Baked Potatoes Are Better in the Toaster Oven—Here’s Why

Baking potatoes is something every home cook does, and yet there are still secrets when it comes to making them crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. While most people are familiar with oven-baking and know how to apply it to make extra-crispy potatoes, this method is not so good for making small quantities.

The best way to bake a few potatoes is actually to use the toaster oven. Here are some extra details for you.

Crispy Toaster-Baked Potatoes

Anyone can bake crispy potatoes in the toaster oven. While it wasn’t meant for it, this appliance can be used to create the perfect baked potatoes faster than a regular oven. This will save you money on electricity, and you can cook smaller portions without having to worry about efficiency. Toaster ovens will also allow you to end up with a crispier potato skin. But, how to prepare them?

First, scrub your potatoes clean and poke them to make a few holes on all sides. This will help them release steam instead of bursting while cooking.

Season the potatoes by massaging salt into the skin. Next, you should smear them in olive oil or some other alternative. You can choose to wrap them in foil if you want your potatoes to retain more moisture, but that will take away some of the crispiness of the skin. Finally, arrange all the potatoes into the toaster oven rack.

Bake for the Right Amount of Time

Before you start baking, preheat the toaster oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. You can do that sometime before you are done preparing the potatoes for baking. Now, place the toaster oven rack into the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes.

The amount of baking time depends on the size of the potato, with bigger, denser potatoes taking longer. You should also turn each potato halfway through the baking to ensure they are all equally crispy.

When you think your potatoes look ready, you have to do a simple check. Use a fork or knife to poke a potato to its center; if it slides in easily, you are ready! Before you serve, cut a slit across the top of each potato, mess up the interior with a fork and add the toppings you prefer. Delicious!

Some Additional Tips

There are several additional tricks you can use when baking potatoes in a toaster oven. First, make sure you pick the right potatoes when shopping. Idaho or russet potatoes have high starch content, making them the desired option for a fluffier interior. One tip to avoid uneven cooking is to ensure you don’t put too many potatoes into the oven rack.

One last trick. Reduce the time to bake your potatoes by sticking them in the microwave for a few minutes first. Don’t overdo it, and poke the potatoes before you use the microwave. This will soften the interior of the potatoes and halve the baking time, and the toaster oven will still make the outside crispy.