This Is the Secret to Better Baked Potatoes
It wasn’t until my husband and I moved in together that I realized I’d been making baked potatoes wrong my entire life. My versions were OK but hardly inspired enthusiasm at the dinner table. Thankfully, as a Scotsman, he knows a thing or two about making jacket potatoes, the epitome of the perfect fluffy baked potato. Over in the UK, they’ve elevated it to an art. Once you adopt the Brits’ tricks, you’ll never make a baked potato any other way.
What Is a Jacket Potato?
Jacket potatoes are the British sibling to our classic American baked potato. However, a few slight tweaks to the recipe yield drastically different results. The jacket potato boasts crispy skin with phenomenally fluffy insides, the likes of which I’ve seldom encountered in the States.
Russet potatoes are a great go-to. Here in the UK, we tend to use a variety called King Edward. Either way, their size and flavor are ideal for baking. Learn more about different types of potatoes.
How Do the British Make a Fluffy Baked Potato?
It’s absurdly easy! To achieve that flawless, ultra-fluffy inside, slice a cross-shape into your potatoes, about ¼ inch thick. This lets the steam escape, which helps create that soft cloud-like interior. If you want extra, extra crispy skin, take a pastry brush dipped in extra virgin olive oil, give the outer shells a quick once over, then liberally season with salt and pepper.
Bake the potatoes at 400° F for about 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on your oven.
Then, take the potatoes out and slice deeper into the existing cuts. Pop the spuds back in the oven for another 10 minutes. The last step is to plate your jacket potato and crown it with a pat of butter. (Pick up some Kerrygold. You’ll thank me later.)
Now that you know the essentials, you can try different toppings on your jacket potato. Check out these killer baked potato recipes for inspiration:
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Pizza Potato Toppers
Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make, but it's an economical treat as well. I don't know of a more satisfying way to stretch a half pound of meat! —Sheila Friedrich, Antelope, Montana
Pulled Pork Taters
This recipe is as hearty as it gets—part bbq pork, part potatoes, completely delicious. My family can't get enough of this bbq baked potato recipe. —Shannon M Harris, Tyler, Texas
Hearty Baked Potato Soup
I got this recipe from my aunt, a great cook. Topped with bacon, cheese and chives, this soup tastes just like a loaded baked potato! My husband and I love to hunker down with bowls of it on chilly nights. — Molly Seidel, Edgewood, NM
Steakhouse Baked Potatoes
On weekends, we often have salad, steak and a baked potato. This twist on that classic steakhouse dinner combines all three into one easy dish. —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Loaded Baked Potato Rounds
I was trying to create an appetizer that could be served at my teenaged daughters birthday party that the kids would love but that would appear elegant enough for the adults to be interested as well. These are made with simple ingredients yet yield a sophisticated result. Feel free to get creative with the flavors. Try shredded white cheddar in place of mozzarella or thyme instead of the rosemary. Take it up another notch by topping the rounds with smoked fish. —Amanda Digges, South Windsor, Connecticut
Baked Potato Pizza
I make this creative baked potato pizza for Super Bowl parties. The sour cream, bacon, onions and cheese make every bite taste just like a loaded baked potato. —Gina Pierson, Centralia, Missouri
Eggs Benedict Baked Potatoes
This is a new way to do breakfast potatoes! This baked potato dish would be eggs-cellent for brunch or a breakfast-for-dinner evening! The options are endless, but one thing's for sure: Once you get a taste, you'll want more! —Becky Carver, North Royalton, Ohio
Loaded Baked Potato Dip
I never thought of using waffle-cut fries as a scoop for dip until a friend of mine did at a baby shower. They’re ideal for my cheesy bacon and chive dip, which tastes just like a baked potato topper. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Slow-Cooker Baked Potatoes
This baked potato recipe is so easy—just add your favorite toppings. Save any extra potatoes to make baked potato soup the next day. —Teresa Emrick, Tipp City, Ohio
Hungry Man's Baked Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are topped with bacon, veggies, pulled pork and goat cheese for a unique take on a baked potato dinner.
Pepperoni Pizza Baked Potatoes
These tasty taters were a spur-of-the-moment recipe I created from leftovers! It's a true mash-up meal that combines two dinnertime favorites into one super-fun meal. —Dawn E. Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Creamy Twice-Baked Potatoes
With a yummy cream cheese filling, these rich potatoes tucked into their own skins are sure winners. They look fancy but are not tricky to make. —Linda Wheeler, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Special Baked Potatoes
For a nifty way to spice up plain old potatoes, try Tressa Surdick's recipe. To make them, she slices the spuds, then seasons them before baking. "Just before they're done, I sprinkle cheese on top of each potato. Our guest always rave about the," Tressa pens from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. (To make the cutting easier, Tressa share this tip: "Place the handle of a wooden spoon along the bottom of the potato—this will prevent your knife from going all the way through.")
Buenos Dias Baked Potatoes
Convenience products take the heavy labor out of this Tex-Mex baked potato entree.
Cheesy Stuffed Baked Potatoes
These special potatoes are a hit with my whole family, from the smallest grandchild on up. I prepare them up to a week in advance, wrap them well and freeze. Their flavorful filling goes so nicely with juicy ham slices. —Marge Clark, West Lebanon, Indiana
Bacon Cheddar Potato Skins
Wondering how to make potato skins taste great? I top my restaurant-worthy loaded potato skins with cheese, bacon and a dollop of sour cream. Have them at lunch, snack time or cocktail hour. —Trish Perrin, Keizer, Oregon
Baked Potato Soup
I found our favorite soup in an unexpected place—a children's cookbook! This creamy comfort food is not only delicious but also scaled down to make a small amount that's perfect for my husband and me. —Linda Mumm, Davenport, Iowa
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
My family and friends love the warm inviting flavors of the luscious citrus butter, smooth cream cheese, sweet dates, fresh sage and toasted pecans that surround and capture the deliciousness of sweet potato in every bite. —Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South Carolina
That's Amore Baked Potatoes
We add a touch of Italy to these baked potatoes with beefed up spaghetti sauce, pepperoni and more. Now, that's amore!
