To ask how to make a jacket potato?

[redpedal]

I'm 27 and have never cooked a jacket potato

I want to make one for tea, how do I get it really crispy but fluffy on the inside? Oven or air fryer? Foil or no foil? Microwave first or not?

So many questions! Please can somebody tell me how I can bake it to perfection?

Normal cooking time in oven is about 1hr 15 or 20 the bit in the microwave chops off alot of the cooking time - I would question if it even needs 45 mins to be honest would do about 25. Just done in the microwave is v boring and not crispy etc.

If you have the oven on put a few in and fridge them for lunches etc - just need a warm through then in oven

I can’t afford to have my oven on for hours to make the perfect oven cooked jacket potato.

I get the McCains and cook for 3/4 mins in the microwave, I then spray with olive oil fry light and rub with sea salt and cook in the air fryer oven on 200c for 15-20 mins.

it’s usually perfect and using fry light rather then oil means it’s healthy and doesn’t spit oil that needs cleaning in the air fryer.

I struggle to believe anyone would take a soft skin over a crispy one with a fluffy potato inside.
it’s like eating an untoasted crumpet or pop tart!

Love a jacket. I wish spud u like was still around. It's gone in my town anyway.

I do the 5 mins (per spud) in microwave and 15 minutes in air fryer method. Rub with olive oil and salt after the microwave. Must be Maris Piper for a really fluffy inside and crispy skin.

Alternatively the McaCain ones are excellent and I always have a box in the freezer for emergencies. Never just microwave wave them though, always give a few minutes in airfryer.

Favourite toppings - cottage cheese or beans and cheese.

When I have time I cut in half, scoop out the innards and mix with cheese, butter, chives and black pepper. Then load back into the skins and grill.

@GoogleWhacking

I have been a die hard olive oil and salty skin jacket potato cooker in the big oven for as long as it takes.

My oven has been on the fritz and I wasn't getting on with air fryer spuds.

Your advice = game changer!
(plus another poster who said to wet the spuds - sorry, I did look but couldn't find your name)

I put a cm of water in the drawer of my air fryer and for good measure ran the spud under the tap (after making a criss cross).

I did 60m on 190c air fryer ........ the most perfect jackets ever! Actually perfect!

Why would water make crispy! Revelation!

Thank you x

@llamptabletv yay. I'm so glad someone tried it and agrees with me. It is really counterintuitive but somehow works! I haven't tried it in the air fryer though, so will try that. 😁 I'm also very humbled that you took my advice out of all the others!!! 🤣

Get a decent potato first, I like the Albert Bartlett ones with the yellow flesh. Pop it in the combi microwave on Jacket Potato setting. Soft inside, crispy outside, bit of butter, grated cheese and coleslaw, job done.

This is how I do mine too.

I do mine in the microwave (between 3-5 minutes each 'side').

Then I shove it under the grill for a few minutes to brown/crisp it off nicely.

Microwave for 10-15 mins (pierce potato as is porous) then put in dish / on tray in oven and coat / toss with oil and salt and pepper and cook in oven reasonably high temp (180-200) until crispy, doesn't usually take too long. No foil or anything.

Don't mess, just chuck them straight into the oven on gas mark 4 for 2-2.5 hrs depending on size.

Serve with lots of real butter and filling of choice.