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I'm hopeless at baked potatoes............help !!


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Old 02-07-2009, 21:24
*paul*
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Seriously, they always come out rubbish. The inside is always too "solid" never fluffy and soft. Normally i boil them in water for 5 minutes, then in the oven for 30 minutes or so on high heat. If it try to do them longer in the oven they come out burnt on the outside, but still solid inside. In the microwave they come out "soggy". Its the inside i cant get right.

Help please.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:26
swordie
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I microwave them on high for about 6-8 min on high (piercing the skin first). Then coat the skin in olive oil and put it in the oven for about 10-15 min - perfect every time - soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy, tasty skin on the outside.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:27
Subrosa
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Slowly does it.

Mine come out perfectly after a quick scrub and a few stabs with a fork, then put in for an hour and a quarter on 180/gas mark 4 (I think - it's been a while since I did them in a gas oven!).
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:27
myss
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Try mash potatoes instead, you can't fail with that.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:27
Inspiration
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I do them on between 180/200oC for an hour and they're normally fine. Perhaps put them in tin foil? Not sure why you're not getting a cooked inside tho.. thats a bit odd.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:28
not_orange
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Seriously, they always come out rubbish. The inside is always too "solid" never fluffy and soft. Normally i boil them in water for 5 minutes, then in the oven for 30 minutes or so on high heat. If it try to do them longer in the oven they come out burnt on the outside, but still solid inside. In the microwave they come out "soggy". Its the inside i cant get right.

Help please.
First this should be in the food forum - you'll get loads of advice.

I think your mistake is boiling them. Never put water anywhere near a baked potato.

I usually shovw mine in the microwave for 5 mins, rub with oil and salt and into the oven, top shelf on medium heat.

Sounds like you are blasting them on a high heat for too short a period. I allow a good hour on a medium heat.

Hope this helps.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:28
ikkleosu
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Seriously, they always come out rubbish. The inside is always too "solid" never fluffy and soft. Normally i boil them in water for 5 minutes, then in the oven for 30 minutes or so on high heat. If it try to do them longer in the oven they come out burnt on the outside, but still solid inside. In the microwave they come out "soggy". Its the inside i cant get right.

Help please.
Haven't you seen the Lurapk ad, "give it na hour". You're cooking them on too high heat. No need to preboil. Rub in oil and salt and put on a low heat for an hour.

Also some potatoes are more waxy than others and will never be fluffy. Make sure you buy "ideal for baking" potatoes.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:28
boxx
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Micro-what now?
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:28
krytenk
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Microwave for 10-15 minutes till they're soft, then in the oven for half an hour to crisp up the outside works for me. Or you can just out them in the oven for a couple of hours at a moderate temperature - too high will cook the outside before the middle is done.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:30
Britgirl
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I stab them with a fork then cover them and put them in the microwave for about 10 minutes, maybe less, depending on their size. Then if I want the skin to be a bit crispy, they go in the oven for a bit longer.

Cheese + Beans + little butter on a jacket potato=HEAVEN
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:31
HarryValley
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Seriously, they always come out rubbish. The inside is always too "solid" never fluffy and soft. Normally i boil them in water for 5 minutes, then in the oven for 30 minutes or so on high heat. If it try to do them longer in the oven they come out burnt on the outside, but still solid inside. In the microwave they come out "soggy". Its the inside i cant get right.

Help please.
Practice makes perfect! Just keep tryin, different temps/times etc and try without par-boiling, and try different types of taties
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:33
jesaya
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I put the oil and salt in a plastic bag to avoid mess. I microwave them if I am rushed before popping in the oven. If they are large I put a metal skewer through them... helps with fluffiness too.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:33
FlikkityFlik
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Slowly does it.

Mine come out perfectly after a quick scrub and a few stabs with a fork, then put in for an hour and a quarter on 180/gas mark 4 (I think - it's been a while since I did them in a gas oven!).
I do similar. 180/200 for at least an hour and a quarter. Depends on the size.

Also, it's all in the potato. Some potatoes just do not bake well.

OP. Why are you boiling them first ? Also as Subrosa says, the trick is to get the temperature right and then to leave them to slowly cook so they turn out fluffy on the inside, crisp on the out.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:34
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Rub spuds with oil and salt, wrap in foil, shove in the oven for about an hour to an hour and a half depending on spud size, at 180c ish....if you want crisp skins take the foil off after about 40 mins and brown for the last 20 mins.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:35
Rowdy
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<snip>

Help please.
As with anything that comes out overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside, you're using way too much heat. A baked potato (in a conventional oven) should take at least an hour, maybe 1½ hours.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:38
swingaleg
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I like them hard............

none of this 'fluffy' malarky...............
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:38
Lucky_drawes
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My combi microwave does them perfect. Fluffy inside and crispy outside. I have no idea how it does it. You press the pic of the potato and press how many you want.
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:43
krytenk
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My combi microwave does them perfect. Fluffy inside and crispy outside. I have no idea how it does it. You press the pic of the potato and press how many you want.
Its magic!
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Old 02-07-2009, 21:52
*paul*
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As with anything that comes out overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside, you're using way too much heat. A baked potato (in a conventional oven) should take at least an hour, maybe 1½ hours.
Wrapped in foil or not?
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Old 02-07-2009, 22:02
Subrosa
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Wrapped in foil or not?
I don't wrap them in foil myself. My baked potatoes are pretty rough and ready - wash, stab and sling in the oven
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Old 02-07-2009, 22:13
Rowdy
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Wrapped in foil or not?
No.......same as Subrosa above.
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Old 02-07-2009, 22:36
EleanorRigby
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So what's the best type for baking ?
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Old 02-07-2009, 22:58
FlikkityFlik
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So what's the best type for baking ?
King Edward's are gorgeous. Maris Piper are nice too. You just can't always get good sizes.
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Old 02-07-2009, 23:01
HarryValley
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So what's the best type for baking ?
Sainsbo's and Tescoids usually bag them up and brand them as "baking taties", "roasting taties" etc
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Old 02-07-2009, 23:08
Subrosa
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The loose big ones tend to be good
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