The opportunity to infuse your meals with a smoky, rustic flavour is a culinary delight. One such dish that complements the ambiance of a wood-burning stove perfectly is baked jacket potatoes. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the steps.

Ingredients:

• Large baking potatoes
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• Toppings of your choice (butter, sour cream, cheese, chives, bacon bits, etc.)

Procedure:

Choose the Right Potatoes: Start by selecting large, even-sized baking potatoes. The starchy potatoes work best for achieving that fluffy interior.

Prepare the Potatoes: Wash and scrub the potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt. Pat them dry with a kitchen towel. 

Coat with Olive Oil and Salt: Drizzle olive oil over each potato, ensuring an even coating. Sprinkle sea salt generously on the oiled potatoes for enhanced flavour and crispy skin during baking.

Wrap in Foil: Before placing the potatoes in the wood-burning stove, individually wrap each one in aluminium foil. This step helps to lock in moisture and infuse the potatoes with a subtly smoky flavour from the wood-burning stove.

Preheat the Wood-Burning Stove: Ensure your wood-burning stove is well-lit and reaches a steady, medium heat. Consistent temperature is crucial for achieving perfectly baked jacket potatoes.

Place Foil-Wrapped Potatoes in the Stove: Position the foil-wrapped potatoes directly onto the hot embers inside the stove. Ensure there is space between each potato to allow heat circulation.

Rotate Potatoes: Every 20-30 minutes, use tongs to rotate the foil-wrapped potatoes. This ensures even cooking on all sides and promotes that coveted crispy skin.

Check for Doneness: After about 1 hour, check for doneness by inserting a fork into the centre of a potato. If it easily pierces through, the potatoes are done. The skin should be crispy, and the insides soft and fluffy.

Serve and Enjoy: Remove the foil-wrapped potatoes from the wood-burning stove, let them cool for a few minutes, and then unwrap them. Slice each potato open, fluff the insides with a fork, and add your favourite toppings.

Conclusion

Baking jacket potatoes in a wood-burning stove, especially when wrapped in foil, adds an extra layer of flavour and tenderness to this classic dish. The smokiness from the wood fire infuses the potatoes, creating a rustic and delicious meal. So, ignite your wood-burning stove, embrace the cosy ambiance, and relish the goodness of perfectly baked jacket potatoes.

Written by Gary Walker 
Gary, owner of Swept. Chimney Sweeping Services in Huddersfield, is a HETAS trained and approved chimney sweep, co-founder of GD Logs (www.gdlogs.co.uk), and an award-winning direct marketing expert. Raised on a small holding with a passion for wood burners since the 80s, Gary is City & Guilds NPTC qualified in Chainsaws and Tree Felling. He advocates for sustainable heating fuels and possesses a passion for wood burning stoves. 

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