Two-Tone Baked Potatoes
One potato...two potato...this recipe is doubly wonderful as far as spud lovers are concerned. I have a reputation at home and at work for trying out new recipes. Everyone is glad I took a chance on this one. -Sherree Stahn, Central City, Nebraska
Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
My daughter gave me this twice-baked potatoes recipe because she knows I love potatoes. The hearty casserole is loaded with a palate-pleasing combination of bacon, cheeses, green onions and sour cream. —Betty Miars, Anna, Ohio
Favorite Baked Potato Soup
My husband and I enjoyed a delicious baked potato soup at a restaurant while on vacation and I came home determined to duplicate it. It took me five years to get the taste right! —Joann Goetz, Genoa, Ohio
Taco Tater Skins
I wanted to make a version of these with ingredients most people have on hand. We make a meal out of these skins, but they're also great for parties as appetizers. —Phyllis Douglas, Fairview, Michigan
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
I revamped my mother's potato salad recipe to taste more like baked potatoes with all the fixin's, which I love. It's now the most requested dish at family gatherings. Even my mother asked for the recipe! —Jackie Deckard, Solsberry, Indiana
Chili Dog Baked Potatoes
These chili dogs are nestled in baked potatoes for a delicious and satisfying meal. They're perfect for a barbecue, but they're just as tasty any time of year! —Anna Miller, Churdan, Iowa
Parmesan Baked Potatoes
It always amazed me that this simple recipe could make potatoes taste so good. Mom liked to make them for Easter because they were more special than ordinary baked potatoes. —Ruth Seitz, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Beef-Stuffed Potatoes
This is a stuffed potato with a twist. Teenagers like the flavor the green chiles and cheese add.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
I can never get enough of this baked sweet potato fries recipe! Even though my grocery store sells them in the frozen foods section, I still love to pull them out of my garden and chop them up fresh! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
Scored Potatoes
These well-seasoned baked potatoes are a fun alternative to plain baked potatoes. It's easy to help yourself to just the amount you want, too, since the potato halves are scored into sections. — Barbara Wheeler, Sparks Glencoe, Maryland
Twice-Baked Cheddar Potato Casserole
Bacon, cheddar and sour cream turn ordinary potatoes into an extraordinary twice baked potato casserole. It's one of our family's beloved standards for the holidays. —Kyle Cox, Scottsdale, Arizona
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
This side always takes my guests by surprise because of the smoky, creamy flavor. No doubt you'll get major kudos when you place these potatoes on your table. —Cynthia Boberskyj Rochester, NY
Parmesan Potato Wedges
I recommend serving these Parmesan potato wedges alongside a salad for a light lunch or serving them as a side dish with a chicken or beef entree. —Beth Ask, Ulster, Pennsylvania
Ham and Broccoli Baked Potatoes
This loaded baked potato dish is a spin on a favorite family recipe I have made for years: ham and potato casserole. It's a great recipe when you have a tight food budget, and it tastes amazing! The potatoes and filling can be prepared ahead of time, then assembled prior to serving. —Patricia Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Loaded Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
My husband is a meat and potatoes guy, so I try new combinations for variety. In this dish, twice-baked potatoes and potato skins make a scrumptious casserole. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Cheddar & Spinach Twice-Baked Potatoes
My husband is a rancher who loves a hearty potato dish, so consider these spuds with cheddar and spinach cowboy-approved. My crowd never leaves leftovers. —Jody Augustyn, Loup City, Nebraska
Southern Loaded Sweet Potatoes
For a taste of a southern classic, we make sweet potatoes stuffed with pulled pork and coleslaw and manage to sidestep the calorie overload. —Amy Burton, Cary, North Carolina
Very Veggie Baked Potatoes
Take a break from heavy meat dishes with these chock-full-of-vegetables baked potatoes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Fancy Baked Potatoes
I can't count the times I've turned to this tried-and-true recipe when company is coming. The potato filling is creamy and rich tasting, plus the servings are attractive. But the best part is you can spare yourself the hassle of mashing potatoes at the last minute. —Audrey Thibodeau, Gilbert, Arizona
BLT Twice-Baked Potatoes
Two favorites go together in this hearty dish: BLTs and twice-baked potatoes. I like to serve these potatoes with grilled steaks or barbecued chicken. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois
Taco Baked Potatoes
Stuffed with your favorite fixin's, this taco baked potato recipe is an easy meal in one. Make it vegetarian by using smashed black beans instead of ground beef. —Anne Ormond, Dover, New Hampshire
Favorite Loaded Breakfast Potatoes
My four young children are experts eating with their hands. These “brunchskins” with veggies make easy finger food they love to handle. —Mindy Campbell, Rapid City, Michigan
Sherried Mushroom Baked Potatoes
Each week my husband and I have steak with a potato variation, like these tangy baked spuds. How can you go wrong with mushrooms and sherry? —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Corned Beef Baked Potatoes
Corned beef and potatoes make a good team! This yummy dish is an easy way to use up any leftover corned beef, or you can buy a small amount at a deli. You can even make these ahead, or make extra to freeze for later. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
Fiesta Egg & Potato Boats
On a whim, I stuffed eggs into potato shells as a way to use up leftover baked potatoes. It’s the brunch dish people ask for the most. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
When I bake this for my family, any leftovers are always gone by morning. In the night, people sneak downstairs for a little snack! Stir in broccoli, asparagus or peas if you've got 'em. —Colleen Trenholm, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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