Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Wash potatoes with a stiff brush and cold water, then pat dry. Use a fork to poke 8–12 deep holes all over the surface of each potato to let the moisture escape during cooking.
In a large bowl, coat potatoes lightly coat with oil and salt. Then place potatoes in the oven directly on the middle rack (or on a foil-lined baking sheet).
Bake for 1 hour, until the skin is crisp and the flesh feels soft.
Let potatoes cool a bit until you can handle them. Create a dotted line from end to end of each potato with your fork, then crack the potatoes open by squeezing the ends toward each other. Serve with any desired toppings (see Recipe Tip).