Not Baked Or Roasted — The Easiest Way To Cook Potatoes Is Melt-In-Your-Mouth Tasty

There are so many different ways to cook potatoes — roasted, fried, smashed, mashed. They all lead to some pretty tasty side dishes of differing textures, but if you want to serve a bowl of melt-in-your-mouth spuds, there is one appliance you could be sleeping on: a slow cooker.

While most cooks automatically reach for the oven door when preparing potatoes, a slow cooker is the secret weapon for a tender finish. The results are pretty similar to roasted potatoes, but the insides will be much creamier. A slow cooker gives the potatoes more surface area to be in contact with than a baking sheet, so the potatoes touching the sides and bottom will crisp up and caramelize slightly, while the insides become pillowy and soft. The flavors of whatever seasonings and spices you cook them with will also seep into the potatoes more than if they were baked.

The slower cooker method frees up space in the oven for all of your other dishes, plus it makes for a hands-off side. You can just toss the potatoes in the countertop appliance, set a timer, and go, which is always helpful on busy days.

The preparation for slow cooker potatoes is not unlike roasted or baked potatoes. It is better to cut the spuds into cubes, as they will cook much faster, but a super slow-cooked baked potato is not outside the realm of possibility. If you want to keep the potatoes whole, just wrap them with tin foil after seasoning and cook on low for around seven hours. Don't forget: You need to prick the skins on your baked potatoes before cooking, even if doing so in the slow cooker.

If you're opting for cubes, just coat them with olive oil and some herbs or spices and cook on high for about two to three hours, or an hour or two longer on low. You know they're ready when you can easily slide a fork through them. Any potatoes work: russet, red, Yukon Gold — use whatever is on hand.

As for seasonings, a combination of garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs is always a hit. A dusting of ranch seasoning takes roasted potatoes to a whole new level, and you can take inspiration from that tip with this cooking method, too; throw some fresh dill into the mix or feel free to use the packaged stuff. Paprika is also delicious on potatoes, as is cumin and onion powder. You can top them with some cheese just before they finish cooking, too. Serve your perfect potatoes with grilled or roasted chicken, loaded burgers, or steak for an easy and repeatable dinner.