The Fluffiest Baked Potatoes Ever!

For a couple of holiday parties this year we have created a baked potato bar.  And what do you need for a good potato bar, great baked potatoes.  The first step in a good potato is finding a nice big potato to bake.  You might not think this would be a problem but it is.  You want all of your potatoes to be about the same size so they bake evenly.  We have a new Whole Foods here in town.  I went over one day to check it out and guess what.  They have nice sized potatoes.  So that is where all my potatoes have come from this season.  Just a little hint for you.

The weather was like summer so we had a picnic for Christmas Eve dinner.

 Those potatoes are nice and big.  The first thing you need to do is wash your potatoes well.  I like to do it early so they can air dry.  You can't really get them good and dry using paper towels.

 After they are dry poke holes with a fork all around the potato.

 Now give them a good bath in olive oil.

 Now a good coating of sea salt.

 Fresh pepper

 Now they are ready to go into a preheated 425 oven.  Bake for about an hour.  After 30 minutes turn them.  I like to turn the oven off after an hour and let them sit in the oven for a few more minutes.  It will help make the skin nice and crisp.

 Fresh from the oven and ready for their toppings.

The inside is nice a fluffy and the outside nice and crisp.