How to Make Baked Potatoes in Half the Time (2024)

FAQs

Can you bake a potato halfway and finish later? ›

This trick is also flexible—sometimes I microwave the potato until it's fully cooked and just crisp it in the oven. Other times I microwave it until it's about half or a third done (five to seven minutes) and finish in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Both produce a delicious baked potato.

Place cut-side up on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle on kosher salt. Use your hands to rub the salt and oil all over the potato halves, then place cut-side down on the baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, using a fork to poke through the skin to check for doneness.

You can get out your baking sheets and place the potatoes on each sheets and fit them on rack or more. We have three racks in our one oven but we have a double oven. Pre pierce a few areas on the potato, salt and pepper for the out side. You can wrap one sheet all together or wrap each potato.

We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.

Rather than chance any health problems in an attempt to save prep time later on, it's best to wash and prepare potatoes just prior to cooking. Also, we always discourage baking potatoes in foil, as this prevents the moisture within to naturally escape, resulting in a more saturated or gummy interior.

Wrapping potatoes in foil does not hasten baking. On the contrary, since the foil itself has to be heated before the potato begins to bake, cooking times increase slightly. Not only do you get better baked potatoes when you bake them unwrapped, you also save money.

Foil will prevent potatoes from drying out while they are kept warm – one of the reasons restaurants serve their baked potatoes in foil. but it will also leave the skin soft and moist, not crispy.

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch.

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile rub potatoes with enough oil to coat and sprinkle generously with salt. Microwave on high power for 8 minutes while oven heats. Transfer potatoes to a rimmed baking sheet; bake until tender, about 30 minutes.

Do potatoes bake faster if you cut them in half? ›

One, you have made them half the thickness, so they will cook through in literally half the time. And two, you create an opportunity to get flavor and texture on the cut side of the potatoes. The side against the sheet pan will brown and crisp, which will give a little bit of textural contrast, and terrific flavor.

Toups also calls out a common mistake people make when baking potatoes. "I see a lot of people using foil to wrap their potatoes in but this is a big no-no and causes soggy skins!" he says. Foil holds in moisture and steams the potatoes, resulting in a "boiled" taste and texture.

Over baking the potato -

Visual signs: The potato skin will start to wrinkle when over cooked. The potato, when wrapped in foil or placed on the bottom of a pan will have a dark brown spot on the bottom, a sure sign of over cooking.

Some say wrapping baked potatoes in aluminum foil helps them cook faster (aluminum conducts heat, then traps it), and it does keep them hot for longer once they come out of the oven, which is why we think restaurants use this method. Wrapping potatoes will also give you a softer, steamed skin, if that's what you like.

Cool baked potatoes completely, place them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and refrigerate them. The USDA says they can be safely refrigerated for 3 to 4 days. Like all foods that have been cooked and cooled, potatoes should be reheated to at least 165 degrees F.

As long as they haven't been sitting too long. You can finish roasting them, cut them up and make hash browns, or slice them and add them to a casserole. Par cooked potatoes can be incorporated into just about any potato dish. If they have gone bad, they will feel slimy and smell off.

Once the potato is baked, cut it in half and let the un-topped portion you plan to use tomorrow cool slightly from the oven, then place into the refrigerator and cover with a clear plastic wrap or a towel.

Parboiled potatoes are good for up to one to two days after you remove them from boiling.

Cooked potatoes and other cooked vegetables can be safely kept in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates fruits and vegetables, if more information is needed on produce, you can call the FDA toll-free at (888) 723-3366 or go to their website at FDA (www.fda.gov).