9 Ideas for Leftover Baked Potatoes including Sweet Potatoes!

Easy for her to say, she was American and therefore not beset with the Guy Fawkes related problems we Brits suffer. I think there might be a fair few leftover baked potatoes (jacket potatoes) about the country today, so here are some ideas. But first …

How to Cook Delicious Baked Potatoes

Important – if you wrap your potatoes in foil before baking, they are steamed potatoes, not baked, as are potatoes done in the microwave. This also totally ruins the skin.

The best potatoes to bake have a floury texture such as Maris Piper, Russet or King Edward and it is usual to cook larger potatoes this way.

Hash Brown-ish Potatoes

I’ve seen loads of different versions of hash browns but this one is my favourite and if it is inauthentic I apologise (a bit).

~   Coarsely shred cold leftover baked potatoes, including the skin if you like, and toss with some salt and pepper. 
~   Melt together a mixture of oil and butter in a large frying pan, add the potato and press gently into a loose cake. 
~   Cook till the underside is crisp and brown then flip and cook the other side.

Crispy Fried Potato Skins

If you don’t eat the skins don’t discard them, instead deep fry till crisp and golden, drain well and season with a little salt plus anything else you fancy.  

Filled Baked Potato Skins

Toss the skins with a little oil (say ¼ tbps oil per potato skin) and seasoning to taste. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 200°C/400°F/180ºC fan/gas 6 for 5 – 6 minutes to crisp. This is particularly good for halved potato skins which, once baked, can be filled with something delicious and popped back into the oven for a few minutes to heat through the filling.

Mrs. Beeton’s Potato Omelette

“Feeds 2 and costs 6d” according to Mrs. B

This is quite an interesting potato omelette because it is not filled with potatoes; it is made of them.

1 leftover medium sized baked potato
4 eggs, separated
seasonings to taste
butter

~   Reheat the potato in the microwave – I made that bit up, Mrs. B didn’t suggest it – it is much easier to work with when warm.
~   Press the hot potato flesh though a fine sieve and allow to cool a little.
~   Mix in the egg yolks and season to taste (Mrs. B. suggests lemon juice (!), nutmeg, salt and pepper).
~   Whisk the egg whites till stiff and fold them into the mixture.
~   Preheat the grill!
~   Melt a knob of butter in an omelette pan, add the eggy goo and fry till the bottom is set and golden.
~   Once the bottom is cooked finish it under a hot grill.

Bubble and Squeak, of course

This is also regionally known as Rumbledethumps (reputedly Gordon Brown’s favourite dish!), Kailkiddy, Clapshot, Punchnep and Hash.

Whatever it’s called this dish is made from leftover vegetables, primarily cold potatoes and cabbage, crushed together and shallow fried in butter, oil or bacon fat till crisp. The trick to this is letting the mixture sit over a medium heat, undisturbed, for a few minutes allowing a crust to form before turning. In a little more detail …

~   Fry finely chopped onion gently in a little oil, butter or fat for a few minutes till soft.
~   Increase the heat, add the leftover peel and diced baked potatoes crushing them slightly and cook till they start to crispen and colour. Add more oil or butter as necessary.
~   Stir in other leftover vegetables and continue to fry and turn till all is hot, crispy in parts and delicious. 
~   If adding cooked meat or fish do so towards the end so as not to overcook it.

This is good served as a side dish or as a main topped with a fried egg or two and maybe some grated cheese.

Potato Bread

If you mash the contents of your leftover baked potato then my potato bread recipe might be of interest – it make surprisingly lovely bread!

Quick and Easy Ways to Enjoy Leftover Baked Potatoes

~   Of course you could just reheat the potatoes, halve and mash the flesh with butter, cheese mayo plus any suitable leftovers (slices of sausage, a little chilli, baked beans etc.) pile back into the shell and bake till lovely!

~   Cut the potatoes into wedges, dice, slices other shape of your choice and shallow fry till crisp turning occasionally but not too often, they like to sit still to form a crunchy crust.

~   Cut as above and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, spread in shallow pan and roast in a hot oven till crisp.

~   Peel and dice the potatoes and reheat gently in a little cream which will absorbed to some extent by the potatoes making them lush, maybe stir in a few cooked onions, bacon, cheese or whatever else you fancy and have leftover.

Leftover Baked Sweet Potatoes

If these are just some of the suggestions I can think of for baked potatoes don’t you wonder what ideas I have for the other 450 potential leftovers?  Find out in my book on leftover food; Creative Ways to Use Up Leftovers.

Have a look inside!