Loaded Twice-Baked Red Potatoes Recipe | foodiecrush.com (2024)

FAQs

Why are my twice-baked potatoes gummy? ›

When making twice baked potatoes, it's best to mash the potato filling while the potatoes are still warm. Don't over-mix the mashed potatoes especially if you're using an electric mixer since the filling can become gummy.

Cook's Note. I learned the hard way not to wrap the potatoes in foil before baking. It softens the shells and they will fall apart not good!

Red potatoes tend to be smaller and waxy. Their higher moisture and lower starch content are great for boiling or roasting, and they manage to hold their shape well. These properties tend to make them less desirable for a baked potato, which should be a little larger in size and easy to fluff up on the interior.

Bake, but do not overcook the potatoes (as the base will turn dark brown) to an internal temperature of 185°F and then let cool to handle. Take a sharp knife and slice off the top lengthwise, hollow out the inside, being careful to leave some and not puncture the outer skin.

Potato baking temperatures range from 350˚ to 450˚F. The sweet spot seems to be at 400˚F, a temperature that cooks the potato all the way through and crisps the skin without singeing it. That said, you don't need to strictly adhere to a certain temperature every time you bake a potato.

We recommend baking potatoes at 400 degrees F for about an hour. Smaller spuds might take a little less time, while larger baking potatoes over 1 pound might take a little more. For a fully baked Idaho Russet Burbank, the internal temperature should be right at 210 degrees F.

Greek yogurt replaces the sour cream often found in twice-baked potatoes for a healthier spin on this delicious classic. Meat-eaters will be happy to have bacon added to theirs, but this recipe is plenty delicious without it.

You want to be able to eat your potato without worrying if you are going to get food poisoning or botulism. Here's how you can ensure that your baked potatoes are safe to eat. DON'T let your potato sit out in the open at room temperature for over four hours regardless of whether or not it is wrapped in aluminum foil.

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

How do you know when red potatoes are done cooking? ›

A paring knife or fork should easily pierce the potato when it's cooked. If you aren't making mashed potatoes, you can boil whole red or gold potatoes without peeling or slicing as long a they aren't too big (2 inch max). The key is to use a low boil so the potatoes cook evenly.

Red potatoes are great for roasting, cooking in soups, or boiling or steaming for potato salad. The waxy nature of the flesh means they'll maintain their shape, but it also means they will get gluey when overworked, so you'll want to choose a different potato for mashing.

The main difference is in the preparation of the mashed potato mixture before it is returned to the skins. Twice-baked potatoes are typically mashed with butter, sour cream, cheese, and seasonings, then spooned back into the potato skins and baked again until golden brown and crispy.

The best side dishes to serve with twice-baked potatoes are Mississippi pot roast, chicken drumsticks, roasted duck, braised beef, vegetarian chili, kalua pork, lamb chops, grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, shrimp scampi, steak, chicken Caesar salad, BBQ ribs, mushroom gravy, and green beans almondine.

Reheating them in the oven at 400° will re-crisp the potato skin while keeping the filling inside nice and creamy still. The potatoes will take about 15 to 20 minutes to reheat again. If you're in a rush, microwaving them is fine too, though parts of the potato might turn a little tough due to uneven heating.

The bad news with gluey mashed potatoes is that there's no real way to fix them. Once you've incorporated that excess starch into the mix, you can't take it out.

Don't overmix the potatoes! For mashed potatoes that are smooth without being gummy, a potato ricer is your best bet. It gently presses the potato into fine pieces, so all that's left to do is add your liquid and a pat or two of butter.