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How to Make Martha’s Famous Smashed Potatoes

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:35:02 +0000

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Key Takeaways

Martha Stewart’s signature smashed baked potato transforms the classic side by gently smashing it to create an ultra-fluffy interior.
The trick lies in a simple post-bake step—wrap the hot potato in a towel and give it a firm smash to break up the dense flesh.
Using starchy russet potatoes and seasoning the skin with olive oil, salt, and pepper ensures crisp, flavorful results worthy of The Bedford.

Martha is known for many iconic dishes, from her gooey macaroni and cheese and one-pan pasta to mile-high pies and her classic chewy chocolate chip cookies. Her baked potato is a favorite for many fans, and for good reason. She has turned an ordinary spud into something fabulous—special enough even to make it onto the menu at her restaurant, The Bedford in Las Vegas. It’s not just a baked potato, it’s a smashed potato.

Her unusual, gentle smashing technique sets her baked potato apart. It helps fluff up the interior of the warm potatoes. And Martha’s smashed potatoes are something that can easily be made at in your kitchen. All you need is a clean dish towel and a hot potato to bring The Bedford home and create a restaurant-worthy side dish for anything from a casual weeknight dinner to a comforting dinner party.

Why Martha’s Baked Potato Is Better Than the Rest

Making a baked potato is simple, right? Yes, but there is a crucial step that most people miss. If you slice directly into a baked potato while it’s hot, the interior flesh will be quite compact and dense. There’s nothing wrong with that, but, as Martha knows, there is a super simple way to lighten the flesh and make the baked potato nice and fluffy—and it involves getting some aggression out.

Once the baked potato comes out of the oven, Martha makes a slit lengthwise down the center to open the potato a little. Then, with the potato wrapped in a clean dish towel, she gives it a firm but controlled smash on the countertop. This movement immediately breaks up the compact interior, leaving you with a fluffy baked potato every time.

How to Make Martha’s Famous Smashed Potato

Follow these four simple steps to change your baked potato game for the better.

Choose the Right Potato

The first step is to pick the right potato for the job. We always reach for a russet, also known as an Idaho. This type of potato has a high amount of starch and low moisture levels, as opposed to more waxy potatoes like Yukon gold or red. Starch is exactly what you want in a baked potato, and the relatively low moisture content is what contributes to the interior’s fluffy texture.

Aim for potatoes that weigh roughly 8 ounces each—just the right size for a substantial side dish.

Prep It Properly

First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then scrub the potatoes with water and pat them dry. Use the tines of a fork to poke holes all over the outside (this will help the potatoes release some steam so they don’t explode in the oven). Next, rub the exterior with some good extra-virgin olive oil and season generously with kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper. This way, the skin will be just as delicious as the interior.

Bake

Place the seasoned potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake them on the center rack of the preheated oven until they are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour.

Slice and Smash

Remove the potatoes from the oven and use a paring knife to create a shallow slit (no more than one-third of the way into the flesh). Working carefully (the potato is hot!) transfer it to a clean dish towel and wrap it up.

Finally, use a moderate amount of force to slam the potato against the countertop. For a more dramatic effect, do this tableside—as they do at the Bedford—so your guests can enjoy the spectacle.

Serve

Split the potato open as you would usually, season the flesh with more salt and pepper, and serve with your choice of toppings (see below for ideas).

Serving Suggestions

At The Bedford, Martha serves her smashed potatoes with a dollop of sour cream, a hefty spoonful of caviar, and a light sprinkle of fresh snipped chives. It’s perfect for a special night out, but it can be equally as special at home. Here are a few other fun and easy ways to enjoy it:

Topped with a compound butter, such as lemon-basil, roasted garlic, or smoky chipotle
Loaded with sour cream, crispy crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced scallions
Filled with homemade beef chili or all-bean chili

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Try This Martha-Approved Morning Beauty Routine

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:44:33 +0000

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If there’s one thing Martha Stewart knows how to do (besides home-keeping, entrepreneurial endeavors, gardening, baking—and, well, everything), it’s how to start the day on the right note. She’s an early riser, a lover of routines, and, as a result, has her trademark glow to show for it.

