Ah, the humble baked potato—simple, versatile, and endlessly comforting. 🥔 Let’s do it properly.
Classic Baked Potato
Ingredients (per potato):
- 1 large russet potato (best for baking—fluffy inside)
- Olive oil
- Salt (coarse or kosher works best)
- Toppings: butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives, or whatever you like
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven: 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare the potato:
- Scrub the potato clean and pat dry.
- Prick the potato several times with a fork to let steam escape.
- Rub the skin with a little olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt.
- Bake: Place directly on the oven rack (or a baking sheet if you prefer) and bake for 45–60 minutes, depending on size. The skin should be crisp, and a fork should pierce the flesh easily.
- Serve: Slice open the top, fluff the inside with a fork, and add your favorite toppings.
💡 Tips for perfection:
- For ultra-crispy skin, rub a little extra oil and bake directly on the oven rack.
- If you want faster baking, wrap in foil—but note: the skin won’t get as crispy.
- Microwave shortcut: Pierce potato, microwave on high 5–7 minutes per side, then crisp in the oven for 10 minutes if desired.
If you want, I can give you 5 creative baked potato topping combos that take it from “classic” to “gourmet comfort food.”
Do you want me to do that?
