Frozen baked potatoes

[Gemini]

Since we came back from Canada, there has been a box of McCain frozen baked potatoes in our freezer, left there by our catsitter. She had eaten one, three were left. As they are taking up room in our freezer, we decided to have one each last night with our meal. They take 45 to 50 minutes in the oven. You can bake a potato of that size in the oven in that time anyway.
I am not against ready meals or anything labour saving when you are in a hurry and especially for those alone. I cannot see how in any way this makes anything easier though.
You don't have to wash them or make that cross cut at the top, but apart from that, zero difference to preparing a normal potato for baking, in my opinion.
How odd!!

[Grauntie Mag]

I can’t see why folk buy this kind of food either Gem. They must have plenty of money. Frozen veg never looks appealing anyway.

[Oma]

Gem I had this conversation with my sister not so long ago , she buys the Branigan make , I said why ? they take so long to bake ,
I love baked potatoes and eat them regular ( I like them with spicy bean topping ) I put mine in the Microwave for about 10 mins for 1 or 15 for two and check them after 7 mins depending on size then if the oven is on pop them in for 5 mins to crisp the skin but don't always as im not bothered if the skin is crisp or not ,
So I can have a baked potato in 7 mins why would you buy frozen and take 40/50 mins , seems silly to me
But even if you don't want to microwave them they take the same time as frozen

[Plantaholic]

Does seem odd, perhaps they don't keep potatoes in normally and handy to have some ready to bake. I expect they are more expensive than buying fresh ones.

[Oma]

That's a point Plant not everyone has potatoes in I suppose

[Nanto2girls]

https://www.mccain.co.uk/products/jacket-potatoes/ready-baked-jackets/

We have tried the above Macain jacket potatoes,but we don't like them.
For those that do like them,they only take 5 minutes.

[Daisy]

I think it’s a bit odd too. I think you can always tell when potatoes have been reheated so I wonder if the frozen ones taste ok?

[Gemini]

We don't like microwaved baked potatoes, Nan2, but even for those that do, It's probably not much quicker than normal potatoes is it?

Daisy, they tasted OK actually, done in the oven and with a knob of butter.

[Shemadee]

I haven’t tried the frozen ones but quite often. I usually put one in the microwave for about 5 minutes then in the oven for about 45 minutes. During the last 10 minutes I put some lardons and mushrooms in the oven. I also add salt, touch of black pepper, grated mature cheddar then top with lardons and mushrooms. At least until recently I did but now I have to cut down and be careful!

[Daisy]

Shem - that sounds delicious, but probably heavy on the calories. Still, we all need a treat sometimes.

Gem - I didn't have chance to say yesterday, but I don't cut a cross on the top of them. I just stab them with a knife a few times, spray a little one-cal olive oil on them and rub a little salt in the skins to crisp them up. But then there are days like yesterday where I don't have time, and I stick them in the microwave. Sometimes I remove the skins and mash them up with a knob of butter for quick easy 'mashed potatoes'!! The other thing I do, which our DSs loved, was hollow out the microwaved potatoes. Mash them up with butter, s&p, grated cheese and a knob of butter. Pack the mash up into the skins and pop them under the grill to brown a little. The boys always called them 'super jackets'

[Glammanana]

I have to admit to trying McCains & Brannigans frozen baked but only as an emergency and done in the microwave when DS1 or DGSs have arrived unexpectedly and been hungry.
With there only being the two of us the large bags of baking sized potatoes are too large for us so I buy the pack of 4 from Aldi I think that they may be about 59p for a pack they last us all week,so people must be very well off to pay £2+ for a packet of 4 frozen pots.

[Gemini]

Daisy, I don't put a cross on either until they are cooked and we are ready to eat them, but McCains have done the work for us

I sometimes do those ones where you scoop out the potato, mix it with grated cheese and sometimes bacon and spring onions - with baked beans - delicious!!

[Qwerty]

I’ve never bought them , only me eats them . So usually buy a 4 pk at Morrison’s, put them in the oven for 5 mins rub a bit of oil on them and bake in the oven for half an hour d/g and I love them, with cheese and beans yummy.

[Daisy]

All this talk about baked potatoes is making me feel hungry!