How to Make the Absolute Best Baked Potatoes

Test cook Elle Simone reveals the secrets to making the Best Baked Potatoes.

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[jamesdooling]

I can't say much more. I've now tested this recipe eight times on 14 people. They all agree: this is a quintessential recipe. Cheers. Love it. We're eating these every few days. Thank you.

[SunflowerSpotlight]

I’m chronically ill, and sometimes there’s very little I can safely eat. Baked potatoes are lifesavers. Enough that my medication doesn’t make me sick, that I don’t get reflux, that I don’t need to eat again too soon, they have a lot of vitamins and minerals, they’re really something I’m thankful for. But it can be hard, when I can eat so few things. Even items I love can become difficult to swallow. The threat of getting really sick if I don’t eat enough or by a certain time really makes it a chore sometime.

So honestly, thank you all from the bottom of my heart. This might be a minor deal for people, and really in my big picture it’s not a life changer, but it will make things easier for me and it more pleasant to get through my hardest days. I appreciate the video, and am making sure to send it to my parents (my mom has cancer on top of some of my inherited problems, so it’s important to try to coax her appetite when possible). This will help.

[Amor]

Poke 6 holes in potaoe with a fork … 2 holes each side ..1/2 cup water 2 table spoon salt … turn the potatoes in the water oven at 450… put on wire rack …need internal temp of 205.. then brush with a table spoon of vegetable oil but back in for 10 minutes … when it comes out overn cut them open immediately and squeeze a little bit … can add lemon zest to topping

[lencarter]

I am a HUGE ATK fan and this video is yet another reason why.

I have long baked my potatoes by rubbing them down with olive oil, and then covering them with kosher salt, but everything that Elle said about what happens to the skin and the meat of the potato in using my method was right on. Her recipe is hands-down the best way to make a baked potato.

Keep doing what you guys are doing over there at ATK. And Thank you (again) 👍😁.

[henrysmith]

I followed the directions, and it turned into the BEST baked potato I have ever had. I needed to use LESS salt and toppings than I normally do because the flavor and texture was perfect and actually tasted like a good food, instead of a blank canvas for toppings.

[dongemus]

Thanks for re- uploading all these videos one segment at a time instead of one episode at a time. It really makes viewing much easier for me

[vpsrxvv]

Let me start with. I'm not a cook. I recently retired and often use your videos to attempt to make dinner. My wife loved these potatoes and says they're the best she ever had. That makes up for the dry chicken and burnt bolagnese I've made. Thank you for these great videos.

[donodiorne]

Loved working with Elle several years ago when at the Idaho Potato Commission, she knows her taste profiles that's for sure. What a nice compliment to making a baked potato a delicious meal. Her tip for adding the oil at the last is perfect, I've added minced garlic at that point to get the flavor but without it burning by being in the oven the entire time.

[deepamehta]

I can’t thank you enough for this simple and straightforward recipe. I haven’t had a decent jacket/baked potato outside of the UK, and I have clearly been making all the “potato mistakes” all these years. Thank you thank you thank you. Elle Simone, I love your style and clear approach — make more plant-based recipe videos! 🙏💕

[melsy]

Omg...I just tried this recipe (minus the goat cheese topping) and it turned out AMAZING!!!! Soft and fluffy insides and perfect skin! I wasn’t sure what they were talking about with the “fluffy” part...but now I do!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[conradkappel]

Love this method. The quick brining, roasting, coating with oil, re-roasting, etc makes for a perfect crispy skin and a fluffy soft inner potato!

[personalchefservicesofsues]

I love Elle. She is a good instructor with simple, to the point, directions.

[cimmy]

We tried this technique of baking the potato and it turned out absolutely amazing. For the first time ever we didn't need any topping because with a little bit of salt pepper and butter the potato itself was flavorful all on its own. This will be the only way we will make baked potatoes from now on my whole family love them even my daughter who doesn't really like potatoes!!

[russellchard]

I watched this video and was skeptical that the results could be THAT MUCH better than how I've been making baked potatoes for 30 years. But watching the video, I realized I'd been doing most of things they said NOT to do. They were still some tasty potatoes, but I was curious if a simple change in technique could make that big of a difference.


Using the ATK method, it was INSANE how much better the baked potatoes turned out. The improvement was just ridiculous. I would have lost a BIG bet that the improvement could be as marked as it was/is. Who ever thought to brine or temp baked potatoes?!? Obviously, the ATK did, but that would never occurred to me. I just baked them till they were soft enough and never gave it much thought.


Thanks and congratulations to ATK for coming up with such a dramatic improvement to how people have been cooking for about 500 years! I was a skeptic and you've made me a believer! I'll never doubt you again.

[SeymourKitty]

Stir one teaspoon of salt in half a cup of water. Roll the potato around in the salt water. Bake at 450° for 45 minutes. Take out brush with olive oil and put back in the oven for an additional 10 minutes

[Yu-rnou]

Made these tonight and they were the best baked potatoes I've ever had from an oven. Baked for an hour in the fan oven, plus 10 to crisp up. Spot on!

[jamesdooling]

I've now used this recipe twice. (Doing right now for Number 3.) I've modded it a bit, but the science is there. Everyone agrees, these are excellent baked potatoes. This is now becoming my standard method. Cheers. It takes a lot to change a food snob.

[rustybearden]

After working in kitchens for twenty years as a professional chef, I've never met anyone who could give me a practical reason for wrapping potatoes in foil before baking them - they steam instead of baking and you never get that light fluffy texture that you want. I knew about poking holes in them but I was taught to rub the exterior with butter or oil and then roll them in coarse salt. Now I know better. Few culinary treats as delicious and simple to make than a perfect baked potatoe - great video

[francesrobinson]

I can't wait to try this method. I like to mash a 1/2 avocado with a little salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder. Great topping.

[bellen]

I thought Elle was going to give the host the taste when she said "now it's time for tasting" Elle puts it in her own mouth😂😂