Jacket Potatoes - best way to cook - conflicting advice!!!

I ve never seen the poiint of rubbing them with anything. i find that an hour at 220, then half an hour at 150 gives perfect results (for large ones)

I always just bung them in the oven on a hot heat and leave until crispy/soft when poked. If I'm in a rush I'll microwave them first for a few minutes and then finish in the over. I've never rubbed them with anything. Good potatoes are the key!

I cheat. 10 mins in the microwave, then 20 mins in the oven to crisp the skin. Nothing rubbed in, but slashed with a knife to prevent explosions.

Thanks Nick, do you do them in foil?

Don't wrap in foil, my MIL does this and they don't crisp up at all. Never use a microwave.

I have experimented with straigt into the oven vs straight into the oven smeared with olive oil and a bit of sea salt and I prefer the oil/salt version, but both are good.

Totally what Pooch said.

Although I noticed on Big Cook Little Cook this morning they rubbed the skins with oil to make the crispy. No wonder kids are obese ?

No not in foil - they ll never crisp up if you do that. lillys version works, but you dont get that super crunchy outside, and really fluffy inside. choice of potato is vital as well, if you do it with a waxy potato you ll never get great results. maris piper or king edward are best.

Thank you for all your replies. I shall just prick them and stick them in the oven, 3pm ish should be ok to eat about 5.30pm shouldn't it?

I just stab them a few times with a fork and then put them in the oven for an hour and half at 200-220 and they are usually very crispy and tasty!

to me, rubbing oil on them is akin to rubbing oil on the fat of a pork loin - its overkill and not neccessary if the oven is hot enough in the first place.

Generally I wash, stab with fork all over, rub with olive oil and some salt then bung in hot oven (220ish) for a little over an hour. Seems to work for me ?

Good luck with the cooking, you never know if your H gets this job you might find yourself even enjoying learning to cook!

WPS! Best way absolutely!

I prick the skin a few times with the point of a knife to stop them exploding, then rub the skin with a bit of olive oil and put salt on them. Not sure if it helps the skin crisp up or not, but it seems to taste a bit nicer.

Then I shove them in the oven at 220 for about an hour and a half, although I find that if I shove a metal skewer through the middle they'll be done in an hour.

Better quality potatoes are much nicer though.

they might be a bit chewy!!! Put them in at 4pm to eat at 5.30. As Nick said for temps (or I'd forget to turn them down, so tend to put them on 200 and leave them).

The nicest way is to prick potato, rub in some olive oil and pop in hot oven for about hour plus til centre nice and soft

For speed, i prick potatoes and pop in microwave for about 5 mins and put in hot oven for half an hour to get nice and crispy.

Have fun

xx

I forgot about the skewer thing - good if you're pressed fortime.

He's home now, interview went well, so fingers crossed.

I have said I am doing the tea tonight (he looked at me as if I had gone funny lol). I will do the jackets at 4pm, thank you so much for all your help. If he gets this job I know where I will be coming with all my cooking questions!!

Thanks again