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May 29, 2023 Leave a Comment

How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato

A large baked potato cut open with butter, salt and pepper on a dinner plate with a slice of meatloaf and a serving of green peas.Salty and perfectly roasted on the outside and fluffy on the inside–this post is going to teach you How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato. My Mom’s Classic Meatloaf with a baked potato on the side is one of my favorite meals. I know you might think a baked potato is a baked potato, but I’m here to tell you you’re wrong. 

My mom always made baked potatoes by rubbing shortening on them and poking them with a fork. She would throw them right in the oven on the rack. Another really popular method is to wrap the potatoes in tinfoil, which is a great way to also keep them warm if transporting and can also speed the cooking time a little. As fine as those methods are, I was introduced to a different way when I was serving as a missionary in California 21 years ago. 

7 Russet potatoes covered in olive oil and coarse sea salt in a glass 9x13 baking dish.A sweet lady that had us over for dinner served us a baked potato with dinner that was perfection. It had perfectly roasted skin that had just the right hint of salt on it, and the potato was so fluffy. I asked her how she cooked it, and she said that she always baked them rubbed with olive oil and on a bed of rock salt in a baking dish. Hmmm, intriguing. 

A plate with a piece of meatloaf, green peas, and a large baked potato slice open with melted butter, salt and pepper on top. A fork is diagonally partially inserted into the potato. I wasn’t doing much cooking as a missionary, but I filed that away in my memory recipe bank. When I got home, I started making my baked potatoes by rubbing them with olive oil and sprinkling them with coarse sea salt. (I felt like putting them on a bed of salt was a little overkill/wasteful, and I could get the same flavor with the sprinkling of coarse salt.)

When it comes to baking time, this will vary on the size of your potatoes. I used fairly large russets in these photos, and they took a full hour and a half to cook. 

Several large Russet potatoes with fork holes and rubbed with olive oil and sprinkled with coarse sea salt in a glass baking dish.Side note: Did you know they don’t have Russet Potatoes in Germany? I have been missing Russet Potatoes so much. My sweet aunt came to visit from Idaho a couple of months ago and brought me a big bag of Russets in her suitcase. 🙂 

Serve your Perfect Potato with…

  • Stuffed Meatloaf
  • Easy Baked Pork Roast
  • Cheeseburger Meatloaf
  • Workmans Roast
  • Mini Meatloaf
  • Baked Lemon Herb Chicken

Step-by-Step Photos for How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato8-photo picture collage of step-by-step photos of how to make the perfect baked potato.

A dinner plate with a serving of meatloaf and green peas next to a baked Russet potato cut open with butter, salt and pepper with a fork held vertically with a piece of baked potato on it.Tips for the Best Baked Potato
  • Pick potatoes that are all relatively the same size so that they will cook evenly.
  • Russets and Red potatoes are my two favorite choices for baked potatoes.
  • Preheat the oven before adding the potatoes.
  • Cook a few extra potatoes to use for hash browns or Baked Potato Soup.
  • Make sure to stab each potato with a knife or fork before placing it in the oven. 
  • Use good olive oil.
  • Coarse salt will work better than table salt, but if you don’t have coarse salt, you can generously sprinkle table salt on each potato, making sure to get the bottom, too.

Two-photo Pinterest picture with the text "How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato" in the middle.Chef’s Tools:

  • Potato Scrubber Brush
  • Coarse Sea Salt
  • Olive Oil
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Large Baking Dish

Popular Recipes with Potatoes

Bacon-Wrapped-Cheese-Fries-Appetizer-Football-FoodBacon Wrapped Cheese Friesbest-tator-tot-casseroleBest Ever Tater Tot CasseroleA sheet pan with sliced pork tenderloin surrounded by roasted veggies with a partial picture of a fork in the left bottom corner with a potato slice on top of it.Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Veggies

How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
90 mins
Total time
1 hour 40 mins
 
Salty and perfectly roasted skin and fluffy on the inside. The perfect complement to your favorite meal or perfect for a baked potato bar for dinner. These simple tips will be your new favorite way to make baked potatoes.
Author: Maria
Ingredients
  • Olive Oil
  • Coarse Sea Salt
  • Russet or Red Potatoes
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Wash and scrub the potatoes to remove any dirt. Pat Dry.
  3. Place potatoes in a baking dish that is large enough to hold them or on a cookie sheet.
  4. Stab each potato with a fork or knife.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil, and then use your hands to rub the oil all over the potatoes.
  6. Next, sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes.
  8. Serve and Enjoy!
  9. *We like potatoes with butter, Homemade Ranch Dressing, and salt and pepper.
3.5.3251

More "How to" Recipes

Toasted sweetened shredded coconut in a microwave-safe bowl.How to Toast Coconut in the MicrowaveHow-to-make-homemade-gravy-from-meat-drippingsHow to Make Gravy out of Pan DrippingsCondensed-Tomato-Soup-SubstituteHow to Make a Condensed Tomato Soup Substitute

Pinterest picture with the text of the title at the top.

$10 Dinners, Dinners, Main Categories, More, Potatoes, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegetable Side Dishes
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Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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Hi, I'm a professional recipe developer, with a degree in teaching and a minor in nutrition. I love helping busy families, like mine, "eat good" despite their crazy schedules...join the fun! Start here

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