How To Bake The Best Baked Potato - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 russet potatoes (7 to 9oz, washed and poked a few times on each side with a fork) or 4 idaho potatoes (7 to 9oz, washed and poked a few times on each side with a fork)
1/2 cup warm tap water
2 tablespoons table salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450\u00b0 F. In a large bowl, stir the water and salt together until the salt is dissolved. Roll the potatoes in the water until well-coated; place them on a wire rack set atop a large baking sheet.
Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the inside temperature reads 205\u00b0 F (smaller potatoes will need around 45-50 minutes). Remove the potatoes from the oven, brush the tops and sides with the oil, and return them to the oven for another 10 minutes to allow the skins to become crispy.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and slice them open right away with an \"X\" in the center to avoid them steaming and thus, softening the skins. Squeeze the potatoes open and load 'em up with plenty of salt, pepper, butter, and/or your favorite toppings.