What method is the only way to determine if baked potatoes are cooked?

The correct method to definitively determine if baked potatoes are cooked is by cutting them open. When you cut a baked potato in half, you can visually assess whether the inside is tender and fully cooked. The flesh should be soft and easily scoopable. This method allows you to check the texture and doneness of the potato effectively, ensuring it is cooked through.

While time-based checking can provide an estimate of cooking duration, it does not guarantee that the potato is fully cooked, as factors such as size and oven temperature can affect cooking time. Visual inspection may help to some extent, but without a cut, you cannot ascertain the tenderness of the flesh. Stabbing with a fork can give a preliminary indication of softness, but it may not reveal whether the interior is fully cooked. Therefore, cutting open the potato provides the most reliable confirmation of doneness.