Read all about baked potatoes oven temps, times, sizes, & a recipe. See your options of foil or no foil method. Read further to match your baked potatoes oven times and temps with your other oven dishes. Also, see this and other Side Dishes in our Vegetables & Potatoes Categories.
About Baked Potatoes Oven Recipe With No Foil
You can successfully make a baked potatoes oven recipe at differing temperatures that commonly vary between 350⁰F and 400⁰F as later seen in our chart. Going lower or higher than this temp range can cause inconsistent results, especially across different oven models.
Cooking time will vary depending on the preheated oven temp used and the size of the largest potato. So, to make the best baked potatoes the same way, have them all be of similar size.
Also, when planning to use the baked potatoes in oven recipe without foil, there will be 2 considerations. You either place them directly on the oven shelf or on a baking sheet. If you’re doing several, it’s easier on a baking sheet because of easier insertion, checking for doneness, and speedy removal.
Nutrition Facts of Baked Potato
There are many nutrients in the plain baked potato. The calories usually vary between 150-350, depending on the size. Many recipes will show medium-sized potatoes. We reflected a large baker potato for more realistic values. Also, if you add toppings, that’s where many will add to the pros or the cons of nutritional health. For example, adding chili with beans compared to adding butter and cheese is a consideration everyone faces. Read on for specifics.
Calories Baked Potato Plain
Plain medium baked potatoes have a little under 200 calories. A large one has about 330 calories. Visit this article and lists of calories of stuffed baked potatoes. The baked potato recipe will have the more detailed nutritional values shown.
Baked Potatoes Oven Chart of Times, Temps, Sizes
| Potato SIZE | Baked Potatoes Oven TEMP | Baked Potatoes Oven TIME* |
|---|---|---|
| Large | 400⁰ F | 45-50 minutes |
| Small or Medium | 400⁰ F | 40 minutes |
| Large | 375⁰ F | 1 hour |
| Small or Medium | 375⁰ F | 50 minutes |
| Large | 350⁰ F | 1 hour & 10 minutes |
| Small or Medium | 350⁰ F | 1 hour |
* Final internal temperature of a good baked potato will be about 210⁰ F.
Common Questions About Baked Potatoes Oven Topics
Why would I want to bake a potato in the oven instead of the microwave?
If you’re already baking something for about an hour, you can usually pop the potatoes in the oven alongside. That saves money by avoiding the use of the microwave. Regarding other reasons, the potatoes will definitely be more evenly baked. Also, you may discover that the hot oven provides a crispy skin and fluffy insides. If you’re not baking anything in the oven, however, there are some very good microwaves with a specific baker potato setting. I continue to use both as it’s depending on my time frames and if I’m baking in the oven already or not.
Should I Make Baked Potatoes Oven Method Without Foil or Foil Wrapped?
It’s better to not wrap baked potatoes in foil. But, if you do, it won’t be as flavorful and will taste more like a steamed potato since it retains all the moisture. Also, the baking time might need to be increased slightly. You should focus on baked potatoes in the oven without foil.
Do I need a baking sheet for oven baked potatoes?
No but it makes it easier (and safer) to put the potatoes directly on the oven shelf. It also makes it easier when its time to come out of the oven. I use one sometimes and other times I just place them directly on the oven shelf rack.
If you do use a baking sheet, you want to keep a little space between the potatoes to maintain an even cooking. So, if you just have one potato or two, it’s just as easy for adding and removing potatoes this way with or without a baking sheet.
Should you poke holes in potatoes before baking?
Yes, you should poke holes in potatoes before baking in the oven or in a microwave. You want the steam to escape the potato so, prick it about 6 times all over with a fork. If you don’t, they also have the chance of exploding to release the excessive steam. So, definitely poke the potatoes.
How can you tell when a baked potato is fully cooked?
Here are several ways how you can tell when a baked potato is fully cooked.
- Good baked potatoes internal temperature will be about 210⁰ F.
