How to Bake Potatoes

Look, I know we just met so this will be hard to hear.  But it's possible you don't know how to bake a potato.

I know that's hard to hear.

That's why I'm here.  To teach you the proper way.  It is easy, not quick, and results in a potato with a light, fluffy, butterable interior bursting from a crisp, salty skin.  The nutrients are in the skin, you know!

Step 1: The Stuff.

POTATOES.

For realsies.  You can bake just about any potato, but for the romantic fluffy potatoes you will need russets.  Commonly known as Baking Potatoes.

OIL
Lots of people call for olive oil which is an okay thing.  But after the potatoes have baked you can't really taste it!  So what's the point?  I use plain old vegetable oil.

SALT
If you aren't using salt, your aren't seasoning your food correctly!  Properly salted food is an epiphany.  I am using kosher flakey salt, but table salt would work, too.  You'd need much less of it, though.  You're best off using a flaky, crunchy salt here.

AN OVEN
To bake in.

THINGS YOU WILL NOT NEED:
A microwave.
Aluminum Foil.
A knife.

Comments

[Longchamp]

You forgot the foil.

[thedave413]

You don't need the foil unless you're cooking it in a campfire.

[jessyratfink]

I have never ever put salt on the skin. Why have I not done that?!

[matthewabel]

I don't know. Crushed rosemary would be a treat as well.

[Cabe]

I'm a fan of eating all the potato goodness and then filling the skin with coleslaw......and then continuing to consume.

[matthewabel]

Um... mind=blown. The only thing stopping me is a lack of coleslaw. But that can be remedied.

[Cabe]

There's just gotta be an 'ible for 'slaw, there's just gotta!

The only thing stopping me is a lack of potatoes. Unfortunaly the instructable for crafting spuds has a long lead time :)

[matthewabel]

My recipe for slaw involves a jarred dressing and pre-shredded broccoli. Shameful, I know. But it's so good!