Help me to cook the perfect jacket potato

[IAAP]

Ideally via the microwave.

I have a lovely microwave / combination oven.

Never ever used the combi bit and don’t know where to start with it.

Followed standard online recipe

Tesco baking potato
Fork all over
5-7 minutes in the microwave
It’s cooked - but not yummy

Our fave is Tuna Mayo - have tuna mix with Mayo -

It just doesn’t taste anything like the jp in our local garden centre or coffee shop

Both of them love jp but say the home one is not the same??!!

Help

I’ve tasted it and it isn’t the same.

How do you do the perfect jacket ? Is it possible in the microwave? Or does it have to be oven??

Help us find the perfect method

Microwave first for 5 - 10 minutes depending on size of potato. Then brush with olive oil, sprinkle with flaked salt, bake to crispen.

I do microwave for 6 minutes then 35 mins in the oven at 200°C

But they always seem to taste slightly metallic, not quite sure why.

No idea about the combination bit, but you need the oven to dry them out. Microwave will never get a proper skin on it.

I buy the ready cooked frozen ones

Got an air fryer?
Micro then fryer for five gives the crispy skin.

@PlausibleSuit

I do microwave for 6 minutes then 35 mins in the oven at 200°C

But they always seem to taste slightly metallic, not quite sure why.

Could it be the type of tin foil, or do you not use that?

I have been known to microwave first. But you can always tell in my opinion.

I prick them a few times, make sure they are dry, put a teeny bit of oil on my hands and rub it over the potatoes. Then I bake for 90 mins at 200 degrees. Then I cut them in half, scoop out the potato, mash them with butter, cheese, pepper and spring onions

Then I re-stuff the potatoes with the filling and whack them back in the oven for 20 mins.

Heaven

[Obviously you can't do this after a long day at work ... Put it's a perfect meal when you are WFH]

You don’t have to microwave them, that’s true. I only do it that way to make it quicker. Not sure why given that I’m perfectly happy to wait 4 or 5 hours for lots of slow cook dishes and roasts...I guess it’s because jacket potatoes is one of my go-to quick and easy dinners.

So ready made baked potatoes - I didn’t even know it was such a thing.

Those of you that oven cook? Prick or cut and cover in foil or not? Oil or butter or salt ? Argh!!

If just doing in the oven, I pierce them a few times (you do not want an exploding potato situation) and then rub with oil and salt. No foil. Butter has too low a smoking point.

I very lightly carve a cross into the skin on the too of each potato. Serves the same purpose of the pricking with a fork, makes it easy to squeeze the spud to open it up for liberal application of butter, etc. Coat the surface in oil and sprinkle with salt.

Will definitely be trying the microwave followed by air fryer trick!!

I prick then bung in the oven. No foil, oil or anything else.

I think the biggest factor in the perfect jacket is the type of potato used in the first place. I like a good King Edward or a Maris Piper.

Lightly spray with oil.
Generous salt and pepper
Fork and put in oven for the time it says on the packet
Turn halfway.

The oil and salt are critical.

Ideally just use oven. Prick a few times with a fork. I don't put oil or salt on. If in a hurry, microwave for 6 or 7 minutes first, but they aren't quite as good. Using only the microwave produces bleurgh potatoes - I wouldn't bother tbh.

prick a few times with a fork 5 mins in microwave and then in the fan oven at 180 until skin is crispy

I think the potato type is key too to achieve fluffiness and needs tinned tuna with loads of sweet corn and Mayo

I just wash and throw them into the oven. Don’t even bother pricking. Ignore for an hour and then they’re done. Come out super crunchy skinned and fluffy inside. What could be easier?

It really related but I made jacket potato soup the other day which was so so delicious!

@Quornflakegirl

It really related but I made jacket potato soup the other day which was so so delicious!

Please I beg of you tell me more

No microwave. Pop them on a skewer to reduce baking time. Rub in olive oil salt and pepper before baking.

I was going to say also use a skewer. It draws the heat into the centre straight away and really makes a difference to cooking time.

Microwave are vile.
Thats why they are called Baked Potatoes

Prick, oil, salt, oven only and for 20 minutes longer than they strictly need.

Take them out, wrap your hand VERY WELL - and I cannot stress how much I mean very well - in a clean tea-towel, punch the potato open. Makes it fluffy.

Butter. All the butter.

Thank you all - some new methods to try!

You need a good baking potato to start with, the variety is important. For maximum fluffiness get some that are labelled as baking spuds. You do not want waxy, salad or Charlotte-type potatoes in this instance.
Bake in the oven for one to two hours depending on the size of the potato. Microwaves are not your friend here.
But before that, scrub the potatoes well unless they're organic. Scrub them anyway. (Some have weird stuff sprayed on them so that they store well. )
No foil. Oil optional, but salt is essential for a good crisp skin, rubbed into the still damp potato. I don't prick them but if time is short I put a metal skewer all the way through each spud to conduct the heat right into the potato.

Yeah, it's a faff. Kind of rums counter to the whole quick and easy BP ethos.