by Emilie Carrillo

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: March 11, 2009

Baked potatoes are a fantastic side dish. For lunch, they can be the main attraction, with just a salad to go along with it.

To bake a potato, it takes a little while in the oven. My mom always baked them in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. But, I found that when I want one a whole lot sooner than that, they can be tossed in the microwave for five to seven minutes and get the same result.

So, does one prepare the potatoes to go into the oven or microwave?

Well, make sure to choose some large, firm baking potatoes at the store. Take them home and store them in a cool, dry place until you need them. If you plan to store them for longer than a few days, put them in a paper sack in the pantry or a cool cupboard.

If baking the potatoes in the oven, preheat it to 350 degrees, thoroughly wash the potatoes in cool water and poke several holes through the skin with a fork. Wrap the potatoes in tin foil and place on a baking sheet (for easier removal from the oven).

Let the potatoes cook for one hour, until tender. Remove them from the oven and use oven mitts while gently squishing the potatoes on the counter. This makes the potatoes fluffier. Leave the tin foil on to keep the potatoes warm and serve.

If you want your baked potatoes a little sooner, use the microwave. Make sure to wash the potatoes thoroughly, but do not wrap in foil. Pierce the potato skins with a fork and cook on high for five to seven minutes each. Also, squish these potatoes in their skins for a fluffier potato.

And, if you happen to be grilling, you can always cook the potatoes on the grill with everything else. Just follow the same process for cooking in a conventional oven and place them on the grill. Depending on the heat of your grill, it should take about the same amount of time.

To check, just peel back the foil and pierce with a fork. If the potato slides off easily, it is done.

I also once cooked a potato in a camp fire with tin foil. The timing is much less precise but it still tasted magnificent!

Now, everyone has different tastes when topping a potato. If you have guests, you might want to have a little of everything. I like my potatoes with butter, salt, pepper and a little cheddar cheese.
Other people enjoy potatoes with chopped green onions and sour cream. Still others love to dump ranch dressing, bacon bits and cheese on theirs. And, of course, there can be any combination of those. Other toppings could be steamed broccoli and creamy cheese sauce.

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