Baked potato

A baked potato with butter.

A baked potato, also known as a jacket potato, is the edible result of baking a potato. Generally potatoes are baked either in a convection oven, in a microwave oven, on a grill, or on an open fire. Baked potatoes are widely popular due to their availability, ease of preparation, and filling nature.

The recommended oven temperature for baking potatoes is 350F / 175°C / Gas Mark 4. Opinions are divided on whether it is better to wrap the potato in aluminium foil to retain moisture or to leave the potato unwrapped to create a crispy skin. A baked potato is fully cooked when its internal temperature reaches 99°C [210°F].

Once a potato has been baked, some people remove the skin and eat only the softer and moister interior, while others enjoy the taste and texture of the crispy skin. From a nutrition standpoint, a large percent of the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in a potato are found within or immediately below the skin. Conversely, any remnants of pesticides, fungicides or chemical coatings left over from cultivation are likely to be found there as well.

A baking potato is an unusually large potato that is meant to only be baked.

Vegetarian Baked potatoes with sour cream, mushrooms, beans and cheese.

American restaurants serve baked potatoes with sides (commonly referred to as fixings or toppings) such as butter, sour cream, chives, shredded cheese, and bacon bits. The British often choose to have grated cheese (often with baked beans), tuna or a variety of other fillings. A popular fast-food in Turkish cuisine, Kumpir, is based on baked potato stuffed with a variety of salads and diced vegetables.

Putting oil and then coarse salt on a potato before baking will make it much more fluffy. Many restaurants do this also.

External links

Potato recipes

• Food Network: The Baked Potato

• How To Bake A Potato

• Another way to Bake A Potato