The Perfect Jacket Potato

[hammerman]

Need your input, bonfire night approaching, lovely soft inner, crispy skin.

How do you do yours?

[Tilly2]

Microwave for fifteen minutes, oven for twenty.

[janzman]

Almost agree Tilly2. Priick all over with a fork then rub with butter then microwave 15 and oven for twenty minutes

[Jackdaw33]

What power micro?

[Tilly2]

Medium, Jackdaw.

[melv16]

Boil them first for about 15mins, then give them a good prick. Put them in a low oven for two hours. The slower you cook spuds the better.

[Tilly2]

Two hours.......?

[melv16]

After they've cooked you can scoop out the potato, mash it with butter and cheese, then stick them under the grill to brown.

[Tilly2]

I did that in school, in Domestic Science. My mum loved them. Not done it since.

[melv16]

The slower the better, tilly. I got this method off a Royal Navy chef.

[Goodsoulette]

Prick with a fork. Brush with olive oil and then sea salt and pepper.
About 190 degrees for an hour and a half (depends on the size of the spud).
Desiree potatoes are good for jackets.
Open them quickly to avoid the steam spoiling them.

[Tilly2]

Rule Britannia!

No way will I use my oven for two hours. The cost!

[rockyracoon]

Nigel Slater's way is the best

Wet the spud, pour salt over it and bung it in the oven on a high heat for about an hour, depending on size. Totally crispy and incredibly fluffy.

[Tilly2]

Each to their own, I think.

[Mamyalynne]

Nor would I Tilly.

Pierce skin, full bore in microwave till soft to the skewer, depends on how many and size for timings.

Oven on full power meanwhile.

Whilst still hot brush with oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

Cook on rack in oven for 10 minutes till skins crisp and crackly.

[Mamyalynne]

The only way I'd use my oven for them is if I were catering for large numbers.

[melv16]

The best ones I've tasted are those that are done in my mates Aga...slowly, slowly catchee monkey.

[Tilly2]

We had a Rayburn, when I was a child. Those jacket potatoes were heavenly!
Then again I was only a child. What did I know?

[Old_Geezer]

I must try all these methods. I've yet to find a perfect one. The auto baked spud option on my combi does a decent job, but not perfect.

[Mamyalynne]

Best I've ever eaten were as a child, Dad put them in the embers of the bonfire.

[-SharonA-]

Do them in the oven for crispy skins and fluffy insides for 2 hours. I put t a metal skewer through my spuds.