I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

I don't know what went wrong. Normally 55 minutes is enough. Perhaps the oven was a bit less hot than normal. Or perhaps it's because I was cooking two instead of my normal one. They are a bit smaller than usual.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

It depends on the type of potato.

Some potatoes are better for baking than others.

I think it depends on whether they are floury potatoes or waxy potatoes.

In the olden days, you could usually bet on King Edwards being the Rolls Royces of potatoes, but I haven't seen any for years.
Dunno why.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

I find it best to half (or even mostly) cook potatoes in the microwave oven first and then bake them to get the skin crispy.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

They have them in Sainsbury's just now. The others that are good for baking are Roosters.

Ffosse - I sometimes boil mine for about 10 mins before putting them in to bake - that seems to work.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

Ffosse, do you have a microwave? If so ensure you slightly cut into the potato all over with a knife, this allows it to cook right through. Ten minutes in the microwave and then the same again in the oven, just to crisp the potato up on the outside and it should be done just right.

Since a recent change of lifestyle I've been having sweet baked potatoes instead of white, I find they need less topping to taste good.

Edited to add that it seems I was a little slow with my reply as others have posted similarly.
Well, we can't all be wrong can we? Or equally, great minds think alike!

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

If I were baking potatoes I'd stab them all over with a fork and cut a cross in the top. I do that anyway but always microwave them 4 mins each side then a bit more if with baked beans. If I did them in the oven it would have to be at the same time as doing a roast or something.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

Long and low is how I do baked potatoes, about two hours at same temperature I do a rice pudding. Hence you can usually find I do baked potatoes same day we have a rice pudding or vice versus.

Sweet potatoes take far less time though, only about 50 minutes so I am wondering if it depends how sweet the potatoes are for the correct cooking time. Last lot of bakers I got from tesco were quite a sweet tasting potato.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

Oo, all round to Julie’s for baked spuds and rice pud mmmm

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

Next time you'd be welcome it's egg and salad today I'm on my own so having what I fancy.

Re: I baked my potatoes for 55 minutes yet they were still hard inside

Yes, but what’s for afters Julie?