Author: Colorado Potatoes

Anybody can bake a potato. The question is, can you make a perfect baked potato every time?

Here are some great tips for perfect baked potatoes… every single time.

- First of all, when you’re potato-shopping in the grocery, never buy potatoes with wrinkled skin or that have begun to sprout. Likewise reject any potato with a green patch anywhere on it.
- If you take the time to pick potatoes that are about the same size and shape, you will find they bake more evenly.
- When you get your perfect potatoes home, don’t wreck them with poor storage. They like to be kept in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area, such as a loose bin that allows the circulation of air. Stored in this manner, your perfect potatoes should last fine for several weeks
- Prepare your perfect baking potatoes for cooking by first scrubbing the potato skins under cold running water, then pricking them with a fork before baking. This prevents them from bursting open in the oven and also shortens the baking time.
- Bake your perfectly selected, stored and prepared potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour, or until tender (test with a fork).
- There is no need to wrap your potatoes in tin foil for baking. On the contrary, aluminum-wrapped baked potatoes have a less than desirable taste and texture. Instead, just turn the potatoes over after 30 minutes of baking.

You can successfully bake potatoes in your microwave by wrapping them in paper towels and cooking them one inch apart on the microwave dish. Follow the directions for baking time.

Voila! Perfect baked potatoes!