Perfecting the art of baked potatoes: Expert tips revealed
Baked potatoes make the perfect dinner side dish. They taste great and evoke pleasant summer memories. However, preparing them in the oven can be more challenging than it seems. How do you ensure the skin is golden and crispy while the flesh inside remains tender and soft? An expert from the culinary magazine Good Housekeeping has revealed their tricks.
Following the tips below, you can prepare whole potatoes or cut them into halves and quarters. To achieve a campfire effect, pay attention to the variety of potatoes. Type C potatoes have a delicate, buttery flesh. They are perfect for casseroles and stuffing in the style of Turkish kumpirs.
Before you put the potatoes in the oven
Many people make the mistake of putting raw potatoes straight into the oven. It's worth parboiling them first. There's no need to peel them; just scrub them well and place them whole in salted water for about 15 minutes once it starts boiling. Immediately after boiling, drain the potatoes and shake them vigorously in a colander, then dry them on a paper towel.
Campfire effect
To make oven-baked potatoes taste like they came from a campfire, you need to do one additional thing: dust them with flour. How to do it? The best way is to place the potatoes in a pot or container with a lid, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour (depending on the number of potatoes), close the lid, and shake the pot to coat them on all sides.
Then pour oil over them—but not cold, rather heated. Cold oil will cause the potatoes to absorb more fat, making them soft, greasy, and hard to digest.
Baked potatoes with flavour
Are you craving a spicier version of potatoes, or perhaps you fancy them with a subtle thyme aroma? If you wish to give your baked potatoes a bold flavour, add hot or smoked paprika, oregano, Provençal herbs, or nutmeg to the flour before coating them. The latter not only provides a slightly nutty flavour but also acts as an aphrodisiac. It improves mood and stimulates blood flow, which may positively affect libido.
You can also toss fresh sprigs of thyme or rosemary into the oven. Choose one strong spice or combine two favourite aromas. Remember, excess can be the enemy of good.
