All the ways you need to know about how to cook baked potatoes.
How To Cook Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are potassium-rich, high in dietary fiber, low in calories, affordable and they taste great—making them one of the best dishes to put together when you’re low on time but still want something healthy. They’re also extremely versatile, so you can throw on any number of toppings and pair it with lots of dishes that have steak, chicken, and fish.
If you love baked potatoes as much as we do, the first thing you need to learn is how to perfect it, whether it’s in the oven, on the grill or in a slow cooker.
Check out three different ways to cook your baked potato below so that it comes out flawless.
1. Oven-Baked Potatoes
One of the most common ways to cook a baked potato is by using the oven, simply because of how easy and convenient it is. You can seriously walk in the door, throw a few potatoes in the oven, and carry on with your after-work routine until they’re ready to eat. Just don’t forget to set a timer! All in all, it takes around 50-60 minutes to cook potatoes in the oven. You’ll have to flip them over every 20 minutes and check them by piercing them with a fork. Potatoes are done when the skin is a crispy golden brown and the inside feels soft.
Ingredients
- One potato per person
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fork
- Baking sheet covered in foil
Instructions
1. Heat the Oven to 425°F – Turn on the oven while you’re preparing the potatoes.
2. Scrub the Potatoes – Scrub the potatoes thoroughly under running water and pat them dry. You don’t have to remove the eyes, but trim away any blemishes with a paring knife.
3. Season the Potatoes – Rub the potatoes all over with a little olive oil. It’s easiest to use your hands, but a pastry brush also works fine. Generously sprinkle the potatoes on all sides with salt and pepper.
4. Prick with a Fork – Prick the potatoes in a few places with the tines of a fork. This allows steam to escape from the baking potato.
5. Bake the Potatoes – You can bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack or you can place them a few inches apart on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake the potatoes for 50-60 minutes. Flip them over every 20 minutes or so and check them for doneness by piercing them with a fork. Potatoes are done when the skins are dry and the insides feel completely soft when pierced.
Notes:
- To cut down the baking time, microwave the potatoes for 3-4 minutes in the microwave before baking.
- For softer skins, wrap the potatoes in foil before baking.
2. Grilled “Baked” Potatoes
According to Jeff Sindelar of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory, the reason grilled foods taste differently than things that are, say, baked or broiled or pan-fried, is because of different flavor compounds that are generated through the grilling process. Grilled food is not exactly healthier, but it tastes better because all the good tasting moist juice from meat and vegetables seeps its way out. Grilled “baked” potatoes are incredibly flavorful. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to enjoy this scrumptious potato dish.
Ingredients
- 4 large baking potatoes
- 4 teaspoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, crushed and finely minced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (choose mesquite or hickory flavor)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
Instructions
- FLAVORED OIL: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, liquid smoke and garlic. Set aside.
- SEASONING MIX: In a small dish mix kosher salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Set aside.
- Wash, scrub and dry potatoes well. With a sharp paring knife, cut out a nice wedge from the potato’s middle. Remove the wedge and place 1 teaspoon of butter in the hollow. Sprinkle with seasoning mix. Replace the wedge pressing down gently.
- Place each potato on its own sheet of foil. Rub the potato with the olive oil mixture making sure to get some of the crushed garlic on the potato. Sprinkle with additional seasoning mix and roll up tightly in aluminum foil.
- GRILL: Place potatoes on the grill away from the coals, close the lid and grill for 40-60 minutes depending on the temperature of your grill.
3. Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
This way of cooking baked potatoes can provide quality that only a restaurant can rival. These slow cooker baked potatoes are also easy to prepare, just like the other methods of cooking. Only thing is you’ll need patience, because these take about 8-10 hours to perfect. It may take a longer time but it definitely is worth waiting for!
Ingredients
- 1 to 8 russet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Aluminum foil
- 1 slow-cooker, any size
Instructions
- Prepare the potatoes. Lay a square of aluminum foil on your work surface and set a potato on top. Prick the potato all over with a fork. Rub it with 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Wrap the potato tightly. Repeat with remaining potatoes.
- Arrange the potatoes in the slow cooker. Lay the potatoes in the slow cooker so they fit snugly next to each other. If you are baking 1 to 2 potatoes, set them in the middle of the slow cooker; stack 5 or more potatoes in a second layer.
- Bake for 8 to 10 hours on LOW. Cover the slow cooker and set it to LOW for 8 to 10 hours. The potatoes will be ready to eat any time after 8 hours, but will be fine if cooked for up to 10 hours. You can remove the potatoes and eat them at any point between 8 and 10 hours. Do not leave them on the WARM setting for more than an hour.
- Remove potatoes from the foil, split, and eat. When ready to eat, unwrap the potatoes, split them along the length, and top with your favorite toppings. Leftover potatoes can be kept, wrapped in foil, for 3-4 days in the fridge.
Baked potatoes are one of life’s simple pleasure. Truly a simple dish that can give you much comfort and satisfaction. We hope that you enjoy this post as much as we did!
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