Essential Insights
- For flawlessly seasoned potatoes, immerse them in a saltwater solution prior to baking.
- America’s Test Kitchen recommends baking the potatoes at 450°F and applying oil post-baking for optimal results.
If you think all methods for baking potatoes are the same, think again. After testing the technique from America’s Test Kitchen (ATK), I’ve found their approach to be superior. They use a very simple ingredient that you’re sure to have on hand: salt. Here’s the breakdown of their method.
The Simple Trick for the Most Flavorful Baked Potatoes
Begin by preheating your oven to 450°F. Thoroughly wash and dry medium-sized russet potatoes, about seven to nine ounces each, and puncture each potato six times with a fork.
The next step might be new to you, but once you try it, you’ll always use it: Mix half a cup of water with two tablespoons of salt in a large bowl, stirring until the salt completely dissolves. Leave any undissolved salt at the bottom—those won’t help in this process.
Now, dip each potato in the salty mixture just long enough to moisten them—you don’t need to soak them.
Salting something as round as a potato is tricky; it’s difficult to make the salt stick just right by just applying it on the surface. ATK has devised a clever method of using a saltwater solution to evenly season the potatoes. Once they’re coated, place them in the preheated oven. They’ll bake for about an hour, during which the water will evaporate, leaving the skins deliciously seasoned.
4 Smart Tips for Better Baked Potatoes
1. Pick the Best Potatoes for Baking: Choose russets for their high starch and low moisture content. As they bake, the starch absorbs moisture and expands, giving you that light, fluffy texture that’s so desirable.
2. Use the Ideal Oven Temperature: An oven temperature of 450°F is crucial for transforming hard potatoes into tender, fluffy delights within about an hour. This is the maximum temperature to fully cook the insides without burning the exteriors.
3. Oil at the End: Avoid oiling the potatoes at the beginning of baking; this can lead to tough skins. Instead, oil them near the end of the cooking time to achieve crispy, flavorful skins.
4. Immediately Score and Fluff: Once fully baked, quickly score each potato with an “X” and fluff them open. This allows the steam to escape, preventing the moisture from reabsorbing into the flesh, which would make the potatoes denser.
The Easiest Way To Tell if Potatoes Are Cooked Through
For an accurate check, use a probe thermometer. Simply insert it into the thickest part of the largest potato. Perfectly cooked potatoes will show a temperature reading between 205°F and 212°F, ensuring the fluffiest potatoes every time.
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Riley Morgan simplifies health and wellness topics, providing readers with practical advice and insights. Dedicated to empowering others, Riley covers everything from mental health to medical breakthroughs.
