The jacket potato is a quick fix staple and a go-to favourite lunch at cafés, canteens and family kitchens due to being delicious, satisfying and with no end of topping options. Filling and economical, jacket potatoes are perfect for budget-friendly meals and should be a staple meal in your recipe repertoire. Here are our top tips on how to cook a jacket potato perfectly. We also throw in a few of our own tasty recipes for good measure.
You’ll want to use fluffy potatoes to get the most out of your jacket potatoes. Fluffy potatoes usually come in larger sizes and are the best for conjuring up that lovely light consistency you want from a jacket potato. Supermarkets usually stock ‘baking potatoes’ but if you’re seeking out a specific type then Maris Piper or Kind Edwards are good choices.
(L - R: Maris Piper, King Edward, Yukon Gold)
This one is really a matter of time! Microwaved jacked potatoes certainly have their conveniences if you’re in a rush or looking to rustle up a quick meal – hey presto! However, if you want a perfect creation, the more time you give it the better and that’s usually when it’s created in the context of using the oven. Increased time in the oven allows you to create that beautiful opposition of fluffy centres and crispy golden skins.
In fact, using a combination of both the microwave and oven can be the best option – it sheds some of the time but still delivers impressive end results. (And let’s not forget you can buy frozen jacket potatoes which can be on the table in 5minutes!).
Potato quantity |
Microwave cooking time 900W oven |
Oven time 220°C / 200°C Fan, Gas Mark 7 |
1 |
4-5 mins |
10-15 mins |
2 |
5-6 mins |
10-15 mins |
4 |
8-10 mins |
Rinse and prick your potatoes as mentioned above. Refer to your microwave handbook for specific cooking times for your wattage oven, but below are a few guidelines based on a 900-watt oven. It’s only a guide and depends on the potato size too. Always remember to turn your spuds half-way during cooking.
Potato quantity |
Microwave cooking time 900W oven |
1 |
6-7 mins on HIGH |
2 |
8-9 mins on HIGH |
4 |
Preheat the oven to 200°C, 180°C Fan, Gas Mark 6. Prep your potatoes as above, omitting step 3 and place on the middle shelf of the oven. It'll take 1 hour - 1 hour 20 minutes if you're cooking only in the oven.
In the morning, simply wash and prick your potatoes all over, rub with a little oil, season and wrap in foil. Place in a slow cooker, cover and leave them to cook for 4-6 hours on HIGH or 8-10 hours on LOW (or adjust timings to suit your specific slow cooker). They won’t have a crispy skin, but the filling is just like they came out of the oven!
The BBQ is another great cooking medium for spuds and will complement dishes cooked on the BBQ too. Simply preheat your BBQ. Wash and prick potatoes all over, rub with a little oil and season. For multiple potatoes, thread onto long metal skewers and add to the BBQ, placing towards the edge so that they are over indirect heat. Cover with the BBQ lid. Cook for 30-40 minutes, turning halfway through, until crispy and golden brown. Slice open and load up with the toppings of your choice.
The jacket potato is a fantastic base for a wide range of different toppings and can be personalised to your taste. To make a full meal out of the jacket itself, you can rustle up all manner of toppings from scratch or just grab some everyday essentials such as cheese and beans. Leftovers also work well for the ultimate convenience! Alternatively, you may just want to butter it up as a side dish to a meal. For a few of our favourites check out our jacket potato collection.
Cooked jacket potatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. If storing in the freezer let the cooked jacket potatoes cool, then wrap in foil, transfer to a food container and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 200°C, 180°C Fan, Gas Mark 6 for 40 minutes, or alternatively reheat in the microwave (according to your manufacturer's handbook).
Browse our jacket potato collection for classic combos, tasty recipe twists or ideas on using up leftovers. You can also check out all our recipes to find your next favourite potato recipe.
Whether they are served up with sausages or mixed up with cheese and spinach, mashed potatoes are a spud staple that are super versatile and delicious. Everyone has their own preference when it comes to the texture – some prefer it smooth and buttery whilst others prefer it rustic and chunky. Whatever your preference, we just want you to get them right!
That’s why we thought we would share some tips on how to make mashed potatoes and get them perfect every time!
We think you’ll agree when we say there’s not much better than a crispy, fluffy, piping-hot roast potato on your plate. Spuds are an essential part of any roast and getting them right can make or break the meal! With this in mind we thought it would be a good idea to have a look at a few tips on how to make perfect and delicious roast potatoes.
Put on the oven, whack on some music and let’s get roasting!
As far as cooking skills go, boiling potatoes is not perhaps the most adventurous, but what they lack in glamour they more than make up for in versatility and usefulness! Whether you’re boiling some up for a salad or serving as a simple side-dish with garlic butter, you’ll want to make sure you get them just right!
Twice-baked might sound complicated, but these guys are a doddle to whip up, and well worth it at the end.
Simple ingredients mixed together make one tasty result.
Fluffy baked potato with a 'bonfire' topping of melted cheese, bacon, kidney beans, spring onion and a touch of smokey paprika.