Here is the basic information and cooking techniques you need to know for perfect baked potatoes every time.
Once upon a time, grocery stores would sell potatoes under generic names. "Boiling Potatoes" and “Baking Potatoes” were labels that were created to aid shoppers in finding a certain potato for a specific meal. Times have changed and now labels like Idaho, Yukon Gold and Red Bliss appear in the local markets. What is the difference between these potatoes?
There are three major categories that potatoes are divided into with texture being the deciding factor. The main reason that potatoes have different textures is the amount of starch contained in each variety of potato.
The Russet Potato
Also know as Russet, Russet Burbank, and Idaho
The best choice for baking.
DRY , FLOURY POTATOES
Also known as “baking”potatoes, this group contains more total starch than the other types.
These potatoes have a dry, granulose texture.
When buying Russet Potatoes:
Look for potatoes that are firm yet free of green spots, cracks or other blemishes. It’s preferable to buy your potatoes loose versus in a bag so you can spend some time and inspect each potato. Shy away from potatoes already wrapped in plastic bags. The plastic act like a greenhouse and cause premature rotting, sprouting and softness.
Storing
Keep your potatoes in a cool, dry location away from direct light. Keeping them in a refrigerator will not affect them adversely.
How to Bake a Potato
Start with a dry, floury potato like a Russet and bake it at a low temperature of around 350 degrees. At this temperature, some of the starch in the flesh of the potato will begin to break down into sugar. This will insure that your potato has a rich full flavor. Take care not to let the flesh steam and become dense. The best time to open a baked potato is as soon as you take it out of the oven.
Best way to opening a Baked Potato
Use the tines of a fork to make a X pattern across the top of each potato.
Squeeze the ends of the potato to force the flesh to rise out of the top.
This will allow the steam to escape quickly.
How to make perfect baked potatoes
Place 4 medium dry, floury potatoes direct on the oven rack positioned near the center of the oven. Set the temperature of the oven to 350-degree. Bake potatoes until a skewer can slide through flesh with some ease or roughly 70 - 80 minutes. Open as soon as you remove them from the oven and serve with butter and salt to taste.
