Best Baked Potatoes
I never thought anyone needed a recipe for Baked Potatoes until I tried this method. Now I’m hooked and it’s the only way I’ll ever want to make baked potatoes again! I just don’t think they get any better than this.

#Potatoes #Salt #VegetableOil

Servings: 4
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients:
4 (7 - 9 oz. each) russet potatoes, scrubbed clean and rinsed
1/2 cup warm water
2 Tbsp (32g) salt
1 Tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place a wire rack over a rimmed 18 by 13-inch baking sheet.
2. Pierce each potato 6 times (3 times on two sides) with a fork.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together water and salt until salt has dissolved.  
4. Roll each potato in salt water to coat entirely, transfer to a wire rack while spacing evenly apart.
5. Bake in preheated oven until center registers 205 degrees F on an instant read thermometer (potatoes should almost be soft inside when pressed).
6. Brush potatoes with vegetable oil, return to oven and bake 10 minutes longer.
7. Remove from oven and immediately cut a slit or "X" across to release steam. Using a kitchen towel squeeze ends to open then top as desired.

Notes:
You want to use potatoes that are very similar in size so they'll finish up at the same time.
I recommend eating these baked potatoes right away. If you prep them in advance and them wrap them in foil to keep warm, the steam builds up inside of them and they can become dense.
Recipe source: from Cook's Illustrated ...read more