- Potatoes can be "baked" in the oven, microwave, air fryer, or instant pot.
- If you crave crispy potato skins or are cooking for a group, stick with the oven method.
- When you're short on time, the microwave, air fryer, or instant pot will do the trick.
When it comes to an easy, satisfying, and healthy comfort food, it's hard to beat a baked potato. Potatoes can be the focal point of a meal or a quality side, and they can be stored for months. Although a baked potato is a classic, it doesn't have to be boring: you can integrate yams or sweet potatoes or the classic Idaho variety.
Wondering how to bake a potato at home? Whether you're a beginner potato cook or just looking to jazz up your typical preparation, check out these four ways to cook a potato.
How to bake a potato in the oven
Using the oven is the classic way of baking potatoes. Sure, it takes a bit longer than other options — about one hour — but with plenty of space, the oven is a good choice when you're cooking potatoes for the whole family.
Learn more about how to cook a potato in the oven by checking out this article.
How to bake a potato in the microwave
We all head towards the microwave when we're in a rush, and the trusty appliance cooks a baked potato in under 15 minutes. There is one major downside: the microwave won't give you crispy skin. If you have some extra time, bake the potato in an oven for five minutes afterward to get a touch of crispiness.
Read this article for more tips on baking a potato in the microwave.
How to bake a potato in an air fryer
If you want a crispy potato cooked quickly, look no further than the air fryer. Potatoes cook about twice as quickly in the air fryer as they do in the oven, so this method is perfect for mid-week dinners before soccer practice or a quick lunch on the go.
Check out this article to read more about air fryer baked potatoes.
How to bake a potato in an instant pot
Are you craving a baked potato in the summer months, but don't want to warm up your kitchen? Or maybe you want to walk in from work and be greeted by a perfectly-baked potato. Turn to the instant pot. Sure, these potatoes are actually pressure cooked, not baked, but once you bite in you won't mind the difference.
If you need extra instant pot potato hacks, read more here.
Insider's takeaway
A baked potato has been a classic comfort food for decades. While the oven can't be beat for big batches of potatoes, the microwave, air fryer, and instant pot allow you to cook potatoes more quickly. Each approach has its benefits: the oven and air fryer are great for crispy-skinned potatoes, while the microwave and instant pot allow you to quickly cook your potatoes without heating up the kitchen.