History of the Potato – the original fast food

The potato has been around since c.3000 BC when it was first cultivated in Peru, but it wasn’t introduced to Europe until the mid 1500’s when it was first planted in Spain.  During the 1590’s it was finally introduced to England but didn’t reach the USA until the late 1700’s.

The baked potato has been sold on the street of England for more than 300 years, originally from wood and coal burning ovens, but these days from modern gas and electric Victorian ovens.  Little did they realise all those years ago, selling baked potatoes for less than a penny, it is one of healthiest, hot foods around and one of the original fast foods.

What is the nutritional value of potatoes?

Potatoes are one of the most nutrient dense foods available. They are bursting with vitamins and minerals, virtually fat-free, contain absolutely no cholesterol and when served in their skins are a great source of fibre. That’s why independent nutritionists and dietary researchers recommend potatoes as the perfect base for a balanced diet.

For details of the nutritional value of an average serving see our chart.

Nutritional Value of a Potato

What is the best variety of potato to use for baking?

There are a number of potato varieties you can use.  For more details and to download a variety chart see our variety section in the UK.

How do I cook the perfect baked potato?

Follow our step-by-step guide to achieve the perfect baked potato.

• Select generous sized potatoes – at least 250gm per person - ready washed and graded potatoes are ideal.
• Pre-heat the oven for 20 minutes.
• Place in the baking oven for approximately 1 hour.  For an even, crispier skin and added flavour, rub salt in the potatoes before cooking.
• Test if it’s cooked by holding the potato in a clean cloth and squeezing gently or pierce with a sharp knife – if cooked it should feel soft.
• Serve with a selection of tasty fillings to maximize on presentation and profits.

For something different, cook very small potatoes in their skins and sell them as finger food with salt and butter or good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Don’t forget to include a complimentary fork and napkin with the potato so that people can enjoy them anywhere.  Portion packs of pickles, relish and mayonnaise are ideal to serve too; they cut down on waste, mess and give the customer the feeling of added value for money.

I want to serve a variety of fillings, how can I do this?

We have a range of accessories available to complement the ovens.  You can serve up to four hot fillings from our Windsor Bain Marie, up to four cold fillings from our Chilled Food Server ] or a combination of 2 hot and 2 cold fillings from our unique Dual Quatro Function Bain Marie/Chiller.  In addition, we also have Soup Kettles and Hot Food Servers if you would like to offer more than just potatoes.

For more information on serving delicious food to your customers see our Serving Suggestions and Recipes page.

How can I maximize on keeping my customers interested and generate new customers too?

A theme day is an excellent way of achieving this and baked potatoes fit the bill perfectly as you can create authentic fillings that relate to your theme.  Here are a few suggestions.

German – chopped frankfurters, garlic butter and mayonnaise make a good German themed filling for your potatoes.
French – offer Camembert or Brie cheese, fromage frais and grapes.
Italian – sliced Salami, Parma ham and mayonnaise makes a great Italian filling.  Or as an alternative serve Bolognaise sauce.
American – as well as your baked potatoes, why not cook Hot Dogs or Beefburgers with relish and mustard for an authentic American theme.
Dutch – simply grated Edam and mayonnaise combined together make a delicious Dutch potato.
Vegetarian – pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Mexican – serve with chilli con carne.
Indian– serve with curry for an Indian theme.
Chinese – offer either sweet and sour prawns or chicken.
English Ploughman’s – serve with cheddar cheese and pickle.
Scottish – offer haggis for a Scottish theme.
Welsh Rarebit – melt cheese with beer and fried leeks, pour over the baked potato and grill for 5 minutes.

Of course, you may have plenty of theme ideas yourself, these are just to give you some ideas.