This is stupid, but how do you make a baked potato?

Answer 1

Nope... not a stupid question.

I used to do the poking and the wrapping in foil, but that's way too much work and I learned a very simple recipe.

I learned this in cooking class.

1. Clean (scrub) a potato and dry
2. Rub the potato with a little oil... you can also put a little salt and pepper on the skin.
3. Place in a 450 F oven for about 45 minutes... Check the potato at about 35 minutes to see if it's soft.

No need to poke holes, wrap in foil or pre-boil.

The potato will come out soft and fluffy in the middle and the skin will be slightly cripsy... good enough to eat.

The boiling, microwaving and wrapping in foil makes a great boiled potato, but you're looking for a baked potato.

Since you're going to use the oven, I suggest you try my method side by side with the other methods. You'll find this recipe to be the simplest and best tasting.

Answer 2

The Baked Potato
Show: Good Eats
Episode: This Spud's for You



1 large russet potato (If it looks like Mr. Potato Head(r), you've got the right one.)
Canola oil to coat
Kosher salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees and position racks in top and bottom thirds. Wash potato (or potatoes) thoroughly with a stiff brush and cold running water. Dry, then using a standard fork poke 8 to 12 deep holes all over the spud so that moisture can escape during cooking. Place in a bowl and coat lightly with oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and place potato directly on rack in middle of oven. Place a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any drippings.
Bake 1 hour or until skin feels crisp but flesh beneath feels soft. Serve by creating a dotted line from end to end with your fork, then crack the spud open by squeezing the ends towards one another. It will pop right open. But watch out, there will be some steam.

NOTE: If you're cooking more than 4 potatoes, you'll need to extend the cooking time by up to 15 minutes.




Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Yield: 1 potato per person

Answer 3

1. Buy a large, floury potato, sold as baking potatoes.
2. Wash, dry and prick with a fork. Preheat oven to 160 deg or medium hot.
3. For really crispy skin, rub with a few drops of cooking oil.
4. Place on oven shelf, bake for 45 minutes to an hour.
5. Remove from oven using a teatowel.
6. Cut a cross on one side, use the teatowel to squeeze some flesh out.
7. Top with butter and grated cheddar.

Answer 4

Wash the potato well to get all the dirt off. I use Idaho's but you can use any potato. Then put it on the rack in an oven heated to 425 ( I use one of those cast iron grilling pans). It'll take about 40 minutes or so to cook. You may see the skill starting to open but either way the skin will get really crispy. Using a lower temp tends to "steam" them and the skin can be soggy (potatoes have different moisture contents). Using oven mits squeeze the ends in towards the middle and the potato will split open (or use a fork/knife to open it up). Serve with sour cream and chives, or extra virgin olive oil, or even the traditional butter.

Answer 5

The easy way--pop it in the oven after piercing it several times with a fork for 8-10 minutes depending how powerful your microwave is or how big the potato is. When it is fork tender it is done.
You can also bake it in your oven (350 degrees) until fork tender. Make sure you pierce it with a fork first (to let the steam release)

Answer 6

Scrub the outside really well to get off all the dirt.

Punch a couple of holes in the top with a fork so that it doesn't explode.

Bake it in the oven at 350 for around an hour. You can tell when it's done by poking it again with a fork. It will be good and soft inside.

Remove from the oven, cool slightly, and enjoy.

Answer 7

Scrub a big Russet (borwn baking) potato down well, w/ soap and water. (I use a scrubbie sponge thing too.) Poke holes over it about 20x w/ a fork.

Place in microwave oven. Nuke on High for about 7-8 minutes, depending upon size. You will hear it sing and sizzle, may even catch it doing a little dance in there as it cooks. (4 potatoes take about 12-13 min.)

Remove w/ potholder. Before splitting open, squeeze gently w/ a potholder to fluff hte insides. If hard, nuke a coupel more minutes until it yields to pressure.

Top off and enjoy!

Answer 8

Wash and scrud the pototes dry off,slice down the center long ways but not all the way put a pat of butter, margerine or spread in each potato wrap each potato in alumnium foil poke holes. Put on baking tray and bake in oven for about 1 hour or until soft, I use 350 degrees. You can also put them on your grill the same way lower setting and top rack......

Answer 9

That's not a stupid question at all. We recently had to look that up ourselves because we didn't want to make them in the microwave anymore.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
Scrub the potato and prick it with a fork to prevent steam from building up and causing the potato to explode in your oven.
Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes

Some people cover them in aluminum foil but we laid them on the rack in oven uncovered. They turned out great and were delicious with sour cream and butter!!

Answer 10

I like to scrub them as described and I score mine lengthwise with a knife 5-6 times. I lightly spray with cooking oil, shake or pat on some Season All or some blended seasoning that I have around. I then bake in a 350 oven for 45-60 minutes. My family and I like to eat the whole thing.

I also do the microwave thing as described above...just trying to give you an alternative.