Tohru Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) I've always poked holes, dh's mother never has. We couldn't think of a reason why one would poke holes, unless it's to prevent the potato from exploding. MIL has always lived at high altitude - validates the no danger of it exploding maybe? I still poke holes, regardless of the fact that I can't give a good reason as to why I do it. Just curious as to how other families bake their potatoes. ETA: Actual intact baked potato Edited February 25, 2012 by jadedone80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I wash the potato and slice it in half. Cut a large hunk of onion and put it between the cut potato. Wrap with foil and bake on 350* for 2 hours. We use big potatoes. :D Then enjoy. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 We poke holes, rub the potatoes in evoo and salt, and throw them right on the rack in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) We don't poke holes unless we're microwaving it for fast cooking. And that's so it doesn't start to explode in the microwave. :D If we're putting it in the oven, we wash it, brush it with oil, salt it, wrap it in foil, and bake at 350 for close to an hour. No hole poking. I've never had a potato 'explode' in the oven, I think that's way less likely to happen than it is in the microwave. Though I guess it can't HURT to poke holes in it first anyway! Edited February 25, 2012 by NanceXToo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Wrap with foil, sometimes we rub it in olive oil, then add baking nails. We able on 500 for 30-60 minutes, depending on the size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I only poke holes if I put in microwave oven or it will explode :scared: If the regular oven, just oiled, seasoned, and 400 for about 1 hr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I slip ours onto a metal shush kebab skewer and pop in the oven. They cook quicker because of the metal skewer....and come out yummy. Faithe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) Wash, pierce with knife or fork along the midline, roll in salt, bake at 450 until internal temperature is exactly 210F (I need to justify to myself the outrageous amount I paid for a top-of-the-line instant read thermometer), usually 50 minutes-70 minutes, depending on size. I have had a potato explode, probably the one time I forgot to poke. ETA: no tinfoil Edited February 25, 2012 by nmoira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 We have always just poked holes. That being said, I did have one explode in my oven anyway a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Wash, pierce with knife or fork along the midline, roll in salt, bake at 450 until internal temperature is exactly 210F (I need to justify to myself the outrageous amount I paid for a top-of-the-line instant read thermometer), usually 50 minutes-70 minutes, depending on size. I have had a potato explode, probably the one time I forgot to poke. ETA: no tinfoil :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 We poke holes before putting them in the oven. I have had them explode in the oven before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Wrap with foil and toss them in the oven. In 30 years, I have never had one explode. I only poke holes if I'm microwaving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Poke holes, 475* for an hour. Yummy and fluffy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I only poke holes if I put in microwave oven or it will explode :scared: If the regular oven, just oiled, seasoned, and 400 for about 1 hr I have microwaved in a pinch and not had one explode....no holes. I want to make a potato bag to bake in the microwave :) sometimes I want a potato NOW not in am hour. Now, I am going to pit some potatoes in because I am having a craving ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomemom Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I put olive oil and kosher salt on my potatoes and wrap them in foil. I don't poke them. Bake at 400 degrees for one hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 We poke holes before putting them in the oven. I have had them explode in the oven before. We have always just poked holes. That being said, I did have one explode in my oven anyway a few years ago. :iagree: I've also had one explode in the regular, non-microwave oven. It's really annoying when you've only put in one potato per family member, and suddenly POOF one's gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 This is how I do it. http://howtobakeapotato.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I've always poked holes, dh's mother never has. We couldn't think of a reason why one would poke holes, unless it's to prevent the potato from exploding. MIL has always lived at high altitude - validates the no danger of it exploding maybe? I still poke holes, regardless of the fact that I can't give a good reason as to why I do it. Just curious as to how other families bake their potatoes. ETA: Actual intact baked potato I have had potatoes explode if I didn't poke ENOUGH holes. They don't burst all over the oven, though. They sort of ooze out one side more so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Poke holes! Haven't you ever read Farmer Boy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 We poke holes, rub the potatoes in evoo and salt, and throw them right on the rack in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. Same here. I've read that foil is a no-no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I always poke holes, whether I wrap in foil or not, cook in the microwave oven or not. I do this because an unpoked potato exploded in my oven when I was a newlywed. There's a reason the Experts tell you to do that.