Preheat your oven to 375 F. Place your prepared potatoes directly on a baking sheet. Bake them for approximately 45 to 60 minutes, or until they reach the desired level of tenderness inside and the skin becomes crispy.
Once cooked, keep baked potatoes hot — above 140 F — until served or refrigerate them promptly if they’re to be stored. Do not leave baked potatoes at room temperature for more than four hours.
Organize your baked potato bar to mimic the order in which guests generally build their potatoes. Start with the potatoes, followed by warm sauces, proteins, vegetables, cheeses and cold items.
If the baked potatoes are serving as a side dish, prepare a main dish with them. Consider options like grilled steak, roasted chicken, or baked salmon.
To simplify clean-up, use serving dishes that come with lids for easy storage of leftovers. Encourage guests to help themselves to seconds or take leftovers home, providing them with containers if possible.