How to cook a Jacket potato

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This is just how to cook jacket potatoes.

I will keep these methods short as there are a couple of ways to do this.

Baking them is a popular method; however, you can also make them in a microwave which is faster but not typically considered “baked” as they are microwave.

Microwave instructions

  • Wash potato thoroughly, pat dry, and pierce 3 to 4 times with a fork.
  • Place potato on microwave-safe plate and microwave 7 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking.
  • If your potato isn’t fork tender after 7 minutes, continue microwaving in 1 minute increments.
  • Let rest for 2 minutes. 
  • Split potato down the middle, season however you would like to.

Oven Baking instructions:

Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 45 mins Total Time 50 mins Serving 1 potato Yield 1 to 6 potatoes

Use potatoes of any size for this recipe, but make sure they are russets, which bake up nice and fluffy and starchy. Potatoes weighing 6 to 8 ounces will take 35 to 45 minutes, while potatoes between 14 and 16 ounces can take an hour or longer.

We suggest using a non-stick pan when baking as you don’t want your potatoes sticking.

Method

  1. Preheat the oven: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 200°C.
  2. Wash and dry the potatoes: Wash the potatoes and dry them with a kitchen towel. If they have big eyes or tiny sprouts, dig those out (the tip of a potato peeler is the best tool for the job).
  3. Pierce some steam holes: Pierce each potato all over 10-12 times with a cutlery fork.
  4. Bake the potatoes: Set the potatoes on a wire rack set over a baking tray (or, if your oven racks are clean, directly on the rack). The rack helps air circulate for even baking. If you are baking a lot of potatoes, don’t crowd them on the baking sheet; they’ll steam if crowded. Bake until you can easily slide a fork or skewer into the center of the potato, 30 to 60 minutes. The baking time will depend on the size of your potatoes. They’re done when the skins are slouchy and wrinkled. You may even hear a slight hissing sound, or see tiny bubbles coming from one of the poke holes. If you squeeze one, it should yield to the pressure of your fingers easily, and quite likely crack open a little. If the potato is still hard, keep baking it until it’s done.
  5. Serve: To serve, pierce the center of a potato with a fork and pry it open to expose its soft and fluffy potato. Season and top as you like.

These are 2 methods that are reasonable for making Jacket potatoes.