Jacket potatoes are a classic and versatile meal, perfect for pairing with a variety of flavours. Many enjoy their spuds topped with baked beans, tuna and sweetcorn, salad, or melted cheese. However, the lengthy cooking time can be a deterrent, especially for larger potatoes that can take up to an hour in the oven. For those seeking a particularly crispy skin, the cooking time may even extend further.
While air fryers have been recommended as a quicker alternative, not everyone has access to this appliance. Now, an expert has revealed a simple two-step method to cut down your jacket potato's cooking time without sacrificing its golden, crispy skin.
Debra Hutt, showroom development and design director at Wren Kitchens, shared: "Using just the oven to cook a jacket potato can take around 30-40 minutes, however, there is a trick to reduce the cooking time but still have a crispy finish.". He advised: "Preheat the oven to 200C and using a fork, prick the potato all over. This step allows steam to escape during cooking and prevents the potatoes from bursting. Microwave it for five minutes and remove before rinsing the potato again and rubbing the skin with a little olive oil or melted butter.
"This process helps the skin crisp up and enhances its flavour Finally, bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes." Be cautious when handling the baked potato skin as it will likely be extremely hot when it comes out of the oven. Cover your jacket potato with your preferred filling or topping, reports the Express. Some crowd-pleasers include butter, cheese, sour cream, gravy and baked beans.
