jacket potatoes

[manathu]

What is the best way to cook jacket potatoes, and what is your favourite filling?

[saxy_jag]

Baked in the oven so the skin goes hard. Cut a cross in the top and squish up the inside. Butter. Grated cheese and tinned sweetcorn - enough so you can't see the spud any more.

And you have to eat the skin when you've done, 'cause that's the best bit.

[jiggy-gb]

I agree with you saxy_jag, definitely well done skins, and save them for the end with a blob of butter! Though in this weather, i start them off in the microwave, 15mins full whack, then into a red hot oven, as hot as poss but only for a further 15mins, switch it off and leave them for about 10 mins while you get your filling ready. It just saves on heat in the kitchen when the weather's hot!
Fav filling has to be beans, then cheese, then coleslaw.

[missmuppet]

Cook in an oven on 200 for 1hour, no foil, best filling has to be egg mayo and cheese, cheese on first so it melts then egg mayo on top. The combination of hot and cold is lovely.

[ermintrude35]

..prick the skins with a fork, lightly rub the skins with a little oil, sprinkle with salt cook in the oven ( never in a microwave ...yuck soggy!) ...serve with real butter and the best vintage cheddar..... drool

[Goodsoulette]

I agrre with ermintrude the oil ans salt gives them a reall crispy skin.

[Hellion]

We always cut our jackets in half rather than the cross on the top method....only because we like spreading the two halves butter and eating them at the end like a sandwich..yum!
Best filling has to be the simplest butter and grated cheese.

[Pippa68]

I start mine in the microwave too..then finish them off to a crisp in the oven.

Cut a cross in the top, squeeze the sides together to open, then fill with butter topped off with chilli con carne :o)

[maimai]

You know this is the one place that Delia (normally can't take her) comes into her own. It takes a bit of time but there is nothing worse than a soggy, wet, non-fluffy potato. here goes:
Wash and allow to dry as much as possible (use clean tea towel)
Prick skin with fork, rub a few drops of oil all over skin, then some crushed salt. (draws out moisture so more crunchy skin).
Bake on centre shelf preheated to 5, 375 (190) for 1.35-2 hrs. NOW can eat straight away with butter etc OR MORE AMAZING-
- Cut in half, scoop out centres of spuds into a bowl with
- 40g Boursin,
- 1 tablesppon milk or cream
- salt and black pepper
put back in skins with some clean diced leeks on top followed by grated cheddar and cook for a futher 20 minutes the cheese / heat cooks the leeks. I sometimes put chives or spring onions in. Takes a long time but is stunning - esp if you are using oven anyway. And teh skin is SOOO crispy.

[wonderwoman1]

rub skins with olive oil and salt, bake in the oven for an hour until really crispy, fill with butter, cheese and soured cream.........yummmm!!! well i know what i'm having for dinner!!

[shaneystar2]

We had jacket spuds last night for dinner..I prick the skins rub them with salt and olive and bake them in the oven until cooked ...depending on the size .
We had a variety of stuff on the table to put in them ..as we have one veggie in the family.
Coleslaw,tuna mixed with spring onions and sweetcorn with mayo,grated cheese,baked beans,sour cream and chives and loads of butter of course !

[freak_unique]

Mmm i had this today my fave meal!!! I prick the potatoes with a fork and bake in oven until skins crispy. Take out and chop in half and mash in butter, sprinkle some grated cheese, baked beans and cottage cheese and coldslaw mmmm (tempted to have them again hehe)

[shaneystar2]

The potato skin contains most of the potato's fibre, and many of the nutrients are in the skin.
Potatoes are part of the deadly nightshade family..they contain someting called solanine which protects them against blight.
The amount of solanine is harmless to us unless the potatoes are exposed to too much sunlight when they will turn green .
If they are green don't eat them ..simple as that ..otherwise tuck in.As long as they are washed thoroughly the skins are safe to eat
.We used to eat them ..skins and all. ...years ago .
We used to shove them in the fire on Bonfire night .
Now that's a proper jacket potato !

[Plocket]

I score the potato right the way round and then microwave for about 10 or 15 minutes depending on how many I'm cooking. I alway sit them on a couple of pieces of kitchen roll too. While they are being zapped I heat the oven to mega-hot. After the spuds have been microwaved I put butter on the outside (which is a bit of a juggling act because they are so hot!) and then cook them for about 15 minutes in the hot oven until the skins are crispy. My fave filling is butter and coleslaw, but I also like tuna mayo for a more filling meal, or just butter and cheese (red Leicester preferably). Yummy!

[Cheekystar]

rub olive oil over them and sea salt cook them for around 60 mins mmmmm

[sue11]

Reading all these answers is making me hungry! I make what I call my pizza potatoes. While the potatoes are cooking, take one onion and chop. Fry this in a saucepan in a little butter or oil. Add a tin of chopped tomatoes and some tomato puree and garlic to taste. If you like a sweeter mixture add some sugar, I add about 3 teaspoons, but then I have a bit of a sweet tooth! Simmer this mixture down until it is a bit thicker, about 10 minutes but don�t get it too dry as the idea is that the tomatoes will soak into the potatoes.
Once the potatoes are ready, cut them into 4 being careful not to burn your fingers as you cut them open! Spread the mixture over the top and add whatever topping you fancy, but ham and (precooked) mushrooms goes well. Finally sprinkle plenty of grated cheese over the top and then put the dish in a hot oven about 150 to 170, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbling. This dish goes well as an accompliment to a barbeque or salad, but I also make it instead of having chips with a meal.

[Wee Kaz]

Miss Muppet, a girl after my own heart. I thought I was the only one who like egg mayo and cheese, glad I'm not the only one. God I could really go a baked potato right now!!

[manathu]

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I had no idea that jacket potatoes were so popular. Can't wait to try your recipes.