How to Bake a Potato

You would think that baking a potato is a simple process and it can be but there are various ways to bake a potato if you start looking or asking people. I am going to show you how I learned working in a restaurant and I will say they turn out wonderful.

First preheat the oven at 450 degrees.  Then get out some good potatoes. I think it helps to use potatoes that are especially made for baking but this is not a prerequisite.

Lay out all of your ingredients, which for this is potatoes, olive oil, kosher salt, aluminum foil, pastry brush, and a fork or knife. Scrub your potatoes and get all the dirt off of them. Then poke holes throughout each potato with the knife or fork.

Then you are going to brush with olive oil. You do not need to put a lot on the potato just make it look glossy. Then sprinkle kosher salt over the whole potato.

Next wrap each potato individually. A lot of people do not do this step because they say the moisture is drawn out of the potato through the foil but I disagree. I think it actually traps the moisture in and also lets the oil and salt seeps into the potato.

Then put directly on the oven rack in the oven.  Bake for 1 - 2 hours. I will say I use a higher temperature so that they are ready quicker but if you have more time, you can use a lower temperature and they will be great too.

Next get out your ingredients and load up your potato. Right now my favorite toppings are chicken, black beans, cheese, salsa and a little sour cream. Yum!