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 After an exploding sweet potato incident (try to get THAT out of your oven!) I always poke holes and wrap in foil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I wash, poke holes with a fork, roll in foil and toss in oven. That's how I was taught to do it growing up, and how I had to do it when I worked for Wendy's. I did the morning prep shift for months, so I was the one scrubbing, poking and wrapping potatoes there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I always poke holes in the potatoes and usually wrap them in foil. No exploding potatoes for me, but please don't say anything to my daughters. I can see an experiment in the making. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I poke holes in the potatoes, get them dripping wet, and then wrap in foil before putting in a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes.. I figured that way the water in and on the potato steams it inside the foil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeOnTheRanch Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I wash and poke holes. I have had potatoes explode in the oven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 We poke holes, rub the potatoes in evoo and salt, and throw them right on the rack in a 350 degree oven for about an hour. Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hearts4homeschooling Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I poked holes in the potatoes for years and somehow thought it was an old-wives tale and stopped doing it. After having three potatoes explode in the oven and making an unbelievable mess, I poke holes again. I also put them in a glass baking dish so if they do explode, it is a bit more contained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang!Zoom! Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 This reminds me of a great waitressing story... Fairly influential Mobster comes in, late...last table of the night, drunk as a skunk, can't throw him out, he owns the joint..demands a baked potato..we served them wrapped in foil, you peel open at the table... He didn't. Just got out his fork n knife, sliced it up and ate it foil and all. We just stood in the shadows and snickered...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Thanks, ladies.... I am now craving a baked potato but will be in bed before it could be cooked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Scrub, then poke holes and put directly on rack. That's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I slip ours onto a metal shush kebab skewer and pop in the oven. They cook quicker because of the metal skewer....and come out yummy. Faithe Clever! I'm going to have to try that. I poke them several times with a fork. I *have* had a potato explode in the oven. I tried doing oil and salt on the outside once. It was incredibly delicious, so I have no idea why I haven't tried it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Poke holes, oil, salt, roast on the rack. I'd argue that a foil wrapped potato is more steamed than baked. Neglecting to poke holes means risking a reenactment of that scene in Farmer Boy when Almonzo almost lost an eye when a potato exploded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virg Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I only poke holes if I put in microwave oven or it will explode :scared: If the regular oven, just oiled, seasoned, and 400 for about 1 hr :iagree: Yeah it is very bad when they explode ALL over the microwave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodhaven Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I wash and poke holes. I, too, have had potatoes explode. Not fun cleaning that up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Poking a hole in the potato is necessary if you microwave, otherwise not. I generally poke it full of holes, and throw it in the microwave while heating the oven to a high temperature. Then I rub it with oil and salt, and throw it in the oven until brown and crispy (maybe 10 minutes?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icedlatte Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Poking a hole in the potato is necessary if you microwave, otherwise not. I generally poke it full of holes, and throw it in the microwave while heating the oven to a high temperature. Then I rub it with oil and salt, and throw it in the oven until brown and crispy (maybe 10 minutes?). I think I'm going to try it this way next time. I usually poke holes and put it in the microwave because I don't like to wait an hour for the oven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I voted: wrap with foil, poke holes But, technically I......poke holes, wrap with foil. :D This is how my mom always did it....so that's how I learned to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I poke holes because I want it dry inside--I like mine fluffy, not wet inside. Poking lets the moisture out (and does prevent exploding, but that's not the primary reason I do it). Dh likes to brush the cleaned potato with egg white and then roll it in kosher salt and wrap it in foil. I don't like those as much. The salt gets everywhere when you unwrap it, and I can't eat the skin then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.