A morning beauty routine that’s equal parts practical and indulgent helps the Sports Illustrated model look refreshed and luminous day after day. Just a few steps, done consistently, can make all the difference. Think of it as the skincare version of her cooking and entertaining philosophy: simple, thoughtful, and elevated.

“If you have a skin-care routine of any sort, you’re one step ahead—consistency is key,” Martha previously shared in Living the Good Long Life: A Practical Guide to Caring for Yourself and Others. Ahead, we’re breaking down Martha’s skincare advice and morning routine, shared through years of wisdom, books, blogs, and appearances. Consider it inspiration for your own mornings; a reminder that glowing skin doesn’t have to mean complicated steps, just the right ones done well.

Wake Up Early

For Martha, starting the day right means starting it on time. “You do not start your day after 7 a.m.,” she said during her keynote at the ANC Leadership Forum. She herself often rises as early as 4 a.m. to get the day in motion.

But it’s not just about productivity. Rising early also leaves space for mindful rituals—everything from skincare masks to crossword puzzles—that Martha considers just as vital as meetings or projects.

Hydrate and Nourish From the Inside Out

Credit:

Emily Laurae

The first step of Martha’s glow comes in a glass. “I drink my first glass of water at 5 a.m., and during the day I keep a carafe of lemon water within reach,” she shared in Martha Stewart’s Organizing.

She also swears by her green juice, made with produce from her farm: “I make a blend of whatever fresh produce is on hand, much of which I grow at the farm. One of my favorite combinations is spinach, cucumber, parsley, chervil, fresh ginger, and orange peel.”

Think of Skincare as Self-Care

In Living the Good Long Life, Martha shared she begins her morning skincare routine with “a facial mask of collagen or ginkgo,” leaving it on for an hour before her shower. “It leaves my skin very silky.” she explains.

In the shower, she exfoliates: “I wash my entire body with an exfoliant or silicone soap, and then slather moisturizer all over (if I’m feeling lavish, sometimes I’ll use rich facial products on my body).”

Don’t Skirt the Essentials

Credit:

Mariya Borisova / Getty Images

“Clean skin is so important to maintaining one’s healthy appearance,” says Martha. Translation: Never skimp out on the essentials.

“You absolutely must go to sleep with a clean face, to prevent irritation and clogged pores,” she wrote in Living the Good Long Life. She is also strict about sun-care: “If I’m planning to be outside, I always use a moisturizer with sunscreen.”

Invest in the Right Products

While Martha’s routine emphasizes discipline and good habits, she’s also careful about the quality of what she puts on her skin. Your products should work as hard as you do.

Insert your favorites here—Martha herself has never shied away from mixing tried-and-true staples with a few indulgent luxuries. Recently, the entrepreneur co-founded her own science-backed skincare brand, Elm Biosciences, and her longtime makeup artist, Daisy Toye, shared some of her other preferred products on her ShopMY page—including budget-friendly Maybelline mascara and a hydrating lip oil.

Never Miss Morning Movement

Credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Of course, no Martha morning is complete without exercise. “I exercise for an hour every single morning. It’s as if I’ve signed a contract with myself to wake up and get on the treadmill and lift weights. It’s nonnegotiable,” she’s said.

In addition to its numerous health benefits, exercise can boost circulation, reduce stress, and promote better sleep, all of which contribute to brighter, healthier skin.

Embrace P.M. Habits That Support a Morning Glow

Credit: hikesterson / Getty Images

Mornings are set up by what happens the night before. Martha advocates for prepping clothes and bags to avoid the morning scramble, and for winding down with a nightly ritual: “About an hour before your target bedtime, swap out any stimulating or stress-inducing activities (checking your work email) for something more relaxing—knitting, stargazing, reading a book.”

Adequate sleep is, in her eyes, “your best ally in rejuvenating your skin.” She explains, “Just as with other body organs, the skin repairs itself during sleep. And lack of sleep will show up immediately on your face, with dark circles, bags under your eyes, and dull skin. Seven to eight uninterrupted hours are optimal.”

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