Learn these tips for how to bake potatoes in the oven and a trick for baking them faster. You’ll love the flavor and texture of these potatoes.
I love a weekend meal of a roast long-cooking in the oven with potatoes alongside it. That goes well with a lazy, cold weather day. (Finally, the endless 100-degree days of this summer in Texas are over.)
Although most of my weekends are far too busy for slow-paced cooking, I have found a quicker method of how to cook potatoes in the oven while still achieving that crispy brown skin.
The Good Potato
The humble potato has been around since ancient times. And a new-fangled microwaved potato can’t beat the texture and flavor of one from the warm old-fashioned oven.
Potatoes sometimes get a bad rap with the idea that they don’t have any nutrition in them and they will make you fat. There is more to this story than what you have heard. Read on!
Potatoes are primarily carbohydrates but do contain vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Also, they have a few health benefits that are mostly unknown.
Vitamin C And Potassium.
Potatoes contain vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C aids in immunity. And potassium helps keeps blood pressure under control by maintaining fluid balance in the body.
Protein and Fiber
Also, when you eat a potato, you get some protein (2 g) and fiber (2 g).
Make sure to eat the skin where much of the fiber resides.
Resistant Starch
A little-known feature of the potato is its resistant starch. This healthy starch is a relative newcomer to the heal-your-gut world.
This type of starch feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Luckily, potatoes contain this starch, especially once cooled.
Note: you can reheat the potato once it is cooled, and the resistant starch that formed will still be in there.
Potatoes Can Help You Lose Weight
What? Lose weight eating potatoes? Yes!
This fact alone should have you burning to learn how to bake potatoes in the oven all winter long.
Potatoes have an excellent satiation factor, meaning you feel satisfyingly full after eating them, which can help you avoid overeating.
Here’s How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven Perfectly Every Time.
This method will ensure that your potatoes come out fluffy and delicious with crispy brown skin.
Russet Potatoes are the best type of potato for this type of cooking. Their high starch content is what lends the fluffy texture.
Preheat the Oven.
First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Scrub the Potatoes.
While the oven is heating, scrub four small to medium-sized potatoes well. Since potatoes grow underground, lingering dirt on them is common.
Dry them.
Prick the Potatoes.
Yes, you really do need to prick the potatoes a few times with a fork to ensure they don’t explode. They won’t always explode if you don’t prick them. But you’ll be pretty unhappy with the mess to clean up if they do.
Microwave the Potatoes.
Microwaving the potatoes first is the trick you need to know for how to bake potatoes in the oven quickly!
A fully microwaved potato will only steam and never get crispy, brown skin. But microwaving four potatoes in a microwave (and oven) safe dish for 8-9 minutes before popping them in the oven still gives the potatoes enough time to get to the high temperature needed for browning.
(This browning is known as the Maillard reaction, named after the French biochemist who uncovered its workings. I am a food geek and love to know all about such things!)
I use a glass 8″x8″ dish that can be used in the microwave and then transferred to the oven.
Each microwave oven it different. You may need to add or subtract a little time. Also, adjust the time if you have fewer or more potatoes.
Salt and oil the skin.
Next, rub the skins with olive oil and salt.
Bake the Potatoes.
Finally, place the potatoes in the oven directly on the rack. (Don’t wrap in foil or the potatoes will only steam, not crisp.)
Let them bake for 15 minutes.
How to know when the potatoes are done?
The potatoes are done baking when they are soft when pricked with a fork or knife, and the skin is crispy and brown.
How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven:
1) For the pretty sliced potato pictured above, cut along the potato every 1/4 – 1/2 inch after washing it but before baking it. Then, proceed with the oil and salt.
2) My dear mother says you get the best texture if you immediately slice them open once out of the oven to release the steam. I tested this and found, not a surprise, she is right.
The quickly sliced potatoes had a fluffy texture, the others, a wet texture.
Try these simple toppings:
Classic – Salt, Pepper, and Butter.
Herb – Salt, Sour Cream, and Chopped Herbs, such as parsley and chives.
Make it a meal – Salt, Pepper, Broccoli (microwaved first), and Cheddar Cheese.
Use sweet potatoes:
Mmm, I adore sweet, desert-like baked sweet potatoes. They are an excellent substitute for white potatoes. Additionally, they contain more fiber and also vitamin A.
A great way to use leftovers:
Warm a leftover potato with a little butter. Top with a fried egg and avocado slices.
See the complete “How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven” instructions below.
If you want more nutritious easy cooking check out my cookbook, Shortcut Real Food: 20-minute meals.
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How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven (a trick)
Learn these tips for how to bake potatoes in the oven and this trick to cooking them faster. You’ll love the flavor and texture of these potatoes. Grab more healthy recipes on The Easy Healthy Eating Blog at ChristieKelemen.com/blog/.
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 potatoes 1x
Ingredients
4 medium sized Russet Potatoes
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Toppings (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Scrub the Potatoes.
While the oven is heating, scrub your four potatoes well. Dry them.
3. Prick the Potatoes
Prick the potatoes a few times with a fork.
4. Microwave the Potatoes
In a microwave and oven safe dish, microwave the potatoes for 8-9 minutes. If you have a less powerful
microwave it may take longer to get the potatoes tender.
5. Salt and Oil the Skin.
Rub the skins with olive oil and salt.
6. Bake the Potatoes.
Place the potatoes in the oven.
Let them bake for 15 minutes.
How to know when the potatoes are done?
The potatoes are done baking when they are soft when pricked with a fork or knife, and the skin is crispy and brown.
Notes
Try these simple toppings:
Classic – Salt, Pepper, and Butter.
Herb – Salt, Sour Cream, and Chopped Herbs, such as parsley and chives.
Make it a meal – Salt, Pepper, Broccoli (microwaved first), and Cheddar Cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sides
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: How to Bake Potatoes in the Oven
This blog post is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat any health condition or to be prescriptive for anyone. Always be sure to work with your healthcare practitioner before making any changes.
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