I knew absolutely nothing about the glories of a good baked potato until the day I ordered one at a local restaurant in my town that was known for them. Before that, my primary “baked” potato experience involved a microwave. What I tasted was so revelatory I still remember it: ridiculously crisp on the outside and oh so fluffy inside. I realized what we’d been doing at home was very, very wrong.
The potatoes I grew up with at home came with damp skins and gluey innards, thanks to the microwave. I started baking them in the oven and they were much better. But I still couldn’t get them as perfect as the one I had from that tiny New England restaurant. Then I learned a few tips from old England—specifically, I learned about jacket potatoes.
