Description
This recipe for Perfect Baked Potato ensures a crispy skin and soft, fluffy interior by baking the potatoes at a high temperature and finishing them with olive oil to enhance flavor and texture. It’s an easy and classic side dish that can be customized with a variety of toppings to suit any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 4–6 medium russet potatoes
Seasoning
- Coarse Kosher salt or coarse sea salt, for seasoning and sprinkling
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Finish
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F and set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet to allow air circulation around the potatoes for crispiness.
- Prepare Potatoes: Scrub the potatoes well without drying them completely. Use a fork to poke holes all over each potato to allow steam to escape during baking. If they dry out, wet them again before placing them on the wire rack.
- Salt the Potatoes: Generously sprinkle coarse salt all over the potatoes. It’s okay if salt doesn’t stick perfectly to all sides.
- Bake Potatoes: Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until the skin is crispy and a skewer inserted into the center meets little resistance, indicating a tender interior.
- Brush with Olive Oil: Remove the potatoes and brush them thoroughly with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle a few more pinches of salt on top. Return them to the oven and bake for an additional 12 to 15 minutes to enhance the skin’s crispiness and flavor.
- Open and Fluff: Take the potatoes out and use a sharp knife to make a lengthwise slit on each one. Holding each potato with a clean dish towel, gently squeeze the ends to open it up. Use a fork to fluff up the inside, making it light and airy.
- Season and Serve: Season with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Serve with your favorite toppings or let guests customize their own.
Notes
- The high heat at 450°F is key for achieving crispy skin.
- Using a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet ensures the bottom doesn’t get soggy.
- Brushing with olive oil after the initial bake adds a lovely richness and helps the skin crisp further.
- You can customize the toppings from traditional sour cream and chives to cheese, bacon bits, or butter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: baked potato, crispy skin potato, easy side dish, classic baked potato, russet potato recipe
