Ask Dr. Potato : Baking
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Q: We are planning on serving baked potatoes at an upcoming wedding and I will need approximately 150 potatoes. We are going to use extra-large potatoes (like you can get at Costco). We will have access to 3 ovens, each with only 2 racks. It appears from your website that the most effective way to bake is without foil. We intend on wrapping them after baking and storing in an insulated cooler to keep warm until ready to serve. Questions: Is it okay to rub oil on them prior to baking so the skins will not be dried out? And, can we stack the potatoes 2 high on each rack in order to get 50 potatoes in? We intend baking them at 450°F - how long will we need to keep them in the oven?

Q: I was asked to bring funeral potatoes to a friend’s house after the service, and having grown up in the Northeast, I had no idea what these were. Someone said search “Utah funeral food” or “Idaho potato casserole dishes.” Now that I have found it, what’s the preference… scalloped or hash browns? Fresh or frozen? Is canned soup an essential ingredient? Are the expectations plain and simple and maybe a little bland, or can I spice it up?

Q: Do you have any last minute, easy to make game day recipes with Idaho Potatoes as the star?

Q: Can I bake potatoes in a roaster? If so, can you give me directions or direct me to a recipe?

Q: In a 10 lb bag of Idaho® russets I found a HUGE potato, bigger than any potato I've ever cooked! I don't want to cut it up, but I have no idea how long to bake it.  I measured it...it is more than 6 inches long, with a slightly more than 9-inch circumference. How long and at what temperature should I bake it at? Any special instructions?

Q: I’m looking for something hearty that I can serve my family on a weeknight when the weather turns cold. Oh, and some like meat, some don’t so it needs to be flexible enough to accommodate different tastes. We all like potatoes, mostly French fries and mashed potatoes from our favorite restaurants. Any suggestions?

Q: I am hosting a youth Halloween party and I want to do a "Mr. Potato Head" project with 20-30 next week. I need to know: 1) If I bake the potatoes ahead of time, then put them into the refrigerator, how long can they stay out at room temperature while the kids decorate them? 2) Then what is the best way to reheat them so the kids can eat them?

Q: Exactly how old are my potatoes that I ordered from the food service distributor this week? They are supposed to be new crop. How can I find out?

Q: We are having a charity fundraiser selling 1000 baked Idaho Potatoes. In order to save time, we would like to wash, pierce, and wrap the raw potatoes the night before and store them in a cooler. They would be baked the next morning. Is this a safe process?