Is it better to bake potatoes with or without foil?

I prefer to bake potatoes without foil! The skin gets nice and crispy, and the inside still becomes light and fluffy.

How do you cook in the oven without foil?

Smother russet potatoes with melted butter and kosher salt. Bake potatoes on a baking sheet in a 425°F oven for 45-60 minutes.

Can you bake sweet potato without foil?

Yes, just like russet potatoes, sweet potatoes can be baked without foil too.

Perfect Baked Potato (without foil)

Two baked potatoes, cut open with butter and chives, on parchment paper with a fork and knife.

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Did you know you can cook the perfect Baked Potato without foil? You don't need aluminum foil if you smother your russet potatoes with melted butter and kosher salt. They'll have crispy outer skin and a soft and fluffy middle every single time!

Author: Katie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: lunch, dinner
Method: baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

4 russet potatoes
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons kosher salt

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Scrub the potatoes under cold water. Potato skins can trap a lot of dirt. Since we're not peeling the potatoes, you'll want to make sure the skin is rinsed clean.
Use a fork to pierce several holes in each potato. I like to pierce the potato twice on each side, 8 times in total.
Place the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the melted butter over top of the potatoes. Rub the butter around all sides of the potatoes.
Sprinkle all sides of the potatoes with kosher salt.
Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes.
You'll know your potatoes are done when they're fork-tender. Remove the baked potatoes from the oven. Slice open lengthwise. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before serving, and enjoy!

Notes

Skip the aluminum foil! Baking russet potatoes in aluminum foil traps steam and holds moisture in. This results in soggy potatoes. Baking potatoes without foil allows air to circulate around the entire potato which results in crispy skin!
Piercing holes in the potato allows steam to escape. If the steam can't escape, you'll end up with a messy, exploded potato.
A baked potato will register 210°F on an instant-read thermometer when it's fully cooked.
Try to buy potatoes that are all about the same size. This will make for more even cooking time among your baked potatoes.
Look for potatoes that don't have any rotten spots or "eyes." "Eyes" are sprouts that will start growing as the potato gets old.
The nutrition information shown below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.

Nutrition

Serving Size:
Calories: 342
Sugar: 2.3 g
Sodium: 639.2 mg
Fat: 6.1 g
Carbohydrates: 66.7 g
Fiber: 4.8 g
Protein: 8 g
Cholesterol: 15.3 mg

Find it online: https://sugarandsnappeas.com/perfect-baked-potato-without-foil/

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