russet potatoes, medium to large
- Melted butter or olive oil (for coating)
- Sea salt, coarse (for sprinkling)
- Extra toppings are optional.
- Sour cream
- Cheese that has been shredded (e.g., mozzarella, cheddar)
- Bits of cooked chicken
- Chopped green onions or chives
- Steam-cooked broccoli
- Butter
- A pepper
Directions
Warm up the oven:
- Set the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C).
Get the potatoes ready:
- To get rid of any dirt, scrub the potatoes under running water. Use a cloth to pat them dry.
- Make many holes in each potato with a fork. This keeps them from popping and lets steam out when baking.
Season the potatoes.
- Coat the skin of each potato by rubbing it with melted butter or olive oil. This will contribute to the texture being crispy.
- To improve flavor, sprinkle the potatoes with coarse sea salt.
Put the potatoes in the oven:
- To make cleanup easier, place the potatoes on a baking sheet or directly on the oven rack. Depending on the potatoes’ size, bake them for 45 to 60 minutes. When the skins are crispy and the center can be readily pierced with a fork or knife, they are done.
Verify Doneness:
- Put a knife or fork into the middle of the potatoes to check if they are done. The potatoes are ready if it glides in easily.
Serve:
- After taking the potatoes out of the oven, give them some time to cool. To fluff the insides of each potato, make a slit in the top and gently squeeze the ends.
- Add your preferred toppings, including a pat of butter, bacon bits, chives, shredded cheese, and sour cream, on top.
Advice
- Make Ahead: The potatoes can be prepared in the morning and stored in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, bake them.
- Microwave Shortcut: If time is of the essence, you can start the potatoes in the microwave for 5 to 10 minutes and finish them in the oven for a crispy skin.
- Storage: You may keep leftover baked potatoes in the fridge for three to four days. Warm up again in the oven or microwave.
Because baked potatoes are so adaptable, they may be used as a foundation for a wide range of toppings, so everybody can create their own! Savor your baked potato!