Making an oven baked potato without foil is easy to do! No foil is needed for this simple no foil baked potato recipe for cooked perfectly at 400F.
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Can You Bake a Potato with No Foil?
Whether you are out of aluminum foil or are wondering about foil safety, you can bake potatoes in the oven without foil with this super easy recipe!
That is right, you can put baked potatoes straight in the oven and it is actually quite easy to do. These no foil baked potatoes provide even better baked potatoes than wrapping them in foil.
Baked potatoes are a nutritious vegetable side dish full of vitamins and fiber. This recipe is also a kid-friendly main dish when you provide delicious baked potato toppings!
Need to bake potatoes without an oven? Try these air fryer red potatoes or these easy mashed potatoes made on the stovetop.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No foil baked potatoes mean less waste and more savings on groceries!
- Crispy and delicious outside skin.
- Fluffy inside!
- More even cooking and no burned bottoms.
- Easy to make.
- Simple ingredients.
- Quick prep time.
- No crockpot and no air fryer are needed.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
Starchy Russet and Idaho potatoes are the best potatoes for making a no foil baked potato. However, this no-foil baked potato can be made using any of your favorite varieties including sweet potatoes or Yukon Gold.
Olive oil helps to produce an outside crispy skin. Avocado oil or coconut oil (refined) can also be used.
Coarse sea salt or Himalayan sea salt is the perfect seasoning for the outside skin. Add in other herbs or seasonings if desired.
How to Bake Potatoes Without Foil
This is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cook time and temperatures.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400F. Wash the outside skin thoroughly with water and a vegetable scrub brush.
Step 2
Use a fork to prick holes in the skin all around.
Step 3
Drizzle olive oil over the skin and season with salt. Rub the salty oil all over the skin.
Step 4
Place prepared potatoes directly on the oven rack. Place a baking or sheet pan directly under the oven rack holding the potatoes to capture any drippings.
You may line the baking pan with parchment paper if desired to help with cleanup.
Step 5 - How Long to Bake a Potato at 400
Bake potatoes at 400F for 50-110 minutes, depending on the size. Potatoes are cooked when a fork easily pierces the skin.
Allow potatoes to cool for at least 5 minutes before cutting open and adding toppings.
What Should I Serve with Baked Potatoes?
- Serve as a main dish with loaded baked potato bar toppings like butter, bacon, cheese, sour cream, chives, bean chili, and salsa.
- Accompany seafood dinners like air fryer mahi mahi, marinated Chilean sea bass, or sautéed shrimp.
- Serve a no-foil baked potato alongside classic steakhouse fares like juicy ribeye steak and crispy asparagus.
- Accompany oven-baked chicken or crispy panko chicken with a delicious baked potato.
Expert Tips
- Select fresh potatoes without a green hue and without sprouts.
- This recipe also works for baking sweet potatoes without foil. You can interchange the type of potato you prefer.
- Be sure to use a fork to poke holes in the potatoes. This will help steam to escape from the potato and reduce the chances for a mess in the oven.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat in the oven at 350F until heated through.
Recipe FAQs
No. You can make a baked potato without foil by placing it directly on the oven rack. This no foil method provides a deliciously crispy outside skin that makes eating the potato skin even that much more delicious.
Nothing happens if you don't wrap potatoes in foil, in fact I've found they taste better when baking without foil.
No foil baked potatoes actually cook a bit faster since there is no foil to heat up in the baking process.
Depending on the size of the potato, baking potatoes at 400F takes anywhere between 50 and 110 minutes.
I like cooking no foil baked potatoes at 400F to maximize the outside crisp and this recipe takes less time than cooking baked potatoes at 350F.
You may wonder if it's better to cook a baked potato at 350F or 400F and it really doesn't matter, 350F just takes longer to bake. Baking potatoes at 350F may result in a slightly more moist potato but the increase cooked time isn't worth it to me personally.
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No Foil Baked Potato
Equipment
Instructions
- Position oven racks in the middle and lower positions. Preheat oven to 400F.
- Clean potatoes with a vegetable brush. Use a fork to pierce the skin all over with holes.4 large Russet potatoes
- Drizzle olive oil over the top of the skin and season with salt.¼ cup olive oil, salt
- Place potatoes directly onto the middle rack and place a baking sheet on the lower rack, directly below the potatoes.
- Bake potatoes at 400F for 50-110 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes before slicing open.
Notes
- This recipe also works for baking sweet potatoes without foil. You can interchange the type of potato you prefer.
- Be sure to use a fork to poke holes in the potatoes. This will help steam to escape from the potato and reduce the chances for a mess in the oven.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat in the oven at 350F until heated through.
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