To bake a potato in the oven, the typical cooking time is about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes at around 400°F (200°C). Here are the detailed guidelines:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Scrub and dry the potato, then optionally prick it with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape.
- Rub the potato with oil and sprinkle with salt for a crispy skin.
- Place the potato directly on a baking sheet or oven rack.
- Bake for about 60 to 70 minutes, or until the potato is tender when pierced with a fork or a thermometer reads about 205°F to 210°F inside.
- You can also check doneness by gently squeezing the potato (use oven mitts as it will be hot).
- For larger potatoes or if you want extra crispy skin, baking can extend up to 1 hour 20 minutes.
Some sources suggest baking at slightly higher temperatures (425°F to 450°F) for about 45 to 60 minutes, but 400°F for about an hour is considered optimal for fluffy insides and crispy skin
. Wrapping potatoes in foil is not recommended if you want crispy skin, as foil traps moisture and results in steamed, softer skin
. In summary, bake a medium-to-large potato at 400°F for about 1 hour until tender and the skin is crisp.
