Jacket potatoes for crowds

[swedishmum]

We're having an 80s party and dh suggested adding jacket potatoes to the menu. Two questions please:
Can I cook ahead and reheat safely? If so, how?
How long and what temp as a guideline if I cook them on the evening of the party but have a whole oven full?

Many thanks. Any alternative suggestions most welcome.

Do you think you could microwave them in batches first of all to part cook them, then just finish them off in the oven?

Are jacket potatoes party food? I'm not sure. A bit too 'sit downy' for a party, non? Potato skins and dip would be better.

If you are doing them in the oven, then you don't really need to adjust the time for multiple.

You can pre-cook and heat again.

I would suggest, however, baking something smaller - a large new potato, for example. It is easier in a fork buffet. Cook the potato and make a cross-like cut. Fill with ready made dip (eg onion/garlic).

For 80's party I'd be doing fondue, cheese n pineapple hedgehogs andother nibblies on cocktail sticks, vol-au-vents, scotch eggs, trifle...?

Jacket potatoes for lots of people might prove difficult, I spose you'd just have to cook dozens of them on a few oven trays, for ages, a couple of hours before the party, then keep them on a v low light til people were ready to eat. Messy though, better for a small party perhaps.

80's oarty sounds awesome though! Do you own anything with shoulderpads?

That is 70s, Violet

You could do twice baked ones as finger food if it's easier, actually. Bake loads of medium szed spuds, mash flesh with salt, pepper, butter and cheese, or cheese n bacon, or cheese n mushroom, etc, pile back in the halved shells and bake again. When they're cool enough people should be able to eat them with fingers unless they're floppy/overfilled.

Is it? (I was born in 1981!) lol

I'll get me coat.

If you cook loads wrap in foil to keep warm a pile stay warm for ages.

Violet's idea of twice baked ones is very good - they will be much easier to eat. Eighties party sounds fab - the eighties was all big plates and small portions wasn't it?

Stupid computer! Thanks for the replies - I've been trying to post but my internet connection keeps going off.
Filled potatoes sound the best option by far so I'll do that. Did 70s last year Violet - loved wandering around in a green maxi dress and bad make up offering vol au vents around!