Is removal of the "eyes" on a potato necessary before you bake them?

No, but many eyes on a potato are both unsightly and hard to bite into.

No – I would just scrub it well.

I recommend removing them because they contain a toxin called solanine which forms in the sprouts and green parts. “The Michigan State University’s Food Domain warns against eating potato eyes because they contain a high concentration of solanine.”

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/483791-are-potatoes-with-the-eye-toxic/#ixzz1xQLW1BwN

Yes, @BosM !

Thanks @BosM ! ! I could not remember what chemical it was, they were scrubbed and “eyes” removed. They were huge Russet potatoes.

Baked potatoes need to have some vent cut into them or the skins might explode. Cutting out an eye or two will do it, but _all of them isn’t necessary. I usually cut out the place where the stem was. You can also use a fork to vent them. If I’m going to stuff and rebake them (Twice baked potatoes) I make fork marks along their mid-line where I’ll be cutting them to take out the insides to mash, season, and stuff them.

Nah. You just want to get all the woody parts out of the potatoes for no reason other than it gives people a “WTH??” moment. Won’t hurt them, though. Skins are fine.