If you haven't tried baking potatoes in a toaster oven, you really should! There is no need to heat up your oven (kitchen) for these spuds if you can cook them in a much more efficient toaster oven. The baked potatoes end up tasting great in less time!
I know everyone loves baked potatoes when grilling and that works fine if you have the space on the grill. But when you aren't grilling or you don't have room on your grill, this is the perfect way to prepare those potatoes!
These baked potatoes are an amazing side dish to my easy root beer ribs!
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Ingredients
This is a simple inexpensive side when you have a protein as the star of the show. Or, you can bake a potato in a toaster oven and have it be the main meal with some fun toppings.
- Russet potatoes - these just are the best potatoes to use for baked potatoes
- Olive oil (or other oil of your choice)
- Kosher salt - I like the larger salt crystals
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1
Remove baking rack from toaster oven and preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose 4 russet potatoes roughly the same size and scrub well then dry.
Step 2
I use a sharp knife to cut into the raw potato. You can also use a fork and poke the potato. You are trying to reach close to the top ⅓ or the middle of the potato (hard to do when it's a big potato). This is important because the potato's moisture turns to steam and can make the potato explode.
Step 3
Rub olive oil all over the skin of the raw potatoes (a marinade brush keeps your hands oil free). I also rub some salt onto the skin. Place prepared potatoes onto oven rack and put carefully into the oven. Note that you are NOT wrapping with aluminum foil - aka tin foil.
Step 4
A medium sized potato takes approximately 45 minutes to cook through. You can test if they are fully baked by piercing with a fork or the tip of a sharp knife (like a steak knife). You also want to see that the skins look slightly browned and dry with crispy skin. Remove from oven when they are ready. The toaster oven's rack is hot & so are the potatoes!
If they are not soft, bake for a few more minutes (5 - 10 minutes and test again).
Step 5
Cut into the baked potato (about ⅔ of the way through). Fluff the potato by pushing in and a little up on the sides. Use a fork to fluff the insides if your potato does not look fluffy enough.
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Hint: Smaller potatoes cook time will less time and larger potatoes will take longer. That is why I try to be consistent with the size of the potatoes. If they are smaller, test them after 30 minutes to see if they are soft. If they are large potatoes, they can take over an hour to bake. Potatoes do cook faster in a toaster oven vs. a regular oven.
Ideas for Baked Potato Toppings
Butter and Chives
This is what I consider the classic topping for baked potatoes! A pat of butter, some salt and then a garnish of chopped chives (parsley works well too).
Sour Cream and Chives
Some will argue a big dollop of sour cream topped with a sprinkle of chives is the classic. It doesn't hurt to provide options to family/guests!
Mexican Style
Some cheddar cheese with a healthy topping of black beans and/or salsa. When I make a batch of black beans, I try to creatively use leftovers on things like baked potatoes. This easily can be a vegetarian meal option.
Spaghetti Sauce
If you have leftover spaghetti sauce, or even spaghetti meatballs, use those! Spaghetti sauce of any time heated and spooned over the potato is one of my favorite main courses starting with your baked spud.
Bacon
Easy on the butter and sprinkle bacon on top. Everything tastes better with bacon, right?
Chili
A big helping of chili over potatoes is another great topping to make this a main meal.
Substitutions
Idaho potatoes are also good for baked potatoes.
If your family eats margarine, and not butter, go ahead and use it. But, if having guests, butter is the more traditional topping.
Equipment
I have cooked with a toaster oven for YEARS! I now have a combination toaster oven and air fryer. Basically, the airfryer portion comes from having a convection setting. For this recipe, I turned the convection setting off to more accurately reflect timing.
This is the toaster oven / air fryer combo that is similar to the one I have and love. I gave both my sons one for Christmas a year ago.
Storage
I store in either an airtight container or individually wrapped in plastic wrap. Do not wrap or store in aluminum foil.
Baking Potatoes in a Toaster Oven
Equipment
- 1 Toaster oven
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes Russet potatoes - - these just are the best potatoes to use for baked potatoes
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil or other oil of your choice
- 1½ tablespoon Kosher salt - I like the larger salt crystals
Instructions
- Remove baking rack from toaster oven and preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose 4 russet potatoes roughly the same size and scrub well to clean then dry.
- I use a sharp knife to cut into the raw potato. You can also use a fork and poke the potato. You are trying to reach the middle of the potato (If you can't get to the middle, the top ⅓ will do). This is important to do because the moisture in the potato turns to steam and can make the potato explode.
- Rub olive oil all over the skin of the raw potatoes (a marinade brush keeps your hands oil free). I also rub some salt onto the skin. Place prepared potatoes onto oven rack and put carefully into the oven. Note that you are NOT wrapping with aluminum foil - aka tin foil.
- A medium-sized potato takes approximately 45 minutes to cook through. You can test if they are fully baked by piercing with a fork or the tip of a sharp knife (like a steak knife). You also want to see that the skins look slightly browned and dry with crispy skin. Remove from oven when they are ready. The toaster oven's rack is hot & so are the potatoes!
- If they are not soft, bake for a few more minutes (5 - 10 minutes and test again).
- Cut into the baked potato (about ⅔ of the way through). Fluff the potato by pushing in and a little up on the sides. If your potato does not look fluffy enough, use a fork to fluff the insides.
- Add favorite toppings or offer a selection of topping
Notes
- Butter and chives
- Sour cream and chives
- Mexican - cheddar and salsa
- Chili
- Spaghetti
- bacon and cheese
Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)
FAQ
Yes, I often do. Because of the convection component, everything cooks faster. I usually turn the temperature 25 degrees lower (375 degrees Fahrenheit) AND check for doneness 10 minutes early.
Absolutely you can. The size of the sweet potatoes will determine the cook time. I find, in general, sweet potatoes take a few more minutes to cook through. Use the potato recipe as a guide but don't be surprised if they take a few minutes longer to cook.
The oven's rack allows the heat to circulate better! If you want to use a baking sheet, not the toaster oven's rack, just flip the potatoes when they are roughly halfway done.
Yes, if you are in a hurry you can. But you are on your own figuring out how long they will take to finish in your toaster oven.
John M
How to bake a potato in a toaster oven
you fools didn't say to bake them on the tray or directly on the rack.
It's a pretty stupid mistake if you ask me!
Susan Moncrieff
Actually step 3 tells you to put the potatoes right on the rack.
Step 3 - Rub olive oil all over the skin of the raw potatoes (a marinade brush keeps your hands oil free). I also rub some salt onto the skin. Place prepared potatoes onto oven rack and put carefully into the oven. Note that you are NOT wrapping with aluminum foil - aka tin foil.