HAD YOUR CHIPS.. IT’S SPUDS U LIKE

WFH Brits creating ‘pimped up’ jackets

THE humble baked potato is set to stage a comeback as it becomes an ideal lunch for workers putting in a shift at home.

Searches on Waitrose.com for jacket potato and baked potato have soared by 436% and 313%, respectively.

The rise in searches comes as growing numbers of chefs give the baked potato a makeover – elevating its quick and nutritious lunch status to gastro delight, the research found.

Pimping your potato is a growing trend across social media, with more than 490,000 uses of the hashtag “bakedpotato” as people share a wide variety of toppings and new creations.

Sweet

Waitrose has seen an increase in views on recipes such as twice-baked potatoes with crab and gruyere (up 26.7%), twice-baked sweet potatoes stuffed with spiced chickpeas (a rise of 38%) and baked potatoes with pickle and herb tuna mayo (up 33%).

But it is the kale and caramelised onion jackets which have proved most popular, with views rising by 45%.

Leah Hyslop, deputy editor of Waitrose Food Magazine, said: “Whether you choose to keep it classic with baked beans and a mountain of cheese, or go gourmet with an array of toppings, the humble spud certainly remains a favourite with our shoppers.

“With more of us working from home, and taking breaks away from our desks by spending time in our kitchens, we expect jacket potatoes to only grow in popularity as we look to create delicious dishes using simple, quality ingredients that we already have at home.”