1 day Ago By Claire Schofield
The humble potato is one of the most versatile kitchen ingredients that can be transformed into a tasty dish by boiling, frying, mashing or baking . But one of the most popular ways to enjoy it is in jacket form - baked in the oven, sliced open and filled with a delicious topping . While the choice of filling is what really completes the dish, getting the potato cooked right is all important.
Food experts say jacket potatoes should be deliciously crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle, but achieving that winning combination can be difficult. Overcooking the potato to get the outside crispy will often result in a tough, hard centre, so there’s a delicate balance to be struck when cooking. But experts say there is a very simple way to achieve a crispy jacket potato skin every time - and the secret is actually in the preparation of the potato, not in the cooking.
To achieve a perfectly crispy skin, it’s important to first wash potatoes in cold water to scrub away any dirt and then thoroughly dry it afterwards. If your potato isn’t dried properly before it’s baked in the oven then the moisture will prevent the skin from becoming wonderfully crisp. Senior Recipe Development Manager Mimi Morley, from HelloFresh, explains: “Before you can achieve the perfectly crisp exterior and fluffy insides that make a jacket potato so delicious, don’t skip the all-important preparation.
“Firstly, wash your potatoes by rinsing under cold water and scrub with either your hands or a brush to remove any dirt. Once you’ve done this, make sure to thoroughly dry the potato all over - this is the trick to getting an extra crispy skin.” Once you’ve washed and dried your potatoes, food experts say you should prick the potato skin all over with a fork to help steam escape when cooking and then drizzle it with a little olive oil and salt.
Adding salt to the potato before baking not only gives a kick of flavour, but it also helps to draw out moisture which will help achieve a crispier skin. When cooking, it’s also important to leave the potato unwrapped as encasing it in tin foil will trap moisture, leading to a soggy texture. Experts at HelloFresh say the microwave will achieve the best cooking results, followed by using the oven or air fryer to crisp up the skin.
Ms Morley adds: “This will ensure the soft, fluffy insides are kept hydrated, while the skin turns crispy, thanks to the fan circulating hot air around the potato.”.
