what oven temp for baked potatoes
For classic baked potatoes, a reliable oven temperature is 400°F (about 200°C) , which gives fluffy insides and nicely crisp skin in under an hour for most potatoes.
Quick Scoop
- Best all‑around temp: 400°F / 200°C for fluffy interior and crisp skin.
- Time at 400°F: About 45–60 minutes for medium russets; larger ones can take a bit longer.
- Lower temp option: 350°F / 175°C works but takes longer (around 60–90 minutes) and the skin is softer.
- Hotter, faster option: 425°F / 220°C for 45–60 minutes gives very crisp skin but can dry out more quickly.
Simple step-by-step
- Heat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Scrub russet potatoes, dry very well.
- Prick each potato a few times with a fork.
- Rub with a little oil and salt for extra‑crispy skin.
- Bake on the rack or a tray for 45–60 minutes, until a fork slides in easily.
Think of 400°F as the “set it and forget it” sweet spot: not too slow, not too harsh, and very forgiving for beginners and pros alike.
A couple of viewpoints
- Some home cooks swear by 400°F as the perfect balance of cooking time, fluffy texture, and crisp skin.
- Others like 425°F when they want extra‑crunchy skins and don’t mind checking a bit more often so they don’t dry out.
Quick example
If you’ve got 3 medium russet potatoes for dinner on a weeknight, tossing them into a 400°F oven for about 50–60 minutes will almost always give you soft centers and nicely crisped skins, ready for butter, sour cream, or whatever toppings you like.
TL;DR: Use 400°F / 200°C and start checking around 45–50 minutes; go a little hotter (425°F) if you want extra‑crisp skin or a little cooler (350°F) if they need to share the oven with something else.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.