This Is the Secret to Better Baked Potatoes
Updated: Nov. 28, 2023
Learn the secrets to making a perfect British-style jacket potato. Once you try this fluffy baked potato, there's no going back!
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:
Loaded Baked Potato RoundsI 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 PizzaI 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
Loaded Baked Potato DipI 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 PotatoesThese slow-cooker baked potatoes are so easy—just add your favorite toppings. Save any extra potatoes to make baked potato soup the next day. —Teresa Emrick, Tipp City, Ohio
Pepperoni Pizza Baked PotatoesThese 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 PotatoesWith 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
Bacon Cheddar Potato SkinsWondering how to make potato skins taste great? Both crisp and hearty, this restaurant-quality snack is one that my family requests often. —Trish Perrin, Keizer, Oregon
Baked Potato SoupI found our favorite soup in an unexpected place—a children's cookbook! This creamy comfort food is not only delicious but it's also scaled down to make a small amount that's perfect for my husband and me. —Linda Mumm, Davenport, Iowa
That's Amore Baked PotatoesWe add a touch of Italy to these baked potatoes with beefed up spaghetti sauce, pepperoni and more. Now, that's amore!
Two-Tone Baked PotatoesOne 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
Favorite Baked Potato SoupMy husband and I enjoyed a delicious baked potato soup at a restaurant while on vacation and I came home determined to duplicate the flavor. It took me five years to get the taste right! —Joann Goetz, Genoa, Ohio
Taco Tater SkinsI 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 SaladI revamped my mother's potato salad to taste more like baked potatoes with all the fixin's, which I love. This loaded baked potato salad is now the most requested dish at family gatherings. Even my mother asked for the recipe! —Jackie Deckard, Solsberry, Indiana
Chili Dog Baked PotatoesThese 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
Baked Sweet Potato FriesI 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
Twice-Baked Cheddar Potato CasseroleBacon, 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 BaconThis 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 WedgesI 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 PotatoesThis 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 CasseroleCreamy, cheesy and loaded with bacon, this comforting casserole immediately makes guests feel at home. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Cheddar & Spinach Twice-Baked PotatoesMy 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, NE
Southern Loaded Sweet PotatoesFor 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
Fancy Baked PotatoesI 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 PotatoesTwo 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 PotatoesStuffed with your favorite fixings, this 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
Fiesta Egg & Potato BoatsOn 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 CasseroleWhen 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
