Silly question. How do you make a baked potato?

Answer 1

in the trade, we go for a fluffy, semi-dry texture, a slight chew factor to the peel, and a hot center. If this sounds appealing:

After washing and drying the potato, which must be white or Yukon Gold, I would coat liberally with Crisco or another similar shortening product. Do ot use butter here. After that, sprinkle or roll in a mixture of herbs to include kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and whatever seasonings you enjoy. Then pierce the potato with a dinner fork, at least 3 times on each of the four sides of the potato. This will allow excess moisture to escape and ensure an evenly cooked texture inside.

Place potatoes directly on over racn in an oven set to 400 degrees. It is not necessary to preheat oven. In about an hour, see how soft they feel by squeezing with a hot pad. If you wish to stuff and double bake them, remove and let cool slightly. Scrape potato from shells by cutting off a small sliver from each potato with a knife and using a teaspoon, remove bulk of potato from each shell without piercing peel. Leave about 1/4" potato layer. Put all potato in medium bowl and add 1 tablespoon milk for each potato cooked. Add 1 tablespoon butter for each potato and one raw egg. Mix all well and add seasonings to taste. Pile mixture high in potato shells, letting the mixture rise above the shells. Sprinke the tops with paprika and bake another 15 minutes at 400.
For something different, you can also add prebrowned sausages and applesauce to the potato mixture, or tuna, chopped celery and cottage cheese, or one of my favs, chili. Top with grated cheese and place under broiler for 5 minutes just until cheese melts.

Answer 2

Use a russet potato (aka Idaho potato). This is a mealy-textured potato suitable for baking. Wash the skin and scrub off any caked on dirt. Dry it with a paper towel. Poke several holes in the potato with a fork. This will vent steam while it bakes.

Put the potato directly on the rack of a preheated oven. Anything from 325-400 will work, so you can be flexible depending on what else you have gong on in the oven. Depending on the potato size and oven temp, it will take between 45 mins to an hour + a few. Test the potato for donness by inserting a fork. It should not meet any esistance from a still-hard interior.

It used to be popular to wrap the potato in foil, and some people still do that. This produces a wetter potato that steams in its own moistness. Baking it unwrapped gives you that light, fluffy texture and a more concentrated potato flavor. It's the favored method by most foodies.

Answer 3

Another way that is becoming very popular is to buy the pre-wrapped potatoes and put the whole thing (plastic wrapping and all) into a microwave for 7 minutes. Bakes it perfectly with no hard spots.

You can wrap your own potatoes, but be sure to buy the microwave plastic wrap. Do not pokes holes when cooking in wrap.

Answer 4

Peel potatoes. cut into fair sized lumps. normally about half size. place oil or fat in baking dish. put potatoes into dish. Preheat oven to 180 takem out of oven after 6-8 mins and turn potatoes place back in oven for further 8-10 mins or until top is crisp and brown.

Answer 5

You must scrub it well and if it has blemishes take them out then prick it 3 or 4 times with a forkyou can use the microwave to partly cook it then in a hot oven but to fully microwave it isn't as good . Once it has cooked and you know its soft after trying to peirce it with a knife . you can cut it in half and put some butter on then eat or you can scoop the centre out mash it with a little milk add some extra filling such as grated cheese and a little chopped onion and place back in oven in muffin tray and cook a further 5 minutes season to taste

Answer 6

Scrub the outer skin of the potato. Poke at least one deep hole into it, so it doesn't explode in your oven. Bake in 400 F oven for 45 minutes or more, dependent upon size. This higher temp makes the pulp fluffy and gets the skin crisp so you can enjoy it all.

Microwaved potatoes taste fine, but are never fluffy!

Answer 7

u could put it in the oven or u could wash it poke 4 holes in it 1 in every side and put in a zip lock bag with about half an inch of water in the bottom then cut it in the microwave for about 8 minutes on medium i think thats a lot easier than putting it in the oven but u can do which ever

Answer 8

If you want it quick, microwave....poke it first though, I don't like microwaving any food in plastic, styrofoam, I feel it leeches into the food so I poke it, rub some olive oil on it, then put on glass plate and cover with glass bowl, this keeps the moisture in and does'nt make it soggy

Answer 9

poke holes in it with a fork (otherwise it will explode) and either microwaive it for 4-7 minutes depending on size or put it in the oven at 400 for about 40 minutes depending on size. You can tell when its done by pressing on the sides and they will press in.

Answer 10

First things first you must grow one before you can even think about baking a baked patato.