Whilst it may sound like a simple thing to make, it is (ironically) easy to mess up a baked potato.
Gummy centres and soggy, slippery skins are a big no-no in our book. Fear not though, as we have some tips here to help you perfect your spud technique and guarantee a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth interior and a satisfying crispy skin.
Choosing your potato
It is vital to use the right variety - be sure to always use starchy potatoes - it will make all the difference. Some of the more common varieties you are likely to find in shops include King Edward, Maris Piper, Russett, Kestrel, and the deep red Rooster which is truly delicious roasted. It is worth bearing in mind the higher the starch content, the fluffier your potatoes are going to be.
A common mistake to avoid: When it comes to baking potatoes, never roast them wrapped in foil as it traps in moisture and reduces the fluffliness.
Brining your baked potato
If you fancy extra crispy skins, you might consider going the extra mile on top of our original recipe, and try brining the potatoes before roasting them.
First, prick your potatoes all over with a fork - this allows salt to get in to flavour and season the spuds. Pricking the skin means the moisture in the potatoes is able to escape, thus preventing sogginess. Then make a simple brine by mixing 2 tablespoons of salt with 100ml water in a large bowl. Whisk well to dissolve the salt, and then coat the potatoes with the brine solution.
Baking your potato
Transfer potatoes on to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet or tray and roast in a 220˚C (200˚ fan) oven for 45min - 1hr (depending on the size of your spuds). The cooling rack ensures ample air circulation underneath the potatoes, and stops the bottoms of the spuds from getting soggy.
To check the potatoes are cooked, push a knife or skewer into the centre of each potato - it should slide through with zero resistance. Then remove tray from oven and brush the potatoes with a thin layer of oil, and return them to the oven for a further 5-10mins, or until the skins have crisped up. Remove potatoes from oven, cut open with a knife right away and give them a gentle squeeze to create a vent and encourage steam to escape. Serve the potatoes straight out of the oven - this guarantees they are at the optimum fluffiness when they land on dinner plates.
Filling your baked potato
Of course baked potatoes are never complete without a filling, which is also a great opportunity to exercise some creative freedom and/or use up leftovers in the fridge. For a quick boost of fish oil, flake some hot-smoked mackerel, trout or salmon and mix with crème fraîche, spring onions or chives, some lemon zest, and creamed horseradish if you like.
Alternatively, you could also combine some leftover roast chicken and mix with mayonnaise, curry powder, spring onions, fresh coriander, sultanas, and some chutney to create your own version of Coronation Chicken.
For a quick vegan lunch, mash an avocado with a fork, then combine with a finely chopped shallot, some canned kidney beans, lime juice, fresh coriander, sprinkle of smoked paprika, assortment of seeds, and serve with generous dollops of vegan cashew cream cheese on top.
Video Recipe:
1. Put potatoes in a baking tray. For really crisp skins, drizzle with a little olive oil and rub to coat the potatoes.
2. Bake at 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 for one to 11/2hr, until crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy inside.
The best potato recipes
An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!).
