People are only just realising they’re making jacket potatoes wrong – & Spud Man says you don’t even buy the right thing
WE all think we know how to make the perfect jacket potato, right?
Well, according to the infamous Spud Man, it turns out we’ve been doing it all wrong.
Not only are we cooking our spuds incorrectly, but we’ve also been buying the wrong thing too.
So if you want to tuck into a hearty jacket potato with cheese and beans, or maybe tuna is more your topping of choice, you’ll need to listen up and take notes.
Spud Man, a 39-year-old who took TikTok by storm after going viral for selling baked potatoes from his food van, has shared his top tips and tricks to ensure that your next jacket potato is fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
According to the potato pro, who has 3.8 million followers on social media, and has people all over the world flocking to Tamworth to try his tasty tatties, there are three areas that people go wrong when cooking a jacket potato.
The food lover, whose real name is Ben Newman, has been selling his faultless baked potatoes out of his food van since 2003.
And according to Ben, who cooks around 8,000 spuds every week, it’s important that you choose your potato wisely, feel it properly and ditch the foil.
Buy the right spud
According to Spud Man, the type of potato you buy is crucial to the success of the bake.
Posting online, he explained: “Everyone wants to know how to cook the perfect jacket potato at home.
“The first thing you need to understand is the difference between a good potato and a bad potato.
According to Ben, whilst “variety is everything”, Cara potatoes “make good potatoes”, as he confirmed: “They’re quite dry, low starch content – these are good bakers.”
Ben explained that Melody potatoes, which are quite yellow, are also good.
But whilst many foodies will buy Harmony potatoes for their jackets, Ben warned against it, as he stressed: “This is a very white potato which means it’s going to be quite starchy. This isn’t gonna be a great baker. Avoid.”
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- Crisps and chocolate
- Cheese and chocolate
- Crisps in jam sandwich
- Chips and milkshake
- Cheese and bananas
- Apples with salt and pepper
- Avocado and chocolate
- Popcorn and hot sauce
- Tuna and marmite
- Gherkins and peanut butter
Not only this, but the “worst culprit in the supermarket”, according to this chef, is the Nadine variety.
He emphasised that whilst “they look beautiful on the shelf”, they are “super high starchy” and “bake absolutely awful”.
Feel it real good
In addition to getting the right spud, when it comes to “cooking the perfect jacket potato”, Ben stressed that “timings only get you so far.”
According to Ben, the way to really know if your spud is soft inside is to feel them.
You’ve got to feel those spuds
Spud Man
He explained: “You need to be able to tell that that spud is perfectly cooked all the way through and the way to do it is touch.
“You’ve got to feel those spuds.”
Hacks for Keeping Food Fresh in Your Fridge
IF you want your food to stay fresh, you'll need to try out this useful hacks...
- Herbs in Water: Store fresh herbs like parsley and coriander in a glass of water, then cover with a plastic bag to keep them fresh for weeks.
- Wrap Greens in Paper Towels: Wrap leafy greens in paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag. The towels absorb excess moisture, preventing wilting.
- Use Mason Jars: Store salads, chopped vegetables, and even leftovers in mason jars. They are airtight and keep food fresher for longer.
- Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle a bit of water on stale bread and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to make it fresh again.
- Baking Soda for Odours: Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours and keep food tasting fresh.
- Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil: Chop herbs and freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. This preserves their flavour and makes them easy to use.
- Keep Cheese Fresh: Wrap cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper allows the cheese to breathe, preventing it from becoming slimy.
- Store Avocados with Onions: Place a cut avocado in an airtight container with a slice of onion. The sulphur compounds in the onion slow down oxidation, keeping the avocado fresh.
- Use Vinegar Wash for Berries: Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar to three cups of water) before storing. This kills bacteria and mould spores, extending their shelf life.
- Egg Freshness Test: To check if eggs are still fresh, place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while old ones will float.
Implement these clever hacks to maximise the freshness of your food and make the most of your groceries.
After around 70 minutes in his professional oven, Ben removed a potato and used his hands to test it.
Whilst he stressed that you should be careful when doing this, or use oven gloves, the foodie gave his spud a squeeze and claimed that he can gauge it better using his hand than with an oven glove, as he highlighted: “It’s all done by touch.”
Ditch the foil
Finally, if you want to ensure that you make the best jacket potato possible, you’ll need to bin the tin foil.
Whilst Spud Man uses foil to cook his potatoes when using a professional appliance, he stressed that when cooking in a home oven, it is not necessary.
I’m so ignorant in the potato world
TikTok user
It’s a common misconception that a jacket potato needs to be wrapped in tin foil before going in to cook, but Spud Man was eager to set the record straight.
He told Ninja: “I never wrap my potatoes in foil at home.
“You’re less likely to burn them in your home oven as opposed to an industrial potato oven which hits 300-350 degrees.”
Foodies react
Foodies were left stunned by Spud Man’s claims and many flocked to the comments to express this.
One user wrote: “I’m so ignorant in the potato world. I only know Maris and King Edward.”
A second chimed in: “That’s so helpful thanks so much.”
Meanwhile, someone else commented: “Thank you for showing us.”