# Do you eat the skin of baked taters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 5, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478 "2024-10-05T17:00:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/61 "2024-10-07T16:50:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The poll is surprising me. I used to see a lot of empty potato shells on plates at restaurants. (Along with dirty ashtrays) In a pinch, you could use a baked potato skin _as_ an ashtray. It’d have to be a particular set of circumstances, of course. I _sample_ the skin, and then decide. Unless there’s a cigarette butt in it. That’s always a NO. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/62 "2024-10-07T17:17:15Z")
I fell for the story that that’s where all the vitamins are, but I also actually quite like the skin. There’s a Maggie Smith story about this too. Apparently when she dished up a baked potato to one of her then small children and was asked what it was, and said “It’s a potato in its jacket”, she got the reply “I don’t care if it’s in its trousers, I’m not eating it”. The apple doesn’t fall, and all that… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/63 "2024-10-07T17:50:05Z")
Always eat the skins. I do baked potatoes in the toaster oven where it is out of the way of other things I’m cooking. Along a similar line, I used to peel potatoes when I made oven fries, but finally decided to stop and just slice the entire potato. Much better and much easier. I prefer fries with the skin when I’m eating out also. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/64 "2024-10-07T18:54:14Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > In a pinch, you could use a baked potato skin _as_ an ashtray. I’m so old I remember when people did crap like that in restaurants and it was acceptable ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/65 "2024-10-07T19:57:59Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > to mount the potato on the wall, like a hunting trophy. _whistles_ Nice, an ideal zero-pointer. ---
**Author:** ![FS65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@FS65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FS65)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/66 "2024-10-08T19:01:07Z")
No gasp needed. Microwaved potatoes are great. And they take an hour less to make!!! ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/67 "2024-10-09T13:44:22Z")
I haven’t baked a potato in the oven in years. After piercing them, I roll them in a mixture of olive oil and kosher salt, and cook them in the microwave. It takes about 7 minutes vs an hour or maybe more. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/68 "2024-10-09T14:01:49Z")
I do it in the oven to get a crispy skin. It takes time, but so does getting the grill ready for the accompanying flank steak. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/69 "2024-10-09T14:16:47Z")
I’m glad to see others eat the potato skin. I assume I’m normal, but in my family of four, only I eat the skin always. My wife claims to only eat Red Skin potato skins. I know this isn’t a scientific survey, but at least I know in some circles, eating it is very common. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/70 "2024-10-09T14:25:50Z")
The one time I peel potatoes is for boiling and then mashing. I expect mashed potatoes to have a smooth 😋 creamy texture. I’ve seen _dirty mashed potatoes_ at restaurants. I’m not impressed with flecks of brown skin, or bacon bits, or chives. I boil my potatoes in chicken broth for more flavor. Add butter and then add milk while mashing. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/71 "2024-10-09T14:32:52Z")
I’m not a huge fan of baked potatoes. I greatly prefer the “waxy” red and white potatoes, boiled. And i prefer those without the skin. But if I’m faced with a baked potato for some reason, and I’m hungry enough to eat it at all, i generally eat the skin. I like the chewy texture. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/72 "2024-10-09T16:35:54Z")
I eat the skins (including on sweet potatoes) and also keep skins on for mashed 'taters. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/73 "2024-10-09T16:39:53Z")
The skin is the best way, when done with the inners, to hold a stick of butter, 2 lb of medium cheddar cheese and 3 dozen rashers of bacon and eat them all together. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/74 "2024-10-09T16:41:32Z")
When did you start your diet? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/75 "2024-10-09T16:42:06Z")
After dessert when I go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![MeepersC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meepersc/32/12088_2.png) [@MeepersC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeepersC)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/76 "2024-10-09T21:48:20Z")
My brother’s baked potato toppings of choice are butter and A-1 sauce. I thought he was completely insane until I tried it! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/77 "2024-10-11T01:03:01Z")
> [@MeepersC](#): > > My brother’s baked potato toppings of choice are butter and A-1 sauce. I thought he was completely insane until I tried it!. Other barbecue sauces can also be really good with baked potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/78 "2024-10-11T14:10:48Z")
I can see that A-1 is basically the same as HP sauce, which really goes nice with shepherd’s pie. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/79 "2024-10-11T15:10:33Z")
I prefer Daddies or Chris’ & Pitts BBQ sauce. Neither is especially easy to find, but worth the effort. This thread has inspired me to put baking potatoes on the grocery list for tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Reginald\_Hobbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@Reginald\_Hobbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reginald_Hobbes)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478/80 "2024-10-14T00:03:42Z")
As a youngster 40 years ago I worked at Wendys. We had a dedicated potato scrub brush, though one day I saw a newbie using the toilet brush instead… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-the-skin-of-baked-taters/1008478.md?page=5)