Sorry to be flip ..... but FIRST time to make a baked potato???!!! Standard student diet in my day!
Ok - in a more helpful mode .......whatever potato (of a decent size).... I bung it in the micro for about 7 mins, then stick it in the oven for anything between 30 & 40 mins to let it crisp up outside and fluff up inside.
Of course british King Edwards are the best but they are also the most expensive (if available). The Lebanese potato's that are always available are just fine for us.
Top with cheese, chilli, tuna, feta, beans - or a combo of all. Scrummy!!
Thanks guys, I went out and bought Russet potatoes and have popped them in the oven. Also thanks for the timing info, I will just leave them in for an hour. Thank you!
Agreed, about an hour is right, at 350F (180 C). The starchy potatoes work best, they turn light and fluffy during baking. In the supermarket they are called russet potatoes (per marycatherine) or idaho potatoes and they are available at Waitrose and Spinneys.
I would suggest a russet - but 2 hours sounds a long time to me. In my experience about an hour should do it (for a potato maybe slightly larger than your fist). It's done when you put a paring knife in it and it's tender. This is for a regular oven at about 350F
edited by marycatherine on 09/02/2011
ETA - if you want mashed potatoes "on demand" boil up some russets, drain and mash them (Do not add milk or butter or anything else), and freeze ice cream scoopfulls of them on a cookie sheet - then put in a freezer bag. To serve, microwave a couple of minutes (add butter now) and serve. Wonderful. Can also be used as part of some kind of cake - thaw and mix with fish or other "additive" and seasonings. I've also used them as pseudo hash browns, thawed and fried in butter.
<em>edited by marycatherine on 09/02/2011</em>
I have never used any special potatoes but have always used the below method.
Scrub and prick potatoes with a fork. Place in a kitchen papertowels and place in microwave oven for xx time (based on size of potatos). Wrap in aluminium foil and finish off "baking" in conventional oven for approx 15 minutes to get the skins crispy. Saves you the 2 hours of baking.
Which potatoes should I buy to make baked potatoes? Its my first time and as the recipe says it takes 2 hours I would hate to cook them for 2 hours only to find its the wrong potatoe :) Thanks in advance girls!