How to Bake a Potato

A great baked potato can be the perfect complement to any meal (or even a meal by itself). And the best thing about baked potatoes is how easy they are to make. Just follow these steps for how to bake a potato.

Whether served as a side dish for a mouth-watering steak or as a main course (slathered in butter, sour cream or cheese) a great baked potato can make the difference between a so-so meal and a fabulous feast. Not only are they delicious, filling, and low in calories, but they are also easy to make. Follow these simple steps for the lightest, fluffiest, tastiest baked potato you've ever had!

1. Potatoes: While any type of potato will work, russet potatoes are usually preferred for baking.

2. Olive Oil: Any type of general cooking oil will do, such as canola oil.

3. Salt: Again, regular salt will work, but many cooks prefer sea salt or kosher salt

4. Oven: As long as it gets hot enough and is big enough to fit your potatoes, any oven should work.

5. Baking Tray: Used to put your potatoes on when they are baking.

• The first step to making a great baked potato is to choose the right potato.
  1. While russet potatoes are the most popular type of potato for baking (because of their flaky texture), almost any type of potato will do.
  2. When choosing a potato, inspect it thoroughly to make sure that there aren't any significant bruises, discolored spots, or sprouts. While a sprouting potato may be good for a science project, it's usually not the best for baking.
  3. In general, the larger the potato, the longer it will take to cook. If you are baking multiple potatoes, try to pick ones that are all about the same size. This way they will all be done at around the same time.

• As with most cooking, the cleanliness of your produce is extremely important. Potatoes are no different, as they can acquire a good amount of dirt and debris in their travels from the farm to your dinner plate.
  1. Start by running your potatoes under cold water until the entire surface is wet.
  2. Scrub the outside skins of the potatoes thoroughly (either with your hand or a stiff bristled brush).
  3. Set your potatoes aside on a paper towel to dry.

• Now that your potato is clean and washed, it's time to get it ready for baking. Here's how:
  1. Start by poking each potato with a fork 5 or 6 times. This will make it easier for heat to bake the inside of the potato. Try to make sure that the holes are evenly spaced around the potato to make for even baking.
  2. Rub a small amount of olive oil on the outside of each of your potatoes. You can use a small bowl to hold the oil, or just pour it on the potato and rub it in with your hands.
  3. Place the potatoes on the baking tray and spread them out evenly.
  4. Sprinkle the salt lightly over each of the potatoes. Flip them over to make sure you get the bottoms of each.

• Once you've got the first three steps done, you are ready to start baking your potatoes.
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place your baking tray on the center rack of your oven.
  3. Let your potatoes bake for about 1 hour.
  4. After an hour, take the potatoes out of the oven and test to make sure they are done. Using an oven mitt, gently squeeze one of the potatoes to see if they are tender and ready (if done, they should give in easily to your squeeze).
  5. If the potatoes are still hard, put them back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes. Repeat until they are done.
  6. When they are done, take them out of the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

• If you don't have the time to bake your potato for an hour (or are just too hungry to wait), it is possible to bake your potato in the microwave. While the process for baking a potato in the microwave isn't incredibly different than in a regular oven, there are a few notable differences that you should take note of.
  1. As before, wash the potato thoroughly and then dry it out.
  2. Poke a number of holes in the potato. This will allow the steam thats accumulating in the potato to vent out (so your potato doesn't explode).
  3. Place a paper towel over a ceramic plate (Make sure it's not plastic!) and place the potato on top.
  4. For a large potato, bake your potato on HIGH for about 5 or 6 minutes. For a medium potato, bake on HIGH for 4 minutes. For a small potato, bake on HIGH for 3 minutes.
  5. Let the potato stand for a couple of minutes after you've taken it out of the microwave. The steam that is still trapped in the potato will help it finish cooking.
  6. Slice it open and enjoy!

• Some people say that you can help your potatoes cook faster by inserting a clean nail into them. While this may help distribute the heat better, there is always a risk associated with sticking metal into your food.

• To more accurately judge the temperature of your potato (or its "doneness"), feel free to use a meat thermometer to pierce the potato. Potatoes are usually done when they reach about 210 degrees.

• While some people choose to wrap their potatoes in tin foil before baking, this method produces a soft skin (rather than a crispy, flaky one) and is technically steaming rather than baking.http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/PotatoBaking.htm

• Baked potatoes can come out of the oven piping hot, so be careful. Always wear an oven mitt when handling the potatoes after they've come out of the oven.