How to Bake a Potato

Follow these easy tips on how to bake a potato so they're perfect every time. Serve them as a side dish to any of my family favorite chicken recipes. You can also make a meal out of them by loading them up with your favorite toppings.

If you've been a reader of my blog for any amount of time, you'll know that I didn't always know my way around the kitchen. Especially when I first was married.

All of a sudden I came home from work at the end of a very long day in the city, spending over an hour on the subway, and I had to figure out what to make for my new husband and I for dinner.

I mean, I didn't even know how to bake a potato!

I've baked quite a few potatoes over the years and not all of them have turned out great. I really had no clue what I was doing.

Most of the time I washed the potatoes, put them in the oven and thought they should be done in about 30 minutes or so. WRONG. They were always undercooked and there was no taste.

Fast forward quite a few years and I finally figured out how to bake potatoes so they're crispy on the outside and hot and fluffy on the inside.

Pricking Potatoes

Before baking potatoes in the oven, microwave or air fryer, make sure you prick them with a fork. Pricking the potatoes lets the steam inside escape without bursting the potato all over the inside of your oven.

Main Ingredients Needed

This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.

• Russet Potatoes
• Vegetable Oil
• Salt, Pepper

Step-by-Step Directions

• Wash the potatoes.     
• Prick the potatoes with a fork.  
• Rub the potatoes with vegetable oil. Sprinkle the potatoes with a good amount of salt and pepper. Do not skip this step. This is the secret to having the perfect baked potato.
• Wrap each potato separately in aluminum foil. 

Baking Instructions

• Place the potatoes on a baking tray.
• Bake them in a preheated 425°F oven.

How long does a potato take to bake?

• Baked potatoes should take about 45 minutes.

How to you know when a baked potato is done?

• The potatoes are done when you can stick a knife into the middle with no resistance.  

Baking Tip: A baked potato is cooked perfectly when the internal temperature reads between 205°F and 215°F. Use a digital meat thermometer.

Serving Tips

• Remove from the oven and keep warm till you're ready to serve.
• Unwrap from the aluminum foil and set on a plate. Serve immediately with plenty of butter or sour cream.

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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2015 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!