Baked potatoes are 'perfect' in just 10 minutes by adding one simple step

Jacket potatoes are a scrumptious and adaptable mealthat permits a vast array of toppings, but sadly, they can take an eternity to prepare.

Fortunately, you can achieve the "perfect" jacket potato in mere minutes using one food enthusiast's brilliant trick to speed them up, whilst getting the consistency spot on, every single time.

Author Becca Hayes revealed her recipefor achieving fluffy jacket potatoes with crunchy skins in a blog entry for Easy Cheesy Vegetarian. The culinary blogger initially suggests selecting the correct type, as certain varieties are better suited for baking than others owing to their characteristics.

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Potato packets in shops frequently show their optimal applications, but when in doubt, Maris Pipers, King Edwards, Yukon Golds or Rooster potatoes perform best for baking, reports the Express.

After she selects and readies her chosen potatoes, Hayes then pricks the surface with a fork to stop them from bursting. Next, she places them in the microwave for six to 10 minutes (depending on their size) to tenderise them. You can test whether the middle is almost tender using a fork or sharp blade.

Microwaving them initially helps achieve a tender and airy centre whilst preventing a hard exterior. Make certain to flip it halfway through to encourage uniform cooking, and once it's done, the surface should just start to pucker.

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Hayes noted that, whilst she previously didn't grease her jacket potatoes, she subsequently discovered that doing so dramatically boosts the crispness of the exterior and improves the overall taste. She recommended drizzling a small amount of oil over the potato and massaging it in, along with a pinch of salt if preferred.

Finally, the author revealed that once the potato is largely cooked, it can be baked for any duration - from 10 minutes to half an hour - until the skin achieves the desired level of crispiness.

Following this, she explained it's simply a case of slicing it open and adding toppings, declaring that "a dollop of butter is a must," as it gorgeously melts into the hot potato.