How to cook Jacket Potato / Potatoes

Asking someone how they cook a jacket potato can result in different responses. Some will say in the microwave, others will say in the oven wrapped up in tinfoil, and perhaps some will mention being covered in coarse salt (to make extra crunchy) amongst various suggestions.

I like to keep it simple and have a good solid crunchy skin on my jacket potatoes with a well cooked inside. I don’t think it is wise adding salt, for health reasons.

The type of potato does make a difference, but jacket potatoes should be an opportunity for a cheap meal, so I just use whatever the value potatoes are available at the time from Tesco (a UK supermarket). Sometimes I get some huge fantastic potatoes, other times small. Though I guess I could always buy big baking potatoes, but that is more expensive.

 

How I prepare and cook jacket potatoes

Step 1 – Clean thoroughly under cold water.

I always wash potatoes before cooking them. This removes any debris, plus is more hygienic.

 

Step 2 – Gently stab the potato with a fork.

I will gently stab a potato around six times with a fork! I will push the fork in some way. I will stab four times around the potato and one time at each end. I will happily admit I’m probably stabbing too much, but I like the results, so sticking with what I know.

 

Step 3 – Preheat the oven.

I seriously don’t have a clue whether this makes a difference, but I preheat the oven for five minutes before cooking. I put the oven on at gas mark 5 (190 Celsius).

 

Step 4 – Cook the potato.

I then place the potato on an oven tray, not wrapped in tinfoil and cook for sixty minutes until it looks cooked. It is not an exact science with jacket potatoes due to their different sizes. So the larger the potato, expect it to take a lot longer. Generally speaking the softer the outside, the harder the inside, so I cook until the skin is crispy, to maximise the inside being softer.

 

What I eat with a jacket potato.

I quite like grated cheddar cheese and baked beans with jacket potatoes. My favourite dish with jacket potatoes these days is a salad, sometimes accompanied by garlic mushrooms. Though I guess a vegetarian chilli beanfeast (beanfeast is a product name) would go well with a jacket potato and a salad.

How do you like to cook your jacket potatoes? What vegetarian food do you eat with a jacket potato?