Scrub the potatoes and remove any bad spots. Use a vegetable brush if you have one. Potatoes grow in the dirt and can be very… well, dirty.
Cut off any dark or green spots (which contain toxins), and remove any sprouts.
Pierce the potatoes with a fork about 4-5 times – It is CRITICAL that you pierce the potato! Otherwise, it could explode…literally. Take this time to let out some stress or anger if you like.
Rub outside of potato with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Oven version:
Preheat oven to 425°F.
If you want a crispy peeling, do not wrap in foil. Otherwise, wrap in foil. Place directly on rack in the preheated oven. If not wrapped in foil, place a baking sheet on the rack below, to catch any drips, especially when baking sweet potatoes.
Bake for 45 minutes, then check by piercing with a fork. Cook longer if not tender. The timing depends on the size, but also the type of potato. Sweet potatoes and yams usually cook more quickly than white potatoes.
Crockpot version:
Wrap in foil so that no skin is showing and place in crockpot.
Bake on low for 8-10 hours or until potatoes are tender. (It’s great to come home from work to slow-baked potatoes!)
Microwave version:
DO NOT WRAP IN FOIL! Never, ever put metal (which includes foil) in a microwave! It burns, and you will ruin your food and very possibly your microwave. Cook potatoes wrapped in a damp paper towel for 3 minutes, then flip over and cook for 3 more minutes. Based on the size of the potato, you may or may not need more time.
Let rest a few minutes, then check with a fork to see if they are done evenly all the way through. If not, cook another few minutes, turning over halfway through.