Baked potatoes?

Question

I'm ashamed to admit, I am not certain of how to prepare baked potatoes. My son does not care for them, so I've never made them. Which potatoes are best? Do I simply wash them, wrap them in foil and bake at 350 for an hour? Any ideas on how to spice it up a little?

Thank you!

Answer 1

Basically, yes, you scrub them, pierce them, wrap in foil and bake at 350 for about an hour. You can also rub olive oil on the skin and sprinkle with salt for a crunchier skin.

Answer 2

Russet of Idaho bakers are the best. But a Yukon Gold is also a good potato if you just want a small one.

I find that scrubbing the outside of the potato well and then poking the skin several times and microwaving the potato works well, if you don't have a lot of time. If you don't mind waiting, wrapping them in foil and putting into the oven for about a hour for a large potato should work. Take the foil off the last 15 minutes and the skins will get crispy

Answer 3

It will take longer than an hour at 350. Pump the heat up to 400.

I prefer the russets, or the Idaho baking potatoes. Yukons are also good. Reds are okay, but they're more for boiling and mashing.

If you like your skins crispy, don't use foil.

Some people like to microwave their potatoes a bit first to speed the cooking process, but there's nothing better than baking a potato...

To spice it up a little... the sky's the limit, because potatoes are so bland. Top with salsa, meat, cheese and beans for a Mexican treat. Season a hot baked potato with curry powder and peas for an Indian fest... just play around with it!

Answer 4

You can usually find baking potatoes in the produce area whch are usually russett, I believe.
If you like to eat the skin (yum), then make sure you scrub them with a vegetable brush and very importanly....take a fork and poke it into a potatoe a couple, 3 or 4 times. If you don't do that, it could explode and will leave your oven a mess!! It has happened to me before!!
No need to put foil around it.....just cook it at 400 degrees for about an hour (for an average/large) potatoe. Before you take it out of the oven stick a fork in it to see if it goes in easy or is it still like an "apple"...if so continue to cook for a while but generally an hour at 400 is sufficient.

After I wash and scrub the potatoes, I like to use my sea salt grinder and put some salt on the skin.... but only if you plan on eating the skin.

Answer 5

To spice it up a little, you could make twice baked potatoes.

After baking, cut a small wedge lengthwise across the top of the potato, and scoop out the inside with a spoon, being careful not to puncture the skin.

Put the scooped out insides in a bowl and make mashed potatoes out of them. Then spoon back into the empty shell.

You can add butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, sprinkle with rock salt etc to the outside.

They are very good this way.

Yes, you place them in the oven wrapped in foil until they are tender.

Answer 6

Yes, you should try twiced baked potatoes! They are yummy.

Great Twice Baked Potatoes

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
6 baking potatoes
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sliced green onions, divided
1/2 cup milk
paprika to taste
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a small bowl combine oil, salt and pepper. Rub potato skins with oil mixture.
Bake potatoes (do not wrap in foil) in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until soft.
Remove potatoes from oven and slice skin off of the top. Scoop the flesh into a large bowl, reserving the intact skins. To the potatoes add cheese, egg, butter and half of the green onions. Mash potatoes while gradually adding milk. Spoon the mixture into the skins and top with remaining onions and paprika.
Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

you can always mix in sour cream or salsa if you like!

Answer 7

You wash them, salt them, wrap in foil, poke holes in foil multiple times, bake at 350 for an hour, then add sour cream, bacon bit, cheese, or ranch (or a mixture) to spice it up.

Answer 8

The simplest way is to wash, dry and rub them with a bit of butter. Wrap them in foil and simply put into oven at medium to hot heat. Check with a skewer or knife if they are cooked. The skewer will slide in easily if they are done properly.

To jazz them up, put them on a plate, foil and all, split the top and fill with sour cream and chives.

Simple and delicious.

Just about any potato will do, but try a sebago or desiree to start with.

Answer 9

Big white potatoes, scrub, rub butter on skin, wrap in foil and bake 400, 1 hour, this way they get alot softer inside. If I am doing alot, I don't wrap them individually just put them in a casserole dish, cover it with foil-tightly and bake. Don't just bake one-it's a waste of energy, do several, you can always warm them up and use later. you can also do them in microwave in a casserole dish with it's cover on, about 6 min apiece, but check them as all microwaves cook different. Top them with cheese, vegies, a little chopped bacon, gr. onion, sour cream.

Answer 10

Why turn the oven on in the summer? After cleaning, I rub them in margarine or butter, use a butter knife and poke around the potato, wrap in saran wrap then microwave for 6-7 minutes each potato...easy and great for you since your son will be the only one eating...