This one is not much of a recipe but more on how to heat up a potato. It actually is the starting point for more creative versions of this easy to do meal. The reason being is because, you can add more creative ingredients on top of the baked potato for a more interesting meal.
Potatos
Butter
Turn the oven on to 350° F. (Note that the oven does not have to be fully up to temperature before you put the potato in. Convenient, right?) Scrub the potato with a vegetable brush. Prick all over with a fork or cut a deep slit on the top to release steam as it cooks. At this point, you can bake it three different ways:
- For crispy skin, place a potato directly on the middle oven rack and bake for 60 to 90 minutes.
- For tender skin, pat your potato dry and rub the skin with olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt (optional), place in a baking dish, and bake for 60 to 90 minutes. For skin that’s even more tender, wrap your scrubbed, pricked, dried, oiled, seasoned potato in foil before baking on the oven rack or in a baking dish.
Pierce the potato before wrapping it in foil. If you pierce it afterwards, you might push bits of foil into the potato. (Not exactly what you want in your baked potato.)
Total cooking time depends on the size of the potato; it’s done when its starch has become tender and fluffy. To test, put on an oven glove and lightly squeeze the potato. It should easily give way to gentle pressure.
Bake a Potato in the Microwave
Scrub the potato, prick all over with a fork, and place on a microwave-safe plate. How long does it take to bake a potato in the microwave? Again, it depends. The user’s manual that comes with your microwave may have instructions. But if not, start by cooking the scrubbed and pricked potato on full power for 5 minutes. Turn over and cook again for 5 minutes, or until the potato is soft when squeezed. Note the skin will not be crisp like an oven-baked or grilled potato.
Bake a Potato in the Slow Cooker
Swiftly scrub potatoes and prick all over with a fork. Rub the skin with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and dried herbs (optional). Wrap with foil, and cook on High for 4½ to 5 hours, or on LOW for 7½ to 8 hours until soft.
Bake a Potato on the Grill
Turn the heat grill to medium-high. Scrub potatoes and boil for 5 minutes to jumpstart the cooking process. Or prick with a fork and microwave for 2 minutes, turn them over, and microwave for another 2 minutes. Rub skin with olive oil and season as desired. Now you can grill it a couple of different ways:
- Place wrapped or unwrapped potato on the heated grill, close cover and cook over indirect heat for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until potato is tender. OR
- Double wrap potato in heavy-duty foil and bury in hot coals for 30 to 60 minutes, or until tender.
Bake a Potato in an Air Fryer
Simply poke some holes in your scrubbed potatoes with a fork. Rub them with a little vegetable oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and other seasonings if you like, and place them in the air fryer basket. Don’t crowd the potatoes because you want the hot air circulating around them. Cook at 390° F. How long does it take to bake a potato in the air fryer? Depends on the size, of course. Check after about 35 minutes. The air fryer will create a nice crispy skin.