- Insert a fork at least 1/2 way into the largest part of the potato. If it has no resistance past the skin, and the consistency of the potato seems soft during the entire insertion, chances are high that it’s ready.
- With experience, you can tell by squeezing a cooked potato. Using 2 hands (protected with oven mitts or potholders), 1 on each side of the potato length, place your fingers area at the center height. Squeeze inward. If it squeezes inward with little resistance and smoothly, you can tell if it’s fully done or needs more time. You can practice this method during the cooking process to learn that level of resistance from a partially baked potato.
Make a Perfect Baked Potato and Add Toppings
Here’s a list of some popular toppings that go great on a baked potato, leftover baked potatoes, or microwaved baked potatoes.
- butter or margarine
- salt and pepper
- chives
- chopped green onions
- crumbled cooked bacon or bacon bits
- cheese (shredded cheddar, American, Velveeta)
- chili (with or without beans)
- small amount of cooked ground beef or sausage
- sausage gravy
If you’re going to add some toppings, it’s good to ensure you’ve prepped the potatoes for them. Keep reading on the topic of splitting the potato for handling toppings.
How do you get a baked potato ready to add toppings?
There are 2 ways to prep a baked potato for receiving toppings.
- An easy, speedy way is to cut it completely in half lengthwise, lay each half next to each other. Then, add the toppings to each half. You can also take it a little further and cut a slit down the long center of each half, pulling it slightly apart to open up each slit.
- A more traditional way is to cut it lengthwise across the middle, a little more than 1/2 way deep. And again crossways. With each hand, use a thumb and index finger (each in-between each cut and on the lower portion of the potato), squeeze together and inward to force the potato to spread open evenly. It will appear as a flower blooming, if you have a fluffy potato.
Add any preferred toppings beginning with butter first, if that’s one of them. Here’s the recipe for loaded baked potatoes so, you’ll have a good idea on how and what toppings to add.
Oven Recipes Using Similar Times and Temps of Baked Potatoes
This recipe is listed in our Christmas Dinner Meals and Holiday Dinner Suggestions articles, There you’ll also see other traditional and non-traditional fun recipes for main courses, sides, appetizers, salads, and breads.
Conclusion of Baked Potatoes Oven
So, you can still cook potatoes in the microwave, but you’ll want to save this best recipe for those times you want to have a perfect baked potatoes oven recipe.
And also when you can cook them alongside other items in the oven with similar temperatures or times. We have the times and temps table so you can refer to that for when you also have casserole dishes in the oven. It’s also good for have leftover baked potatoes, which only take a little over half the time to bake. You can still have baked potato toppings even on a leftover oven baked potato.
Related Posts
- Visit here to learn more about the potato.
- Pan Fried Potato Slices
- Ham with Scalloped Potatoes Casserole
- Southern Potato Salad
- Thanksgiving Dinner Meals Ideas
Baked Potatoes Oven Recipe
Recipe Resizer
Tap to change Ingredients Size or Nbr of Servings
Keep Screen Active
Ingredients
- 2 large potatoes white, idaho
- 1 Tbsp oil or bacon drippings
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Wash potatoes over running water and pat dry.
- Puncture each potato about ½ dozen times all around with a fork to allow steam to escape.
- Rub some vegetable oil (or bacon drippings) around each potato to coat.
- Place on a baking sheet or directly on the oven shelf. Bake for about 1 hour.
- Test to confirm baked by poking half-way deep with a fork. No resistance past the skin is good for being done.
Notes
- 400o F Large Potatoes for 1 hour
- 400o F Small or Medium Potatoes for 50 minutes
- 375o F Large Potatoes for 1 hour 10 minutes
- 375o F Small or Medium Potatoes for 55 minutes
- 350o F Large Potatoes for 1 hour – 1 hour and 20 minutes
- 350o F Small or Medium Potatoes for 1 hour 5 minutes
- Final internal temperature of a baked potato is about 205-210o F.