Perfect baked potatoes

lilmoi1985lm

I am going to be laughed at but at least im trying to make an effort with my lack of cooking skills. If anyone can tell me how to make a perfect baked potato i will be the happiest woman in the land!

PasturesNew

The main thing is to buy the right TYPE of potato. Often these days you will only know "white" or "red", but a lot of labels do have the actual name in small print on them.

Here's a link promising a perfect baked spud!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/theperfectbakedpotat_67837.shtml

Personally I use any white spud I've got, wash/!!!!! it, bung it in the oven at 200/375... and keep turning it every 20 minutes or so for about 1.5 hours - after this time I start sticking a knife in to see if it's ready... but I am impatient and rarely eat one fully cooked

Also, it seems such a waste to have a whole oven on just for one spud. So I do tend to nuke them for efficiency.

julesgr

I make sure the oven is very hot, score a cross into the potato, rub with a litle oil , put on a baking tray and sprinkle with salt. Takes about 40 mins to 1hr depending on size of spud I just jab them occassionally with a knife to see if soft. Get a fluffy inside with a nice crispy jacket.

odds-n-sods

It depends on what kind of baked potato you like! Crispy skins or not etc. I just wash them and score them in a few spots with a knife and bung them in the oven at 200' until they are cooked, the time depends on the size. About 45 minutes to 1 hour for an average sized potato, but if they aren't cooked when you want them to be, toss them in the micro to finish off.

lilmoi1985lm

I was told not to use foil as it keeps the moisture in...is that right? Got two big mr potato head sized spuds and some left over chilli from last night that was too good th throw out!

julesgr

Foil just makes the skin wet

Bongedone

If you cook it with a metal skewer through the potato it will speed up the cooking time. This is because the skewer transfers the heat into the centre.

I always put them in the microwave for a few minutes 1st to give them a head start. (obviously don't do this with the skewer in it)

dobs

I like mine really crispy and use red or white ones, i just !!!!! them a few times with a fork and leave them in the oven 200 degrees or mark 6 if middle szed then about an hr 15 mins to get them really crispy.

Crazychik

I do cook mine in foil, and then 20 mins before serving, I take them out the foil, put back in the oven, and let them crisp up.
Ive been doing this for years, and was even taught like this when I was a chef in the Army. No complaints! Even my kids eat the skins/jacket!

kittycat07

I tend to put ours in micro for about 8 mins each then put in oven for about 20-30 mins to crisp up if I'm in a hurry. If a bit more time, I just !!!!! the skin about 4 times on each side and put it in the oven at about 160-180 (fan assisted) for an hour or so. Not very sceintific! If they feel soft, I cut one to see if cooked and if not, close it up again and put back in for 10 mins each time. Oven baking IMHO makes them taste far superior to those just done in the micro. Good luck!

sp1964_2

Rub them with olive oil and salt and they will come out super crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.I saw this on Delia Smith show and always get loads of compliments on Bonfire Night when I cook for a crowd.