Bake Potatoes

Baked potatoes are an easy inexpensive side dish to make. Potatoes are reportedly a good source of vitamin C and fiber. Below are two easy ways to make baked potatoes. One method uses the conventional oven while the other method uses the slow cooker.

Ingredients

 * Baking potatoes, 6 to 8 ounces each, can use russets or red potatoes, depends on personal taste

Steps

 * 1) Scrub potatoes and rinse well with cold water.
 * 2)  Remove excess moisture by drying potatoes with a clean tea towel or white paper towels, if baking in a conventional oven.
 * 3)  Remove the "eyes" from the potatoes.
 * 4)  Cut off any bruised or bad spots, if required.
 * 5)  Pierce the potatoes with a fork.
 * 6) Conventional Oven: Bake potatoes at 425 degrees F (220 C) for 40 to 60 minutes. Potatoes may also be baked at 350 degrees F (175 C) for approximately 1 and a 1/2 hours. Potatoes are done when they can be pierced with a fork.
 * 7) Slow Cooker: Scrub potatoes but do not dry. Place in slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until tender.

Tips

 * Baked potatoes may be baked between 325 to 425 degrees F (165-220 C). Of course the lower heat means a bit longer baking, but this also means the potatoes maybe baked along side such things as meat loaf or other baked main dishes.
 * The cooking time may be sped up a bit by using the microwave oven. Place the cleaned baking potatoes on a microwave-safe dish and heat until warm, just a couple of minutes per potato. Do not cook them all the way through. Immediately finish baking them in the conventional oven. Using a slow cooker is not recommended for this variation.
 * Some people like to wrap their baked potatoes in foil before baking them in a conventional oven. This steams the potato rather than baking it. It all depends on the cook.
 * Many people enjoy eating baked potatoes with steak.
 * Traditional toppings to serve with a baked potato include sweet butter, sour cream, chives, bacon bits.

Things You'll Need

 * Vegetable scrubbing brush
 * Paring knife to remove potato eyes or bruises

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Bake a Potato in the Microwave
 * How to Microwave Corn on the Cob
 * How to Grow Potatoes in a Wire Cage
 * How to Make Lefse from Instant Potatoes
 * How to Make Roast Potatoes

Sources and Citations

 * Adapted from Crockery Cookery and personal cooking experience.
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