Basted Baked Potato Food

FONDANT POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Cut off ends of russet potatoes, stand potatoes on end, and peel potatoes from top to bottom with a sharp knife to make each potato into a uniform cylinder. Cut each cylinder in half crosswise to make 6 potato cylinders about 2 inches long.
• Place potatoes into a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes to remove starch from outsides; pat dry with paper towels.
• Place a heavy oven-proof skillet (such as a cast iron skillet) over high heat. Pour in vegetable oil; heat oil until it shimmers slightly.
• Place potato cylinders with best-looking ends into the hot oil, lower heat to medium-high, and pan-fry potatoes until well-browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Flip the potatoes onto the opposite ends. As they cook, use a paper towel held with tongs to carefully blot out the oil from the skillet. Add butter and thyme sprigs to skillet.
• Pick up a thyme sprig with tongs and use it to paint butter over the top of the potatoes. Cook until butter foams and foam turns from white to a pale tan color. Season with more salt and pepper. Pour chicken stock into skillet.
• Transfer skillet to preheated oven and cook until potatoes are tender and creamy inside, about 30 minutes. If potatoes aren't tender, add 1/4 cup more stock and let cook 10 more minutes.
• Place potatoes on a serving platter and spoon thyme-scented butter remaining in skillet over potatoes. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Let cool about 5 minutes before serving.

SLICED BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes if the skin is tough, otherwise, just rinse and pat dry.
• Cut potatoes into thin slices, but not all the way through. (A clever trick for doing this is to place your potato between two table knives--the knives will stop your cutting blade at an even level across potato).
• Place potatoes in a microwave safe dish or pan.
• Sprinkle with melted butter and chopped herbs--getting it down between slices.
• Microwave for 10 minutes, rearranging potatoes after 5 minutes.
• Check doneness and cook a bit more if necessary until potatoes are nearly done.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese and Parmesan cheese.
• Microwave for another 4 to 6 minutes until cheeses are melted and potatoes are soft.

BUTTER-BASTED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F Cut potatoes into quarters; place in microwave-safe bowl. Top with butter; cover and microwave on HIGH 5 minutes. Meanwhile, slice onion thinly.
• Stir potatoes to evenly coat with butter; microwave 5 more minutes or until potatoes are hot and just beginning to soften.
• Transfer potatoes to 2-quart baking dish and arrange in single layer. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and pepper. Arrange onion slices evenly over potatoes; top with bacon slices. Bake 15-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender and bacon is browned and semi-crisp. Serve. (Makes 6 servings.).

THE BAKED POTATO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and position racks in top and bottom thirds. Wash potato (or potatoes) thoroughly with a stiff brush and cold running water. Dry, then using a standard fork poke 8 to 12 deep holes all over the spud so that moisture can escape during cooking. Place in a bowl and coat lightly with oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and place potato directly on rack in middle of oven. Place a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any drippings.
• Bake 1 hour or until skin feels crisp but flesh beneath feels soft. Serve by creating a dotted line from end to end with your fork, then crack the spud open by squeezing the ends towards one another. It will pop right open. But watch out, there will be some steam. Add toppings if using.

BUTTER SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450* F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, with 2 tbsp salt. Add potatoes, and boil until quite tender, but not falling apart.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment. Once potatoes are soft, place on baking sheets, leaving ample space between them.
• Use a flat bottomed glass to smash each potato to 1/4" thickness.
• Melt butter, and drizzle or brush over potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake for 30 minutes, until crispy. Meanwhile, fry the bacon and shred the cheese. Dice the bacon.
• After the potatoes are out of the oven, sprinkle with the bacon and cheese.

BEST BAKED POTATO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F and position racks in top and bottom thirds.
• Wash potato (or potatoes) thoroughly with a stiff brush and cold running water.
• Dry, then using a standard fork poke 8 to 12 deep holes all over the spud so that moisture can escape during cooking.
• Place in a bowl and coat lightly with oil.
• Sprinkle with kosher salt and place potato directly on rack in middle of oven.
• Place a baking sheet (I put a piece of aluminum foil) on the lower rack to catch any drippings.
• Bake 1 hour or until skin feels crisp but flesh beneath feels soft.
• Serve by creating a dotted line from end to end with your fork, then crack the spud open by squeezing the ends towards one another.
• It will pop right open.
• But watch out, there will be some steam.
• NOTE: If you're cooking more than 4 potatoes, you'll need to extend the cooking time by up to 15 minutes.