Baked potatoes

Important steps

1. "Brine" the potato — Just coat it in salt water. [2] [3]
   • Alternatively, in a later step when you oil the skin, you can coat it in kosher salt. This sometimes results in nice salt chunks at the end.
2. Microwave it for 5 minutes.
3. Don't wrap it in foil. [2]
4. Bake at 450°F. Start checking for doneness after 20 minutes.
   • (Alternatively, if you have the time, it's even better to avoid microwaving it first, and just bake it at a constant 350°F [1] [1-archive])
5. Cook until it has an internal temperature of 205°F.
6. Coat it in oil and bake for 10 more minutes.
7. Cut the potatoes open immediately after removing from the oven, so steam can escape. [1] [1-archive] [2] But also, first massage the potatoes (archive) to break up the internal "meat", and then squish and pinch it open.