Short answer what to cook baked potatoes on: Preheat oven to 400°F. Scrub potatoes and pierce with a fork. Rub with oil, sprinkle salt & bake directly on the oven rack for 45-60 min until tender in middle. You can also place them on a baking sheet or aluminum foil if you prefer.

How to Choose the Right Tools for Cooking Baked Potatoes: A Comprehensive Guide

Baked potatoes are one of the most delicious and satisfying dishes you can prepare, but they require the right tools to get that perfect texture and taste. With so many different options on the market, it can be daunting to choose which ones will serve you best when it comes time for your spud-loving needs. Never fear! After years of testing various potato-baking contraptions across a range of budgets and use-cases, here is my comprehensive guide on how to select the ideal tools for baking perfection.

The Oven
First and foremost – any baked potato worth its salt will need some oven-action. Not just any old oven though: for consistently delicious taters with crispy skins and soft interiors, make sure your oven has accurate temperature control (a thermometer is always useful) so that you can guarantee even cooking every time.

Potato Prickers
Next up we have an often-overlooked tool in bake-potato-preparation: pricking devices. These small metal sticks puncture holes into your potatoes before getting them near heat. They ensure steam escapes while cooking – necessary to stop ‘splosion’ from happening in your precious spuds if too much pressure builds inside during baking— resulting in exploded casualties all over our kitchen surfaces  Choose something like a wooden skewer or fork unless purchasing specific designs explicitly marketed as “potato preppers” or fancy gizmo gadgets.

Dutch Ovens & Cast Iron Skillets
You might not think about using Dutch ovens or cast iron skillets specifically designed for stove-top usage at first glance—but hear me out! Their versatility doesn’t just rest upon stovetop boils; both types contain thermal mass that holds onto heat well! Take advantage by tossing these pots/ pans directly into the oven after favorite seasonings get added uniformly for tender meaty morsels delivered straight through those beautifully textured natural skin layers each time- Try removing from heat just before potatoes are fully cooked through.

Roasting Pans
Another option for those discerning bakers who like to experiment with a charred exterior and fluffy inside, roasting pans allow for multiple spuds simultaneously baked to perfection. Similar to duch ovens + cast iron skillets in retaining optimum temperature throughout cooking due to heavier material construction than lighter alternatives- these fixtures ensures the perfect crispy finish without overcooking or underdoing it! Have plenty of room left over after all your ‘tater’ pals come flocking straight outta the pasture? Add additional veggies, meats (or even more delicious double-fried, crispy-skinned spuds) next time you fire this baby up.

Aluminum Foil & Baking Racks
The very last items on our guide’s list represent optional accessories – but one non-baker shouldn’t go without: aluminum foil and baking racks. Aluminum is excellent at holding onto moisture during the baking process while blocking any air that might dry things out too quickly…and hey— isn’t crispy skin what dreams are

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfectly Baked Potatoes on Your Preferred Surface

There is nothing quite like a perfectly baked potato, firm on the outside and soft in the middle. It’s an instant hit with almost everyone, and an essential go-to for any home cook.

Whether you prefer baking your potatoes on the oven rack or in foil, we’ve got step-by-step instructions to help you achieve that perfect bake every time!

First off, let’s get down to how to prepare your spuds before starting the cooking process:

1. Choose your Potatoes: Selecting the right type of potato makes all the difference when it comes to baking. Russet potatoes are ideal because they have high starch content and low moisture levels which gives them a fluffy texture perfect for baking.

2. Wash Them Clean: Begin by washing each of your chosen potatoes thoroughly under running water using a vegetable brush if necessary to scrub off dirt residue then dry them lightly with paper towels without peeling them.

3. Preheat Your Oven: Always preheat your ovens before adding raw food items inside; set yours at 425°F (218°C) which will give ample heat conditions needed for properly baked potatoes making sure that no corner of your oven is left cold!.

Now onto choosing between baking directly on oven rack or wrapping up in foil

For Directly Baking On The Rack:

4.Give it Some Holes! Prick the surface of each cleaned-up potato several times shortening tiny holes through its top layer using fork prongs ensuring ventilation during heating else you’ll end up with steam building pressure within causing one big mushy mess – not good!

5.Place On An Oven Rack: Once done with Step 4 above simply put each pierced potatoin-between upper rails non-stick slots facing sidewalls freeing both ends from touching anything hot! Using this method allows hot air coming from below reach almost every inch whilea little bit might touch where exposed but nowadays many toaster-ovens even come equipped wire racks for easy baking.

6. Baking Time Is Key: Depending on how big or small the potatoes cooked through, it could take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour & fifteen minutes but there’s an even better way to know when your potato is ready! Try pricking through with a fork vertically if it goes all straight down pass and without any resistance, it indicates that the inside has become so soft and tender giving you perfect skin-cracking baked potatoes.

For Wrapping In Foil Method:

4.Wrap It Up: Cover each of still raw russets entirely in two layers using aluminum foil wraps one pre-cut square sized paper foil sheets making sure they are evenly layered up hence providing uniform insulation envelop which transfers heat most efficiently within.

5.Material Placement: Once properly prepared before placement on any surface where the heat should be coming allocate some space approximately distant enough allowing slow heating afterwards unwrap carefully as partially sealing allows steam build-up facilitating fast cooking ending in steel hard spuds–do not want!

6.Optimum Time For Cooking : Usually bake time lasts between 60-

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Baked Potatoes and Their Surfaces

Baked potatoes are a staple on the dinner table. They’re easy to prepare, satisfying and delicious. However, cooking baked potatoes can sometimes be intimidating or confusing if you don’t know what to do. In this blog post, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about cooking baked potatoes and their surfaces.

Q: What’s the best way to cook a baked potato?

A: The classic method is to bake them in an oven at 400°F (200°C) for one hour. Pierce each potato with a fork several times before baking to prevent it from exploding in the oven. You can also microwave your potatoes before placing them in the oven or wrapping them in foil for added moisture retention.

Another alternative would be using an instant pot that cooks quickly under high pressure or sous vide method where they get perfectly cooked without being overdone while retaining all their flavors inside & out!

Q: Should I wrap my potato in foil when baking it?

A: It depends on personal preference; however, if you want crispy skin, avoid wrapping it since steaming occurs within packages that will leave a softer exterior surface of your cooked better than other methods like microwaving – which gives soft insides but causes dry outsides depending upon its usage time precisely.

Q: Can I eat the skin of my baked potato?

A: Absolutely! Potato skins contain valuable nutrients such as fiber vitamins B6 and C, calcium and potassium are actually more nutritious than consuming only its meaty interior part alone.” Slice open your hot spud, mash together whatever portions make both satisfy tongue cravings & healthy needs at once.”

Q: Are there healthier ways to top my baked potato than sour cream and butter?”

A: Yes! Consider toppings such as grilled vegetables like bell pepper strips green onion slices & diced tomatoes adding flavorful seasoning mixture made with garlic powder paprika herbs salt pepper addition sour cream /butter alternatives like Greek yogurt blended well along with your desired favorite spices.

In conclusion, cooking baked potatoes is easy and provides a healthy option for any meal however to retain its nutrients & flavor use the above suggestions well in following them as per your preference to find out what way prepares best potatoes than others.