1 Bake the potatoes: You can bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack, or you can place them a few inches apart on a foil-lined baking sheet. 2  Bake the potatoes for 50 to 60 minutes.3  Flip them over every 20 minutes or so and check them for doneness by piercing them with a fork. This allows steam to escape from the baking potato. 2  Bake the potatoes: You can bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack, or you can place them a few inches apart on a foil-lined baking sheet. 3  Bake the potatoes for 50 to 60 minutes.