20 Best Tips And Tricks For The Ultimate Loaded Potatoes

When you experience a perfectly baked potato for the first time, you immediately understand why they're considered classic comfort food. The piping-hot steam that escapes, the shrinking slice of butter, and the savory-scented aroma that whets your appetite — these are only precursors to the potato heaven that awaits. Potatoes are flavor sponges, complementing any seasoning blend, and reaching new heights when loaded with toppings.

While potatoes are originally from South America, today's loaded baked potato wasn't invented until 1908 in Idaho. Easy to customize, it kept hungry railway workers fed after a tiresome day. Potatoes are filling but aren't as flavorful on their own, and loaded potatoes gave railway workers a choice of different savory toppings. There's simply no limit to what you can load your 'tates with. Luckily for you, today's forecast is cloudy with a chance of toppings, and we've put together a list of tips and tricks for making the ultimate loaded potatoes.

The feeling of biting into the crisp outer layer of a baked potato is like the first movement to a culinary concerto. Anticipation builds, setting the tone as the first taste of savory potato settles into the second movement. When you nail the ideal consistency, baked potatoes are like sweet music to your belly. That said, from picking the wrong variety to using refrigerated toppings, there's a multitude of ways you could be ruining your baked potatoes.

Fortunately, a salt-water brine will help you achieve perfectly crunchy skin. The salt in the brine breaks down the outer surface of the potato skin, allowing it to release additional moisture during the baking process. That prevents it from becoming soggy while cooking, leading to an extra crisp, and a pillowy potato consistency.

There are several schools of thought when it comes to the best method of baking potatoes. Some believe sealing it in aluminum foil is the way to go, while others say potatoes should be baked directly on the rack. In truth, both methods can secure you satisfying results. Celebrity chef Alton Brown happens to think aluminum foil is a one-way ticket to limp, soggy, and gummy baked potatoes.

Foil has a tendency to trap moisture and make potatoes mushy. In order for it to bake evenly, steam needs to escape. That's why it's important to prick the skin first, followed by Alton Brown's technique: Coat each potato in cooking oil, season them with salt, and place them directly on the rack at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, with a few pokes, aluminum foil works perfectly fine in the oven.

There's no shortage of tips and tricks you can learn about baking, and while using the right cookware and knowing the best temperature setting is important, one skill that doesn't get the attention it deserves is patience. Cooking is all about timing, and in order to get the best results, you need the self-control to say "no" to insistent hunger pangs. Trust us, we know how hard it is to wait for potatoes to bake, especially when the mouthwatering aroma hits your nostrils.

That's why patience is guaranteed to take baked potatoes to the next level. The slower and longer you cook them, the more flavor and texture develops. Once you've mastered patience, you'll unlock the true potential of baked potatoes.

To make the ultimate baked potatoes, you not only need prep and patience, but you also need the courage to go boldly where few cooks dare to go. Twice-baked potatoes require being cooked in the oven, well, twice. The extended wait alone can test a home chef's mettle, but if you can muster up the patience, you'll experience something truly unforgettable. To make twice-baked potatoes, just begin by following the same steps you use for regular baked potatoes. 

After they've cooled down, halve them and scoop out the potato flesh so the skin can be used as a bowl. Blend the potato filling with your choice of ingredients and place the mixture back in the skins. The final step before twice-baked nirvana is another 15 to 20 minutes in the oven.

We know patience is a lot to ask of someone when they're cooking something as delicious as loaded baked potatoes. The mouthwatering aroma whispers in your ear, beckoning you to come hither. Have you ever found yourself staring through the oven door window at your food as it painstakingly bakes? We know exactly how you feel. Fortunately, there's always a practical workaround.

If you don't have hours on hand to patiently wait for the slow-cooking oven, one way to avoid an impatient itch is to use a microwave. It can zap a potato in a fraction of the time, alleviating extra work after a tiresome day. It's as easy as sweet potato pie, all you gotta do is puncture it, lather it in oil, then toss it in the microwave for five minutes. Halfway through, flip it over and let it run for another five minutes. The only downside to using a microwave is that you won't get that delicious crispy skin.

With an infinite amount of tasty toppings for potatoes, it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to decide which combo to go with. One ingredient that'll have you shouting from the mountaintops is cheese. It's an inarguable fact that steamy spuds and melty cheese are a match made in heaven. Whether you prefer the tangy and robust taste of sharp cheddar, or you're a devout Parmesan sprinkler, you simply can't go wrong.

Celebrity chef Ina Garten has her own unique way of elevating cheesy loaded potatoes. Her cheese of choice is crumbled Greek feta. Garten uses a food processor to blend it with cream cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The result is a crave-worthy Ina Garten-invented creamy whip that goes beyond expectations.

As mentioned, potatoes are extremely versatile vegetables. The list of ingredients that pair well with potatoes is longer than a CVS receipt. Sitting somewhere near the top of the toppings list are bacon bits. These smoky, salty, and crispy flavor bombs are so legendary they've even inspired poems. When sprinkled atop a freshly baked potato, everyday 'tates transform into super spuds.

While you won't be leaping tall buildings in a single bound any time soon, bacon bits will definitely save the day. Whether used by itself or combined with other ingredients, bacon bits are a belly pleaser sure to upgrade potato night. You can also purchase pre-made bits or make it from scratch using fresh bacon. If pork isn't your thing, you should be able to find turkey, and even plant-based bacon bit options fairly easily.

Russets may hold the crown in America's baked potato court, but sweet potatoes are every bit as scrumptious. While they share similarities, sweet potatoes are distinct in color and taste. They're most often used for desserts but can be just as amazing when paired with savory foods.

The salt balances out the sweetness, adding another dynamic to the traditional baked potato. Switch up the usual go-to and try a saucy mixture of ground beef and baked beans. Vegans can swap out the ground beef for plant-based crumble, or substitute it altogether with mushrooms. Just think of your kitchen as a laboratory and this as an exciting new experiment. To get you started, try out this fresh and healthy loaded sweet potato recipe.

We think you'll agree that the only thing that could possibly be better than cheese is melted cheese. There's something so satisfying about seeing the silky and savory delight drip down the side of a baked potato.

When fresh out of the oven, avoiding a burnt tongue is the only ward against its alluring spell. That's why you should only try out this cheese melting tip if you have serious self-control; yup, it's that good. According to Mexican celebrity chef Pati Jinich, the best way to elevate a baked potato is to add the cheese during the cooking process. Jinich suggests using Oaxacan cheese in particular because it's an awesome melting variety. Then after it's hot and ready, top it all off with crumbled cotija cheese.

If there's one takeaway from this list of tips and tricks, it's that there's no limit to how a baked potato can be enjoyed. You're literally invited to be as creative as you want; a simple recipe of only a few ingredients can be just as impressive as one with several. While Russets are the most recommended, there are many other crave-worthy varieties. Savory or sweet, plant-based or extra cheesy, these tantalizing tubers can be enjoyed day or night.

Top it with meat and beans for a boost of protein. Try a nutritious combo of chickpeas, kale, and quinoa. Add a couple of scoops of melted cheese and steak for a cheesesteak-style loaded potato. When you make a baked potato, if you load it, they will come.

Static Media owns and operates Tasting Table, The Daily Meal, and Mashed.