How to cook potatoes in the oven

Ingredients

Method

• STEP 1

  Put a roasting tin in the oven (one big enough to take the potatoes in a single layer) and heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.

• STEP 2

  Peel 1kg potatoes and cut each into 4 even-sized pieces if they are medium size, 2-3 if smaller (5cm pieces).

• STEP 3

  Drop the potatoes into a large pan and pour in enough water to barely cover them.

• STEP 4

  Add salt, then wait for the water to boil. As soon as the water reaches a full rolling boil, lower the heat, put your timer on and simmer the potatoes uncovered, reasonably vigorously, for 2 mins.

• STEP 5

  Meanwhile, put 100g duck or goose fat or 100ml olive oil into the hot roasting tin and heat it in the oven for a few mins, so it’s really hot.

• STEP 6

  Drain the potatoes in a colander then shake the colander back and forth a few times to fluff up the outsides.

• STEP 7

  Sprinkle with 2 tsp flour and give another shake or two so they are evenly and thinly coated.

• STEP 8

  Carefully put the potatoes into the hot fat – they will sizzle as they go in – then turn and roll them around so they are coated all over.

• STEP 9

  Spread them in a single layer making sure they have plenty of room.

• STEP 10

  Roast the potatoes for 15 mins, then take them out of the oven and turn them over.

• STEP 11

  Roast for another 15 mins and turn them over again. Put them back in the oven for another 10-20 mins, or however long it takes to get them really golden and crisp. The colouring will be uneven, which is what you want.

• STEP 12

  Scatter with Maldon salt and serve straight away.

CRISPY SPUDSTo get really crispy roast potatoes, make sure the fat or oil is really hot before you add the potatoes. 

A perfect baked potato has crispy skin and fluffy insides. My method for how to bake a potato works every time, so load up your spuds, and dig in!

side dishes / vegetarian — Jump to recipe

A perfect baked potato is hard to beat. The outside is brown and crisp, coated in a crust of sea salt. Pierce the skin, and your fork gives way to a soft, fluffy interior. It might be hard to resist eating the whole thing straight out of the oven, but if you take the time to top it with a pat of butter or a dollop of (cashew) sour cream, you won’t be able to deny that it was worth the wait.

Reading this, you might be surprised to learn that until recently, I wasn’t a baked potato fan. I thought they were bland on their own. Whenever I had them at restaurants or at home as a kid, the toppings were always the main attraction. The potatoes themselves would be shriveled and soft, meager vessels for sour cream, cheddar cheese, and bacon.

But this salt-crusted baked potato recipe changed everything for me. In it, the potato becomes the main event. Don’t get me wrong, a little butter or sour cream goes a long way here, but the potatoes come out of the oven with perfectly crispy, flavorful skins and creamy, piping hot interiors that taste delicious as they are. Serve them as a hearty side dish, or load them up and call them dinner. You’ll love them either way!

Perfect Baked Potato

rate this recipe:

5 from 143 votes

Cook Time: 1 hr

Serves 4

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Bake a potato perfectly every time! With the olive oil & sea salt coating, it'll come out of the oven with crispy skin and fluffy insides that are delicious with your favorite toppings.

Ingredients

• 4 medium russet potatoes
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Sea salt

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

• Use a fork to poke a few holes into the potatoes. Place on the baking sheet, rub with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with sea salt all over. Bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until the potato is fork-tender and the skin is crisp.

  How long does it take to bake a potato at 400?

  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the potatoes in a bowl with the oil, salt, and pepper until completely coated. Place on a baking sheet and bake until fork tender, about 45 minutes.

  What temperature should a baked potato be cooked at?

  A: We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.

  How long does a potato take to cook at 375?

  Perfect baked potatoes have crispy skin, and fluffy texture, and are filled with delicious toppings! How long to cook a baked potato at 375 degrees will take approximately 50 to 65 minutes, approximately.

  How long does it take potatoes to cook in the oven at 350?

  How Long to Bake a Potato at 350 F in the Oven. You should bake potatoes for about 60 to 75 minutes at 350 F until they are soft and the internal temperature has reached between 205 F and 212 F.