You won’t believe how easy—and genius—this is.
By Stacey Ballis January 14, 2022
Potatoes are one of those vegetables that can take a long time to cook. Their dense nature and size mean that whether you love a white potato or a sweet potato, getting them tender to the core just takes a while. You can speed up the process when boiling or roasting or frying by cutting them up small or slicing them thin or even grating them.
But when you want a baked potato, the whole thing shifts. A white medium to large baked potato takes at least an hour in the oven to be tender all the way through, and to get a sweet potato soft and caramelized can take more than an hour and a half. Some people try to speed up this process by pre-cooking partially in a microwave, but that can create a strange rubbery texture. And parboiling will overcook the outer part of the potato giving it a watery mouthfeel.
How to make a baked potato in half the time
So how do you get all the flavor and texture you want from a baked potato in half the time? It is simpler than you think. Cut the potato in half.
Think about it: A baked potato, whether white or sweet, is designed to be split in half and then anointed with butter, sour cream, cheese or other toppings anyway! Even if you love your baked potato simply seasoned with salt and pepper, you are going to split it first.
Baked Potato
Why baking a potato cut in half is great for more than just saving time
By cutting your potatoes in half lengthwise and placing them cut side down on a greased sheet pan before cooking, you will do two things. One, you have made them half the thickness, so they will cook through in literally half the time. And two, you create an opportunity to get flavor and texture on the cut side of the potatoes. The side against the sheet pan will brown and crisp, which will give a little bit of textural contrast, and terrific flavor. I bake my potatoes in a 400° oven; this high heat will allow the cut sides to brown instead of steaming against the pan, and you should get tender results in between 20-30 minutes depending on the size of your spuds.
The extra bonus? The skin on the topside of the potato will also get extra crispy. For a white potato, it will get a lovely crunchy texture, especially if you oil it and season it with salt. For sweet potatoes, the thin skin will become shatteringly crisp instead of flabby and chewy.
Baking halved potatoes is an easy time-saver that can make fabulous baked potatoes easy and quick enough for weeknights, and delicious enough for dinner parties.
FAQs
Half-baked Potatoes. Starting baked potatoes in the microwave and finishing them in the oven cuts cooking time and still yields crisp skin and fluffy potato flesh.
How do you speed up baking potatoes in the oven? ›
directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Wash the potato, puncture with a fork in 2-3 places, then microwave on high for about 4 minutes.
- Rinse it again so it's wet. Sprinkle on salt and pepper if desired.
- Finish baking in oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Place cut-side up on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle on kosher salt. Use your hands to rub the salt and oil all over the potato halves, then place cut-side down on the baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, using a fork to poke through the skin to check for doneness.
How to bake a large amount of potatoes at once? ›
You can get out your baking sheets and place the potatoes on each sheets and fit them on rack or more. We have three racks in our one oven but we have a double oven. Pre pierce a few areas on the potato, salt and pepper for the out side. You can wrap one sheet all together or wrap each potato.
Is it better to bake a potato at 350 or 400? ›
We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.
Can baked potatoes be prepared ahead of time? ›
Rather than chance any health problems in an attempt to save prep time later on, it's best to wash and prepare potatoes just prior to cooking. Also, we always discourage baking potatoes in foil, as this prevents the moisture within to naturally escape, resulting in a more saturated or gummy interior.
How to reduce baking time for potatoes? ›
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile rub potatoes with enough oil to coat and sprinkle generously with salt. Microwave on high power for 8 minutes while oven heats. Transfer potatoes to a rimmed baking sheet; bake until tender, about 30 minutes.
Do potatoes bake faster if you cut them in half? ›
One, you have made them half the thickness, so they will cook through in literally half the time. And two, you create an opportunity to get flavor and texture on the cut side of the potatoes. The side against the sheet pan will brown and crisp, which will give a little bit of textural contrast, and terrific flavor.
Is it better to bake potatoes with or without foil? ›
Toups also calls out a common mistake people make when baking potatoes. "I see a lot of people using foil to wrap their potatoes in but this is a big no-no and causes soggy skins!" he says. Foil holds in moisture and steams the potatoes, resulting in a "boiled" taste and texture.
How do most restaurants bake potatoes? ›
How to cook How to Make Restaurant Style Baked Potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Wash the potatoes.
- Drizzle with oil and rub until fully coated.
- Season with the salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Place on baking sheet and cook for 45 minutes.
- Cut a slit into the top of the potato.
Visual signs: The potato skin will start to wrinkle when over cooked. The potato, when wrapped in foil or placed on the bottom of a pan will have a dark brown spot on the bottom, a sure sign of over cooking. Foil traps the moisture in the potato causing the skin to be wet and the inside flavorless or gummy.
Can you stack baked potatoes in the oven? ›
As for double-layering the potatoes in the oven – I'm assuming you're trying to save time – but that's not a good idea. Place similarly-sized potatoes on a single layer. This will allow for good air circulation in the oven and even cooking.
Can you half cook potatoes then finish later? ›
As long as they haven't been sitting too long. You can finish roasting them, cut them up and make hash browns, or slice them and add them to a casserole. Par cooked potatoes can be incorporated into just about any potato dish. If they have gone bad, they will feel slimy and smell off.
Can I save half a baked potato? ›
Once the potato is baked, cut it in half and let the un-topped portion you plan to use tomorrow cool slightly from the oven, then place into the refrigerator and cover with a clear plastic wrap or a towel.
Can you partially cook potatoes ahead of time? ›
Simply parboil your potatoes, wrap them in an airtight container, and place them in the fridge as you would any leftovers. When you're ready to finish cooking them, you're ready to go with delicious potatoes every time that will cook much faster than if you started from scratch.
Can you bake a potato and save it for later? ›
Cooked potatoes and other cooked vegetables can be safely kept in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates fruits and vegetables, if more information is needed on produce, you can call the FDA toll-free at (888) 723-3366 or go to their website at FDA (www.fda.gov).
