How to make the perfect jacket potato
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Mashed, boiled, fried or baked, the humble potato has become a staple in British cuisine. This versatile starchy root vegetable features in many recipes, or as a standalone meal.
One in particular that appears to be a fan favourite at the moment is the much-loved jacket potato. Otherwise known as a baked potato, this recipe can be adapted to suit your favourite flavours and textures.
In fact, food experts from food box delivery company, HelloFresh say jacket potatoes are having their moment as a top choice for lunches and dinners across the country, as Google searches for “how to make the perfect jacket potato” have increased by more than 5,000% across the UK in the last 30 days. Not only that, but #Spudtok is dominating social media platforms, with 180.8 million posts on TikTok.
It also seems that Brits are keen to learn new ways to cook their favourite form of potato, as Google searches for “how long do you cook a jacket potato in the oven” and “how to do a jacket potato in the air fryer” have also increased by over 5,000% in the same time period.
With this in mind, Senior Recipe Development Manager, Mimi Morley, from HelloFresh reveals common cooking mistakes you could be making at home when it comes to the beloved jacket potato.
The perfect jacket potato – Skipping the all-important prep
Before you can achieve the perfectly crisp exterior and fluffy insides that make a jacket potato so delicious, the experts warn to not skip the all-important preparation.
Firstly, wash your potatoes by rinsing under cold water and scrub with either your hands or a brush to remove any dirt. Once you’ve done this, make sure to thoroughly dry the potato all over, this is the trick to getting an extra crispy skin.
The perfect jacket potato – Piercing the skin
The food experts recommend pricking the potato skin all over with either a fork or a knife. Just be sure to lay the potato flat on a surface to avoid any accidents! You want each poke to be a few centimetres into the potato to help steam escape when cooking.
The perfect jacket potato – Spud seasoning
The experts say the trick to a perfect baked potato is not to overcomplicate the seasoning of your spud. Before cooking, lather the skin in a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle it with salt flakes. You want the flavours of your toppings to shine, so keep the seasoning to a minimum.
The perfect jacket potato – Keep the potato unwrapped
According to the experts, wrapping your potato in tin foil could lead to a soggy skin due to trapped moisture and steam. For best results, lay your potato flat on an oven tray or in the air fryer or microwave.
Expert approved cooking method
While there are merits in each cooking method, the food experts at HelloFresh suggest that for best results, opt for the microwave, followed by crisping up in the air fryer or oven. This will ensure the soft, fluffy insides are kept hydrated, while the skin turns crispy, thanks to the fan circulating hot air around the potato.
