Preheat the oven to 425°F
Scrub the russet potato clean
Pat the potato completely dry
Pierce the potato several times with a fork
Rub the skin with a little oil if desired
Sprinkle with salt if desired
Place the potato directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet
Bake for 45 to 60 minutes
Check for doneness by piercing with a fork or squeezing gently with an oven mitt
Remove from the oven
Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes
Slice open and serve