Ah, the humble baked potato — simple, classic, and endlessly customizable 🥔✨. Let’s do it perfectly: crispy skin, fluffy inside.
Perfect Baked Potato
Ingredients
- 1–4 large russet potatoes (russet = best for baking)
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Optional toppings: butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives, broccoli, chili
Instructions
1. Preheat oven
- 425°F (220°C) for crispy skin.
2. Prepare the potato
- Scrub potatoes clean and pat dry.
- Pierce each potato 5–6 times with a fork to release steam.
- Rub lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
3. Bake
- Place directly on oven rack (or on a baking sheet).
- Bake 45–60 minutes, depending on size, until skin is crisp and a fork easily pierces the potato.
4. Serve
- Cut a slit down the center and fluff the inside with a fork.
- Add toppings of choice: butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, or chili.
💡 Tips for Perfect Baked Potatoes
- For extra crispy skin, rub with a little extra oil and salt.
- Microwave shortcut: cook 5–7 min per potato, then bake 10–15 min for crispiness.
- Loaded baked potatoes: scoop out a bit of the inside, mix with cheese, bacon, and sour cream, then stuff back in and bake 5 more minutes.
If you want, I can give a “gourmet baked potato” version with a cheesy, creamy filling, bacon, and chives — basically a loaded potato experience 😏.
Do you want me to do that?
