Here's the best recipe & tips for how long to bake a potato at 400°F (205°C). They come out with fluffy insides & crispy skin in the outside. Just add a pat of butter for the ultimate side dish. Sounds simple enough so let's get started.
Through my years of catering and being a personal chef, the best temperature for baking potatoes is at 400°F. I am sharing my knowledge below so you can oven cook the best baked potato.
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Ingredients Needed
Just 3 ingredients & 5 minutes prep, easy peasy! The best potatoes for baking are russets & what I am using for this recipe. They may also be called Jacket Potatoes or tater spuds in other parts of the world.
Here are the ingredients needed to make baked potatoes:
- Russet Potatoes - these low-moisture, starchy, & thick-skinned varieties are perfect for baking. Idaho bakers are a popular pick.
- Olive Oil - this helps the skin get crispy.
- Coarse Salt - flavor enhancer needed because potatoes are relatively bland on their own.
See the recipe card for quantities & full instructions.
How to Bake a Potato
So how long does it take? For an average size russet, between 50-60 minutes is just right.
Cooking times will vary. See my guide below for best cooking times based on potato size.
Here are the easy steps for baking russets in a standard oven.
- Prep the Potatoes
- Bake the Potatoes
1 - Prep the Potatoes
Begin by preheating the oven to 400°F (205°C).
Wash & thoroughly dry each potato. Using a fork poke holes on both sides of the potato.
Next drizzle olive oil over the potato & rub onto all sides. Sprinkle with plenty of salt.
2 - Bake the Potatoes
Add the potatoes to the preheated oven. Place them directly on the center rack. Set a timer based on the minutes to cook in my quick guide below.
Bake until a fork can easily pierce the skin & slide into the inner flesh. Remove from the oven & let cool a bit before slicing into them.
How to Tell When a Baked Potato is Done: The internal temperature of a baked potato should be 185°F when ready to remove from teh oven.
As the potato sits before cutting open it will continue to cook up to around 200°F & be perfect! See the video below for prepping a hot potato.
400°F Potato Baking Times by Size
- Small - 35 - 40 minutes
- Medium - 45 - 50 minutes
- Large - 60 - 65 minutes
- Extra Large (12oz+) - 75+ minutes (like the huge ones from Costco!)
Hint: If you have a convection oven, reduce the baking time by 5-10 minutes.
Video for Cutting a Baked Potato
This simple how-to video shows you the steps expose the inside of a baked potato to fluff up the flesh:
Topping & Leftover Ideas
Add your favorite toppings; butter, cheese, sour cream, chives, bacon, chili, cheese sauce, or just salt & pepper.
- Top with leftover BBQ Pulled Pork or taco meat for a complete meal.
- Drizzle on Homemade Ranch Dressing without Mayo instead of sour cream.
- Enjoy a veggie meal with steamed broccoli & cheese sauce.
Use leftovers in other recipes like make a batch of Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins or dice and add to my recipe for Pot Pie Soup.
FAQ
I prefer skipping the foil. If you want crispy skin, foil is a no-no. Foil actually "steams" the potato more than baking it which results in excess moisture.
I prefer the higher temperature no matter what size the potato. 400°F get the skin a bit crispy without drying it out or burning it.
Poking them allows the steam to release. This prevents them from bursting open.
How Long to Bake Potatoes at 400°
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Wash & dry each potato. Use a fork to poke holes in each side of the potatoes.
- To each potato rub on ½ tablespoon of olive oil & 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Bake in the preheated oven on the center rack. * Set a timer to bake the potatoes based on the size guide in the Recipe Notes below.
- Once a fork pierces through the potato easily, they are ready.
- Remove them carefully from the oven. Let them cool for 5 minutes before slicing into them.
- Top with your favorites - butter, sour cream, bacon bits, shredded cheese, herbs, & chives.
Notes
- Store cooled baked potatoes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat in the microwave for 3-5 minutes or in the regular or toaster oven at 400° for 15 minutes.
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- Small - 35 - 40 minutes
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- Medium - 45 - 50 minutes
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- Large - 60 - 65 minutes
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- Extra Large (12oz+) - 75+ minutes (like the huge ones from Costco!)
- Nutritional Info below is based on the size of the potato
Nutrition
More Baked Potato Recipes
Here are other ways to make a baked potato without an oven:
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