Baked Yukon Gold Potato

If you've had a baked potato sometime in recent memory, then odds are that you ate a baked Russet potato. The reason that the Russet is so popular is that the skin crisps up nicely in the oven, and the interior, which is higher in starch, comes out fluffy after baking. Baked potato purists might tell you that a Russet or fellow high-starch potato like the Idaho potato are the only ways to go when serving spuds steakhouse-style — but if you want to be a baked potato renegade, there is another option. 

In November 2020, Martha Stewart posted a picture on her Instagram profile showing her baked potato lunch, and she chose to break tradition and bake another kind of potato — the Yukon. If you're looking to switch up your spuds, it may be a great alternative that still delivers tasty results. 

Traditionally, the Yukon Gold potato is not used for baking. You are far more likely to encounter this type of potato when making mashed potatoes or potatoes au gratin. What makes the Yukon a great alternative for baking is its creamy texture compared to Russets — it just needs to be cooked at a lower temperature at a slower pace.

FMM: These definitely are not like a Russet baked potato, the flesh is yellow and not as fluffy, and it is missing the crispy skin you get with a Russet, but these were actually quite good. If this is what I had available, I would bake them. They do taste creamier, thus don't need as much butter. The skin is very thin and doesn't crisp, but this didn't detract from the taste. Plus the potatoes I had were quite small compared to a Russet. An easy option for preparing Yukon Gold potatoes.

How To Bake

Prepare the Yukon gold like you would a Russet, pricking it a few times so it can vent steam, then place it directly on the oven rack and cook it for 90 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. If your potato is a smaller size, check it after an hour. You're looking for crispy skin and a creamy yet fluffy interior. Once you pull it out of the oven, enjoy your baked Yukon with all your favorite toppings like butter, sour cream, chives, shredded cheese, and bacon bits.