How To Store Baked Potato

There are a variety of potential health benefits from eating baked potatoes, depending on the type of potato. And potatoes make a great side dish for most any meal. That’s why we feel it’s valuable to look at how to store baked potato.

Cooked Potatoes

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Some people like to leave the skin on cooked potatoes to potentially benefit from the vitamin C that’s included in that portion. And whether or not the skin is still intact doesn’t play a significant role in how cooked potatoes should be stored.

Cooked baked potatoes should be stored in the refrigerator, with any aluminum foil removed from the cooking process.

This will help to prevent bacterial growth which results in potential food poisoning. Leaving cooked potatoes at room temperature for any length of time can lead to potential food borne illness.

Raw Potatoes

Uncooked potatoes that still have their skins intact, can be stored for up to several weeks when kept in a cool, dry location.

There are different ways to store potatoes in a location that has cool temperatures and is a dry place.

Some folks believe that storing potatoes in a cool basement is the right way because there are often low temperatures there and it’s a dark place.

While this can be a good option, there are other locations such as a food pantry or cooled garage that will also work well.

And as an additional tip, if you’re storing your potatoes packaged, you’ll want to use something like a paper bag that will allow air to circulate, rather than plastic, which causes condensation to form and the potatoes to rot.

What is the Shelf Life of a Potato

The shelf life of a potato varies depending on its state, such as whether it’s raw or cooked.

Raw potatoes last longer than cooked potatoes. If they’re stored in a cool, dry location such as a basement, they can last for several weeks.

A potato that’s cooked can be refrigerated and used for up to 5 days. After that, the potato should be discarded.

How To Serve Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes can be served as a delicious side dish or as a main dish. They’re traditionally served with their skins.

Some people like to create what is called a loaded baked potato or a jacket potato by adding favorite toppings such as sour cream, butter, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits, or sliced green onion tops.

What to Do With Leftover Potatoes

There are so many possibilities as far as using leftover baked potatoes are concerned. They make a delicious side dish whether you choose to slice them up and place them in your air fryer basket, roasting them with salt for a few minutes.

Or, you might choose to deep fry them as French fries. It will only take a few minutes since they’ve already been cooked. And if you’re concerned about them crumbling, then making baked French fries is certainly an option and a healthier alternative too.

Potato skins are a delicious way to use leftover baked potatoes. Just slice your baked potatoes in half and scoop out the inside. Fill the inside with cheese, bacon and any other favorite toppings. Then roast them in the oven until they’re heated through and are slightly browned.

How to Reheat Leftover Potatoes

Leftover baked potatoes can be a commonplace for Sunday dinners and everyday meals. And reheating leftover potatoes can be done in a variety of ways. We’ll help you to know the best way to reheat using the oven or microwave.

Oven

Using the oven to reheat a baked potato is often a favorite method because of the texture and the outcome of the flavor of the potato.

For the best results, place your potatoes on the oven rack and heat for 15-20 minutes at 375F degrees, or until warmed through.

Microwave

A fully cooked already baked potato can be reheated in the microwave. You’ll want to keep in mind that a microwaved potato tends to have a different texture than an oven baked potato.

To reheat a baked potato in the microwave, use a microwave-safe dish and then heat the potato at a high temperature for about 1-2 minutes until it’s warmed through.

Cutting the potato opened can speed up the reheating process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Following are frequently asked questions that relate to how to store baked potatoes. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to respond.

Does a baked potato need to be refrigerated?

After a baked potato has been cooked, it needs to be refrigerated if it’s not eaten right away. Storing a baked potato at room temperature can cause bacteria to grow which has the potential of resulting in food poisoning.

The best way to store a cooked potato is to remove any aluminum foil and place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will keep the potato cool and will help to lengthen its shelf life.

Do baked potatoes need to be wrapped in foil?

Whether your raw potatoes are wrapped in foil before they’re cooked is a matter of personal preference. Because a baked potato gets cooked for a long time, its skin will likely become a crispy skin when it’s not wrapped in foil.

If you like softer skin, you should poke holes in the potato and then wrap it in aluminum foil before placing it on a baking sheet to bake.

For crispy skin, the easy way is to simply poke holes in the potato and bake them on a baking sheet.

Can you keep baked potatoes in a Ziploc?

Resealable plastic bags are a great way to store your baked potato for later or for the next day. Just package it as desired and then put it in the refrigerator.

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