The Perfect Baked Potato
Learn how to make the perfect baked potato using this step-by-step tutorial and recipe. So easy and delicious!
Prep 5 min · Cook 45 min · Total 50 min · Makes 1 baked potato
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Butter
- Half
- Melted butter
Directions
- Heat oven to 450°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with foil (or parchment*), and if you happen to own a wire cooling rack, place it on top of the baking sheet.
- Using a dinner fork or a small paring knife, poke the potato at least 10 times on all sides.
- Place the potato on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove baking sheet from the oven.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the outside of the potato with melted butter or olive oil until it is completely coated on all sides.
- Sprinkle the potato with a generous pinch of Kosher salt, and place the potato back on the baking sheet reverse-side-up, so that it can cook evenly on both sides.
- Bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Using an oven mitt, carefully squeeze the potato to check for doneness.
- If the insides are soft and give under pressure, remove the potato from the oven.
- Otherwise, continue cooking in 5-minute increments until the potato is soft.
- Using a small paring knife, slice halfway through the potato lengthwise.
- Then give it a gentle squeeze to open.
- Serve immediately, with your desired toppings.