Yahoo News Spudman gives away secret to perfect jacket potato with fluffy inside and crispy skin
A humble spud peddler has mashed his way to TikTok stardom with his culinary skills enticing food enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. Customers can't seem to resist 'Spudman' - real name Ben Newman - and they are queueing for hours to sample his delectable jacket potatoes, bringing a slice of this potato hype to the world wide web.
Britain's love affair with the perfect baked potato, particularly when smothered in hearty beans and cheese, has crossed international borders. But for those not willing to withstand hours in a typically drizzly queue in Tamworth, Staffordshire, Spudman has served up a treat just for you.
This 39-year-old father-of-nine took to TikTok recently to share his 'secret' for creating the ultimate soft-in-the-middle, crispy-on-the-outside spud, proving that good things don't always come to those who wait.
READ:Staffordshire TikToker Spudman reveals how to make perfect jacket potato at home TikTok sensation Spudman shares three top tips
READ: Staffordshire 'Spudman' is a TikTok sensation - but he has no idea why Ben Newman has become an internet star with customers coming from across the world to sample his jacket potatoes
The revelation came as a response to an age-old queryr. Instead of focusing on the length of time the potatoes are cooked, Spudman suggests the variety of potato is key, the Mirror reports.
On his massively popular TikTok account '@spudarmy', boasting 3.5 million followers, Ben was met with the question: "how do you get the potatoes soft on the inside? How long are they cooked for? " His cheeky reply: "So you want me to give away my trade secrets? Well, go on then."
Grinning into the camera, Ben continued: "First of all, it's not so much about how you cook the potato, it's the variety."
Inside Spudman's jacket potato van, a specific type of potato named Melody is used. He stated: "These are beautiful for baking. Not every potato is equal. Not every potato should be used for the same thing."
He further explained that the Spudman van is equipped with massive industrial ovens that reach temperatures between 300C-350C, which is why they "wrap everything in tin foil". He added: "At home, you don't need to. Your oven gets to 200C- 220C, so leaving them out of the foil at home will give you a nice, crispy skin."
His third piece of advice is to "be patient and wait until they're ready" he added: "You can tell they're ready by giving them a little squeeze. If you can feel like you could squeeze the entire thing, they're ready. It's got to have that give to it."
