Crispy & Fluffy No Foil Potatoes

How to bake a perfect baked potato without foil in the oven. Learn the best way to get crispy skin with a fluffy interior for potato perfection every time. No fuss and super easy.

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Prep Time:  5 Min

– 4 Russet potatoes – ½ cup water – 2 tablespoons salt – 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil

Ingredients

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1

Russets are the go-to baking potato because they are a starchy potato and the more starch in a potato means it will be more fluffy.

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Use russets

2

Make sure to scrub the potatoes of any dirt.  Take off any nubs that may have grown and cut out any dark, brown spots. After you clean, poke holes in the potato with a fork or sharp steak knife.

Clean & pierce the potatoes

3

Mixing some salt with some water and then dipping the potatoes in for a few seconds will ensure that the salt sticks to the skin. You can use kosher salt or sea salt or whatever you have on hand at this point.

Brine the potatoes

4

Wrapping baked potatoes in aluminum foil traps all of the moisture in, basically steaming the potatoes instead of baking. This results in gummy, watery, soft skin potatoes.

Don't wrap in foil

5

This allows the potatoes to cook evenly all around. Don't place on a baking sheet because it will leave a weird burn mark on the bottom. Place the baking sheet on the rack below the potatoes.

Place directly on rack

6

Bake at 450 degrees for 45-60 minutes. This depends on the size of your potatoes. 

Bake

7

Bake the potatoes until they’re done, then brush some oil on and return to the oven for 10 minutes to crisp the skin up. Putting oil on too early traps in moisture. 

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Brush on oil

8

To ensure the moisture doesn’t get trapped in the potato when it’s done, and you maintain a fluffy center, you have to cut into the potatoes immediately when they’re done.

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Release steam

RECIPE TIPS

- Baked potatoes are done when you can easily pierce them with a sharp knife, or they reach the internal temperature of 205. - Potatoes last 3-5 days in the fridge.