Baked Potatoes

[Mr Smith]

Any suggestions on a large potato variety suitable for a 'Baked potato' :)

[Mr Smith]

[davyw1]

Mine would be Nadine and Kestrel

[Lauren S]

Any suggestions on a large potato variety suitable for a 'Baked potato' :)

I've planted Cara as a *Baker*

[markfield rover]

Not very large but for taste and a very crisp skin it's rocket for me.

[compo49]

Its cara for me !

[star]

Kestrel............!

[PurpleHeather]

Anything that is not described as 'waxy' or suitable for salad.

I know that the flavour of potatoes depends a lot on the soil it is grown in.

One variety tastes wonderful in one area but it can be bland in another.

Try one or two different ones and see which you prefer.

[tim]

I bake anything that comes to hand - except salad varieties. But even they can be roast!

[djbrenton]

I've always grown Cara for bakers but changed this year after trying out some Estima from our local farm shop.

[Mr Smith]

Thanks for the replies folks  :), I will be having a good look round Stratford on Avon next weekend for 'Cara or 'Kestral' :)

[Jeannine]

I have tried all of the above and still have not found what I call the perfect baker,OOOh I so wish I could.

I want a large spud that bakes with a crisp skin that has a VERY FLUFFY interior,it has to stand alone without any stuff chucked on top which I don't like( except butter)it is the interior that I find fails me since I could no longer get Russet Burbanks.

Golden Wonder came the closest for me though.

Sorry I am so picky on this point,I  rarely bother  cooking  them any more and I really miss them.

Still staying open minded to new ones though.

XX Jeannine

[Need a Leek]

We love our jackets and it has never crossed my mind to grow any " doh"...I am going to re look  the suggestions so far and crowbar some in the plot very soon.

Pork and leek bangers with spicy beans topped with cheese  :-*and a sprinkle of smoked paprika and pepper does it for me  :-*.

Cheers
Tony

[tim]

This is where Jeannine wants to be??

http://www.howtobakeapotato.com/

[Jeannine]

Sorry Tim, good try and I appreciate it , but actually  it is almost the way I do it anyway except I sprinkle with sea salt and have done it this way for decades LOL, but the varieties that are allowed to be grown here just don't give me what I want. I could always get perfect baked spuds with the other potatoes.

I should add I have never eaten one I liked either here that anyone else  has cooked  wether in a house or restaraunt!!

I think it is a British thing,the texture that folks are happy with here are just not what I like.

Could be the soil I suppose, but have tries in several types si I just believe it is the varieties.

Great link though and really useful.

Thanks Tim.

[RosieMcPosie]

try spud-u-like
cant be beaten if you wanna yummy jacket spud. can't help with how/what to grow though sorry!

[OllieC]

Anyone tried Marfona? We're buying 25kg sacks from a localish farm, (25kg for £4.50!) and they are the best bakers ever - a good size & really creamy texture. But I've never tried them at home...

[Barnowl]

I'm trying a few Winston - allegedly the earliest baker. The haulms are just peeking through now.

[floraldi]

Anyone tried Marfona? We're buying 25kg sacks from a localish farm, (25kg for £4.50!) and they are the best bakers ever - a good size & really creamy texture. But I've never tried them at home...

Apparently, this is the ones M & S sell specifically for baking but I have not found it to be the type I like most.  I have had wonderful baked potatoes in spain. The flesh is yellowy and it has a great taste.  Must be what people prefer. I don't like fluffy ones but am mad about waxy ones. I'm hungry now.

[OllieC]

Ha, I bet M&S charge a small markup on £4.50 a sack!

[Mr Smith]

Finally found the spuds what was suggested by the good folk on this site, today I went over to 'Brookside nuseries' at Ansty nr Leicester and came away with three varieties one being'Cara' :)