How to Cook Potatoes in the Oven

Directions on how to cook potatoes in the oven including oven temperatures, times, and how to do it with and without foil.

Baked potatoes are always and forever going to be on my dinner rotation for a few reasons. They are cheap to buy, easy to make, and the family can customize them to their liking. Customizable meals (like tacos, burgers, and other things where the kids can dress the dish up how they prefer) are always a hit in this house. The kids love it, and I love that they don’t fuss about what’s being served.

I don’t know about you, but there is nothing more that I love than a loaded baked potato. Bring on the toppings: butter, sour cream, shredded cheddar, freshly cooked diced bacon, and chives from the garden. That is a complete baked potato in my mind. I also like warming up some leftover broccoli and cheese soup to spoon over the top of my potatoes – so good!

I know this recipe isn’t rocket science, but knowing how to cook potatoes in the oven, the right way, is a game changer. I’m here to tell you to put down the foil and roast those potatoes in their own skin, on a rack, slathered in oil and sprinkled with salt. Sometimes all you need is a few simple ingredients put together in the right order. This, my friends, is simplicity at its tastiest.

How to Cook Potatoes in the Oven Tips and Tricks:

• Choose a russet potato for this recipe. The starch content in a russet is just what you are looking for in a baked potato and it makes the fluffiest-centered and crispiest-skinned taters on the block.
• The size of your russet is up to you. I normally go for small or medium potatoes when they are a side dish to the meal and large baking potatoes when they are going to be the main dish. The key is to get potatoes that are similar in size so that they finish baking at the same time.
• Baking potatoes in the oven is my preferred method because it makes them so fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside, but did you know you can cook “baked” potatoes in your slow cooker and Instant Pot? Read more about that here.
• Dress them up or dress them down, no matter how you make them, baked potatoes are delicious. We like to pair them with these super easy baked chicken legs, or serve them with chili and cheese as a main dish.

Craving more? Subscribe to Bless this Mess to get new recipes, meal plans, and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Leave a comment, pin it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #blessthismesseats on Instagram. I love to see your kitchen skills in action!

How to Cook Potatoes in the Oven

A simple guide on how to cook potatoes in the oven that produces the best baked potatoes with a tender inside and crispy salty crust.

• Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 russet baking potatoes
• 2-4 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Additional toppings to your liking

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Wash and scrub your potatoes clean. Poke each potato with a fork a few times to allow steam to release while cooking.
2. Place potatoes directly on a baking rack set inside a baking sheet and place them in the oven.
3. Bake until the center of the potato reaches between 205 and 212 degrees. This will be roughly 40-60 minutes depending on the size of the potatoes.
4. Remove from the oven and use a pastry brush to coat each potato in a thin coat of olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and then flip them over and brush the other side with oil and sprinkle with salt.
5. Bake the potatoes for an additional 10 minutes to crisp the skin.
6. Remove the potatoes from the oven, cut a small X on the top of each potato and then using two hands (be careful, they are hot), gently press the potatoes inward so that they “bloom” from the X.
7. Enjoy right away with your favorite toppings.

Notes

• Medium to small potatoes will take around 40-45 minutes to bake.
• I have also oiled up my potato from the start and then let it cook. My

How simple was that? And now you are a baked potato expert and your family won’t know what hit them. Trust me on this, a great baked potato is just one of those things you need to master in your life, and this will teach you just how to bake a potato in the oven, perfect every time.

Enjoy from my kitchen to yours!