Oven Baked Potatoes

Name: Oven Baked Potatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 medium russet potatoes; olive or vegetable oil; coarse sea salt

July 27, 2021 by Beth Pierce 48 Comments

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With a few simple ingredients and some easy tips classic steakhouse oven baked potatoes are a cinch to make. With crispy salty skins and fluffy insides these perfect potatoes are sure to become your new go to recipe for baked taters. They are the perfect side dish for steak, chicken, or pork.

If your family is anything like mine than any potato recipe at any meal is always a hit. These potatoes, Funeral Potatoes, Twice Baked Potato Casserole. and Roasted Red Potatoes are just a few of our favorites.

Crispy oven baked steakhouse style potato.

How to cook a perfect baked potato

First scrub the potatoes to remove the dirt. Then thoroughly dry them with paper towels. Prick them several times with the tines of a fork. Now using your hands rub oil all over them. Then sprinkle coarse kosher salt all over the outside of them. Now place them on a baking covered with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated oven until fork tender. Times will run anywhere from 40-60 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes. Once the potatoes are done simply use a fork (not a knife) to cut across long ways. Then press the ends of the potato just slightly to open it up. This technique is known as popping the potato.

There are a few quick and easy steps to making oven baked potatoes.

Recipe notes and helpful tips

Hands down russet potatoes are the best for baking. Their thick skin and high starch content make them the perfect choice.
Use coarse salt. I have an inexpensive salt grinder that I bought at Costco and it really comes in handy with these baked potatoes.
I have used olive oil and vegetable oil. Both of them help produce a nice crispy skin.
Baked potatoes are best served promptly so try to coordinate the rest of the meal accordingly.
They are done when they reach an internal temperature of 210 degrees.
Don’t slice open your potato. Instead read below on how to pop open a potato with a fork for a fluffier steakhouse style spud.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

A platter of oven baked potatoes fresh out of the oven.

How long to bake potatoes

At 400 degrees medium to large baked potatoes will take anywhere from 45-60 minutes depending on their size. If you increase the oven temp to 450 degrees the done time will drop to between 40-45 minutes. If you decrease the oven temp to 350 degrees the done time will increase to between 60-75 minutes. The best way to tell when a potato is done is the internal temperature will have reached 210 degrees and it will be fork tender.

How to pop a potato

Using a fork run the length of the potato poking holes in a straight line . Then make another short straight line down the center of the width of the potato. Gently push the sides of the potato together to lightly fluff it up

An oven baked potato with sour cream and chives.

What to top baked potatoes with

Everyone loves a fresh oven baked steakhouse potato but the fun comes with the toppings. We love crisp bacon, butter, sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Some other great potato toppings include broccoli, chili, green onions, guacamole, black beans, and salsa.

More potato recipes you will love!