How to Bake a Potato in a Toaster Oven?

I love just love potatoes and especially baked potatoes.

They are my comfort food, so if I can plan one into a lunch or dinner menu, I do. And I’m lucky because I also have a toaster oven! Since I often cook for one, why bother turning on my electric range when my toaster oven is perfect for baking potatoes?

Here is where my toaster oven is truly convenient. And guess what? Potatoes baked in your toaster oven are just as delicious and satisfying as spuds baked in a large full-sized oven.

Thanks to my toaster oven, I can bake potatoes year-round, whether in the cold of winter or in the middle of a heatwave. This time-honored dish is always available, even if, like me, you’re only cooking for one.

It’s very convenient to just bake your potato directly on the toaster oven rack if you prefer a simple oven-baked potato. The heat will penetrate the potato pretty evenly. Personally, I like the skins a bit crispier because I enjoy eating them as well, so I oil my potatoes lightly before baking,

Now oiling your potatoes before baking them, could prove to be a bit sloppy with oil running into the bottom of the toaster oven.

I’ve solved this problem by using a baking sheet that has a rack that fits right into it, so any drippings fall onto the baking sheet making for easy cleanup.

Baking sheet/rack combos are available for most large, medium, or small-sized toaster ovens. When I first got my toaster oven, I actually had thought about lining it with aluminum foil.

Then my mom pointed out, never place anything near heating elements to avoid the risk of a fire. She said, “Get yourself a baking sheet that will hold a rack.” Thank goodness for moms.

If a fire ever does start, just shut your toaster oven off. Do not open the door until the fire has burnt itself out.

Table of Contents

Ingredients:

one to four medium russet potatoes
extra-virgin olive oil
a pinch of salt
a favorite topping of chives, sour cream, butter, grated cheese, etc.

How to bake potatoes in a toaster oven?

Step 1: First, remove the toaster oven’s cooking rack.

Step 2: Preheat the toaster oven to 400° Fahrenheit.

Step 3: Wash and scrub your potatoes well and then dry them thoroughly. My toaster oven will hold four medium potatoes comfortably. If you enjoy eating the baked skins, a good scrub is a must.

Step 4: Using a fork, poke your potatoes twice on both sides. Don’t stab them through, just poke to the center. This is necessary because the potato will need to release steam as it bakes. If there are no release holes, your potato could easily explode inside your toaster oven.

(At this point, you may wonder why I haven’t wrapped my potatoes individually in foil to bake them. because I prefer crispy skins. No steaming for me!)

Step 5: Now I rub my potatoes with a thin coating of extra virgin olive oil and place them on my baking sheet and rack combo. Sprinkle them with a pinch of salt.

Step 6: Place the rack with the potatoes into the toaster oven. It should be adequately preheated by now. Bake the potatoes at 400° F. for approximately forty-five minutes to an hour. This will depend on if the potatoes are medium to small or medium-large in size. If your potatoes are smallish, start checking them to see if they are cooked through at about forty minutes into your baking.

You’ll know that your potatoes are ready to eat when a fork pokes easily into the potato, The potato skin should be browned and crisp.

Step 7: Remove the baking sheet from the toaster oven or use a pair of cooking tongs to remove the individual potatoes. If you prefer plain baked potatoes without the oil coating, just remove the entire rack from your toaster oven.

Personally, I like my potatoes nice and fluffy, so I slice them open lengthwise and using a fork, fluff up the inside. Once fluffed, it’s topping time. Some of my favorite toppings are

Butter
Chives
Creamed cheese
Sour cream
Just about any type of cheese grated on top.

Leftover Baked Potatoes

Sometimes, you end up cooking an extra potato or two. Uneaten baked potatoes can be stored in a refrigerator in a glass container that is covered and should be done so within two hours of being baked. These extra potatoes should last three days and maybe four.

Can I reheat a baked potato in my toaster oven?

Yes, M’am! Preheat the toaster oven to 350°F. Place the potato on the toaster oven rack. Cook for approximately twenty minutes until the potato is warmed through completely.

Conclusion

So, as you see, apart from toasting bread, a toaster oven can bake and do the job well.

If you happen to need your conventional oven for other dishes, your toaster oven will bake those potatoes as a delicious side dish freeing up your larger oven. You’ll have your fluffy baked potato in no time. Now enjoy…and don’t forget your favorite topping!