Microwaving jackets Potatoes - help needed!

ivyleaf

Please could you nice people tell me how to cook jacket potatoes in the microwave? It's got to be cheaper than having the oven on for ages! My MW user manual is useless. I bought a MW Potato Baker thingie from Betterware (its a thing that sits on the turntable and you impale the spuds on its spikes!), but it doesn't come with instructions - obviously not meant for customers as thick as me

The highest setting on my MW is 800 watts.

Thanks in advance!

Ivyleaf.

P.S. Catznine, I tried to PM you as a fellow CFS person but your box needs clearing. All the best anyway!

juno

We sorta do them half and half. You !!!!!! them like you normally would, then microwave on high for about 5-10 mins. Then, we put them in the oven to finish off.

ivyleaf

Thanks so much for the quick reply! How long do you put them in the oven for, and what temp/gas mark? It sounds the ideal solution, as I know they don't crisp up in the MW.

cheekymole

Gas5/6 to crisp them for about 15/20 minutes

juno

Until they look cooked or you get bored, whichever comes first. The longer you do them in the microwave the less time they want in the oven. It's not an exact thing, so play about until you're happy.

I do them at 200*C, but then I do everything at that temperature.

ivyleaf

Thanks so much to you both, I didn't expect to get such quick replies! Should I put a bit of oil on them before they go in the "real" oven, or are they okay without?

MrsMondragon

Another idea (though I havent tried it), is to parboil the potatoes in a pressure cooker, then microwave for a bit and then finish off in an oven.
I think this might be the cheapest option.

Jay-Jay_4

Spuds take between 4 and 8 minutes EACH in the micro, depending on size.

!!!!!! them all over and micro for 4 mins then turn them over and give them a squeeze. If they're still rock hard then another 4 mins. If they feel a bit soft then 2 mins. Keep stopping and squeezing them before cooking for another few mins.

When they're soft then you can put them in the oven on full blast to crisp the skins. Turn them around after 5 mins. They should take about 10 mins in a hot oven for a really crispy skin.

You don't need oil on them but if you really like to eat the skins and want them extra tasty then rub olive oil on and pat some sea salt into the skin before putting in the oven (not before you put them in the micro though)

cheekymole

I always do mine in the oven and put a bit of butter around them first - helps to crisp them up, so yes, you could try it

cheekymole

Try the fry light spray, that should work wonders

clark.ar

the chef from our local pub told us the best way to make Jackets.

do a batch of 5 - 7 spuds, the large ones from a bag. !!!!!! them n microwave them for 5 minutes and then bake them in the oven for 30 minutes at 200.

you can then wrap them in tin foil and freeze them. when we need some, we leave them out for a few hours and put them in the micro for 3 mins. nice n fluffy potato!