How To Make A Baked Potato In A Toaster Oven

Are you looking to prepare some easy-to-make baked potatoes with crispy skin and outbursting flavors? We have got you covered on this one, as today, we are sharing a mesmerizing recipe where you can learn how to make a baked potato in a toaster oven.

Nothing beats the satisfying feeling of devouring crispy skinned potatoes filled with flavor. There are so many things you can try with stuffed potatoes, including different types of fillings and sauces. With that, this baked potato recipe is most suitable for weeknights when all you want is a quick dinner. This post has brought the ultimate guide on making some delectable baked potatoes from scratch. Let’s get started!

Prerequisites For Preparing Baked Potatoes

Use A Toaster Oven

A toaster oven is perfect for baking potatoes because of two main reasons. It takes much less time and effort than baking potatoes in conventional ovens. Moreover, a toaster oven enhances the flavor and makes the potato skin extra crispy, adding to its taste. Hence, we will use a toaster oven for this recipe.

Use A Baking Tray With Grill

Normally we would bake the ovens directly on the grill when using traditional bulky ovens. However, this results in a very gruesome mess and can require more effort to clean up than making potatoes.

When baking potatoes, we brush them with oil to ensure the skin turns golden and crisp. Oil drips at the bottom of the oven, which results in a mess. We recommend that you use a baking tray with a grill. Every drop of oil will be caught in the baking tray, thus saving you from additional cleaning.

Do Not Use Aluminum Foil

We all know what happens when we put aluminum foil in a microwave oven, isn’t it? The aluminum foil catches fire and lights up your entire microwave.

A toaster oven is similar to a microwave as it converts electrical energy into heat energy. Placing heating elements inside the microwave will transfer that electrical energy into extreme heat. Additionally, there is no need to use aluminum foil while baking potatoes as it can make the skin soggy. The foil should only be used in a conventional oven when you are willing to steam your potatoes.

Ingredients And Toppings

Ingredients

Russet Potatoes

Use four medium to large-sized russet potatoes. You may also use regular potatoes, but it is recommended to use the mentioned ones as they are perfect for baking. Russet potatoes have firm skin that turns out to be much crispier and tastier than other potatoes. You can get them at your local grocery shop.

Olive Oil

Olive oil enhances the potato flavor and adds color to it. You may use the oil to brush up the potatoes during baking. Use a soft oil brush.

Salt And Pepper

Salt and pepper will rejuvenate the flavors and add just the right kick you need from your baked potatoes. Add it according to taste.

Toppings

Baked potatoes allow you to be as creative as your want with the toppings. Below is a list of toppings that are excellent with baked potatoes. Feel free to experiment with a combination of any of the below-mentioned toppings as they taste great together:

Bacon
Shredded Chicken
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Chives
Butter
Paprika Sauce
Pulled Pork
Taco Meat
Black Beans
Salsa
Red Beans
Cheese Sauce

Prepping The Potatoes And Preheating The Oven

After you take four russet potatoes, wash them under cold water and scrub their skin using a brush. Clean the potatoes entirely, and then let them dry.

After your potatoes are dry, use an oil brush to coat them with olive oil. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper after brushing them with oil. The final step is to use a fork or a steak knife to poke two holes each into the potatoes. Poke the potatoes in the middle and do not insert the fork completely. The holes ensure that the potato cooks evenly and does not burst midway due to steam accumulating inside it. You can poke a couple more holes if your potatoes are large.

Preheat your toaster oven to 400°F for almost 10 minutes. We will be cooking our potatoes for 40 to 50 minutes. Below we have mentioned a few heating and cooking times for various sized potatoes and oven settings:

For Toaster Ovens At 400°F

Small Potatoes – 35 – 40 minutes
Medium Potatoes – 45 – 50 minutes
Large Potatoes – 60 – 65 minutes
Extra Large Potatoes (12oz+) – 75+ minutes

For Toaster Ovens At 375°F (Convection Setting)

Small Potatoes – 30 minutes
Medium Potatoes – 40 minutes
Large Potatoes – 50 minutes
Extra Large Potatoes (12oz+) – 60+ minutes

2 Proven Ways To Make A Baked Potato In A Toaster Oven

Once your oven is preheated evenly, place the potatoes on the grill and the baking tray. Close the oven door and let the goodies cook for at least 40 minutes. Most commercials and videos advise rotating the potatoes and brushing another oil coating when half-cooked. Nonetheless, you do not need to do anything as the potatoes cook evenly in the toaster oven.

Check your potatoes once the time has elapsed and the irresistible fragrance starts coming out of the oven. If the potatoes are not cooked properly, you can toss them inside for a few minutes more. Have a close look and ensure the skin does not burn. Another way to check if your potatoes are baked is by grasping them in your hand. Squeeze the potato gently and see if it is soft enough to get pressed. Cook it for another few minutes if the potato is quite firm.

If your potato can be pressed quickly, poke a steak knife in the center and watch it slide easily. If that’s the case, then your potatoes are ready to the brim.

1. Top It Up With Goodness

After you have ensured that the potatoes are cooked evenly, take them out of the toaster oven. Now comes the part that will make your baked potatoes tastier and mouth-watering. Use a knife to slice the top of the potato and make room for the toppings. You may use a zig-zag cutting method or the traditional cutting method.

Once you cut the skin with the help of a knife, pull the flesh gently with the knife. You will now experience a steamy release. Add your favorite topping combination to your potato while it is steaming hot. Serve as a side dish or just a munching snack for the afternoon. This recipe is relatively easy to prepare and produces some of the most succulent baked potatoes.

2. Complement With Other Dishes

Once you know how to make a baked potato in a toaster oven, you can be your own master and prepare them with a unique twist of flavors and added combinations. These finely baked potatoes enhance every meal, whether it is a party or just an evening family dinner.

Final Thoughts

Here is how you can prepare a baked potato in a toaster oven within minutes. Make sure you add all the necessary ingredients and use the best quality potatoes. Toppings are just an added layer of flavor and amazingness. Once all the preparations are done, preheat your trusted oven, give that heat to the potatoes, and bake them until perfect.

Share this recipe with your loved ones and enthusiastic home cooks. Feel free to express your views and thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you for reading!