Perfect Baked Potato
A perfect baked potato has crispy skin and fluffy insides. This method for how to bake a potato works every time! Add your favorite toppings, and dig in!
- Total time
- Unknown
- Active time
- Unknown
- Yield
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Equipment
- 2 required
Ingredients and Constraints
Ingredients
Ingredient watchpoints
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Additional ingredient notes
Ingredients
4 medium russet potatoes Extra-virgin olive oil Sea salt.
Required setup
Equipment
(I use these nonstick ones from USA Pan Bakeware!)
(this one doesn't burn)
Before You Cook
Constraints, controls, and warnings to review before starting.
Decisions before cookingDetails1
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Oven Baked Potato Serving Suggestions
You can’t go wrong by serving this oven baked potato recipe with a pat of butter, salt, and pepper, but a few well-chosen toppings can really take it to the next level.
I love mine with cashew sour cream, tempeh bacon, and chives, but regular sour cream, “cheese sauce,” Greek yogurt, or cheddar cheese would also be delicious. Enjoy this baked potato recipe as a meal on its own, or pair it with your favorite protein. It would also be yummy with a hearty salad like my Caesar salad, broccoli salad, or kale salad, or with roasted broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts.
Method Overview
Structured method notes that are separate from the step timeline.
How to Bake a Potato
I like to use russet potatoes here, as their skin really puffs up and becomes crisp in the oven.
Once you’ve assembled your ingredients, follow these easy steps: First, preheat the oven to 425, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, poke the potatoes with a fork a few times to create small holes across their surfaces. Allow the potatoes cool for a few minutes before slicing them open, fluffing up their insides, and topping them with your favorite fixings. I like cashew sour cream, tempeh bacon, chives, and salt and pepper!
Equipment
Baking Sheets (I use these nonstick ones from USA Pan Bakeware!) Parchment Paper (this one doesn't burn).
Method Timeline
Cook
ActiveCook
1 hr
Cook time from the source recipe card.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Use a fork to poke a few holes into the potatoes. Place on the baking sheet, rub with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with sea salt all over. Bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.
Image detailsHow to bake a potatoLove And Lemons · Perfect Baked PotatoDev reference 
Image detailsHow to bake a potatoLove And Lemons · Perfect Baked PotatoDev reference Visual cue
until the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.
Checks2
TextureInfoTextureuntil the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.
Expected state: until the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.
TimingInfoTiming45 to 60 minutes
Target: 45-60 minute
Expected state: Bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.
Inputs and tools3
Uses
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Sea salt
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Perfect Baked Potato
Step 3
Slice open each potato, fluff the insides, and serve with desired toppings.
Image detailsOven baked potato recipeLove And Lemons · Perfect Baked PotatoDev reference Checks1
ServiceMain recipeSource service instruction
Slice open each potato, fluff the insides, and serve with desired toppings.
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Perfect Baked Potato
Learn More
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Why this works
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Baked Potato Recipe Tips
The key to making a good baked potato is getting really crispy skin.
If you wrap the potatoes in foil, the potato skins will shrivel and soften in the oven. For the best results, leave the potatoes unwrapped.
Recipe structure
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Main recipe
Recipe card ingredients and steps.
4
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Source and Origin
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Adapted from source
Imported from the love-and-lemons page for dev review.
Copy risk: Unchecked
Perfect Baked Potato
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