One memory is all it takes and you immediately know what we are talking about. Potatoes from the fire had a special taste that you can’t easily conjure up at home, or at least you think so. That’s right! Just try an old procedure that is now coming back to kitchens again.
It used to be a classic. Potatoes thrown into hot ashes and waiting for an ordinary side dish to become something that tastes completely different from the oven. Today we are rediscovering this method and it surprisingly works at home.
Watch the video from Prima fresh with the recipe for baked potatoes according to Zdenek Pohlreich on YouTube:
It’s not magic. More like about which we have forgotten a little over time.
Why do they taste like fire?
Something interesting happens when potatoes are cooked in strong, enclosed heat, such as in ashes or a well-heated oven. The surface gradually dries and forms a slightly crispy layer, while the inside remains soft and fluffy.
This contrast is the reason why they taste different from classic boiled potatoes. In addition, their natural taste, reminiscent of fire, develops during baking.
The trick is in the packaging
The basis is simple. Coat the potatoes with fat, butter or oil, salt and wrap in foil. Then you let them bake in a strong heat, ideally for a longer time without opening the oven unnecessarily.
They are also prepared in the same way in the fire, it is wrapped in foil and placed directly in the hot coals, where they are baked for about 60 minutes. You can easily imitate this effect at home, in the oven or on the grill.
Small detail, big difference
One trick that is often overlooked is to pierce the potatoes before baking. Thanks to this, steam can escape and the potatoes do not get soggy inside.
And if you want to push the taste even further, add herbs, garlic or onions to the package.
“A simple trick with herbs and garlic also works very well. Just add them to the foil with the potatoes and the flavor will combine and intensify beautifully during baking,” advises chef David Šlapák.
When you want a crispy surface
If you like a slightly toasted skin, just take the potatoes out of the foil for the last few minutes and let them dry out. The surface will retract and get the right texture. This is what makes ordinary potatoes a delicacy.
It works even without fire
You don’t have to have a garden or a fire pit. You can achieve the same effect at home, the important thing is strong heat and enough time.
You can also prepare potatoes on a baking sheet in the oven or on the grill. The result will surprise you.
Simplicity that returns
Maybe that’s why this trick is making a comeback. You don’t need any special ingredients or complicated procedures.
All you need is potatoes, heat and a little patience. You will see that the potatoes prepared in this way will taste completely different, as if you just took them out of the fire.
