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A perfect baked potato topped with sour cream, grated cheese and green onion
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How Long to Bake a Potato

Learn how long to bake a potato to get crisp skin with a soft and fluffy interior at various oven temperatures.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: World
Keyword: baked potato, how long to bake a potato
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 204kcal
Author: TipBuzz

Ingredients

  • 2-4 russet potatoes or other baking potato, scrubbed clean
  • 2 teaspoons butter or olive oil
  • pinch coarse salt
  • black pepper freshly ground

Optional Toppings

  • sour cream
  • green onions
  • bacon bits

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F (refer to the notes for other temperatures). Set aside a baking sheet.
  • Scrub the potatoes under cold running water to remove dirt and debris. Cut off any blemishes with a paring knife.
  • Using a small skewer or paring knife, poke each potato 4-5 times about an inch deep. Then place on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for roughly one hour or according to the times in the notes. Halfway through, you can brush with butter or olive oil for added flavor if you wish. When they are done, a fork should slide easily into the center and the internal temperature will be 205-210°F.
  • Remove the potatoes from the oven. Use oven mitts or tongs to handle them, as they will be hot.
  • Using a paring knife, slice halfway through each potato lengthwise. Then give it a gentle squeeze to open. Fluff the insides lightly with a fork and top with your favorite toppings to serve.

Notes

  • Baking sheet: You can line the baking sheet with parchment if you wish for temperatures up to 420°F.
  • Use the following chart to determine bake times for your potatoes:
Oven
Temperature
Medium Potatoes
(3-4 inches)
Large Potatoes
(5+ inches)
325°F 1 hour 30 min 2 hours
350°F 1 hour 20 min 1 hour 30 min
375°F 1 hour 10 min 1 hour 20 min
400°F 1 hour 1 hour 10 min
425°F 50 min 1 hour
450°F 40 min 50 min
475°F 35 min 40 min
  • You can bake as many as 24 to 36 potatoes at once in the same amount of time. However, flip them halfway through baking to promote even heating and turn on the convection if available.

Nutrition

Serving: 1potato | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 889mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 127IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg | Net Carbs: 35g