The very best crispy roast potatoes – an integral part of any roast dinner! Plus recommendations on making forward!


Nicky’s Notes


You realize once you go to a restaurant for a sunday dinner, how disappointing is it when the roasties aren’t crispy! They’re only a bit browned and chewy on the edges, as an alternative of getting that satisfying crunch. So disappointing!!
Nope, give me home made roasties any time. I need that crunchy exterior you may solely get from fluffing up these edges and letting them bubble away in scorching fats, with a fluffy, gentle inside.
And the crispy bits within the backside of the roasting pan? I need these too. Eaten with a sprinkling of salt flakes. They’re the bonus bits. Salty, crispy morsels, that crunch right through once you chew into them.
It’s wonderful how a lot a potato cooked in oil with salt could make me salivate at my keyboard.
Finest kind of potatoes for roast potatoes
You wish to use a floury potato, somewhat than a waxy potato as these crisp up superbly on the skin, whereas staying pretty and fluffy inside. Finest varieties embrace:
- Within the UK – Maris Piper, Rooster or King Edward
- Within the US – Russet/Idaho or Yukon Gold
Abbreviated Recipe
***Full recipe with detailed portions within the recipe card under***
We begin by boiling the potatoes in loads of water for about 8-9 minutes. This will sound like a very long time to par-boil potatoes, however that is the way you get the additional fluffy edges that can crisp up within the oven later.


Drain the potatoes in a colander and provides them a very actually good shake – so it seems like they’re on the verge of falling aside.


Place in shimmeringly scorching oil within the oven for 30-35 minutes, turning a couple of times till crisp, crunchy and golden.


Sprinkle with Maldon salt (the BEST for roasties) and some recent thyme leaves.


Recipe Ideas
- Boil the potatoes till a butter knife slips although them simply. This implies the potatoes will probably be tender, and it additionally means the sides will probably be mushy sufficient which you can actually ruffle them up within the colander. The extra bashed about and ruffled they appear, the extra crunchy-crispy edges you’ll have.
- Don’t overcrowd the roasting pan. Too many potatoes will settle down the roasting pan and the fats and so they’ll take longer to brown.
If I’m making for greater than 6 folks, I take advantage of two roasting pans.
If i’m making them forward for greater than 6 folks, I par-roast in two tins, then add all of them to 1 tin to complete off (see make-ahead information under for more information on this)
Serve up together with your favorite protein and additional sides.


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🍽️ What goes with roast potatoes?


Make forward Information
I do that if I wish to get forward or if I’m making a roast dinner for greater than 6 folks.
This methodology works notably properly once you’re cooking for extra folks, because the extra potatoes you’re roasting within the pan, the longer the potatoes take. So having them par-roasted means they need to take not than Half-hour to complete off.
- Observe the recipe in the identical manner (rising the quantity of potatoes and fats to the identical ratio in the event you’re cooking for extra folks). It’s possible you’ll want to make use of a couple of roasting pan, in order to not overcrowd the pan.
Roast the potatoes for 20 minutes (or till calmly golden). You need them calmly golden so that they type a crispy pores and skin. It will stop the potatoes oxidising and going gray. - Then take away the potatoes from the fats and place in a bowl to chill. Cowl and refrigerate for as much as a day. Cool and canopy the fats too.
- If you’re prepared to complete the potatoes, warmth the fats within the oven at 220C/425F for 10 minutes, then add the potatoes again in and cook dinner for 20-Half-hour, turning as soon as, till golden.
- You’ll be able to load extra potatoes into the roasting tin for the second roasting (If I’m cooking for 7-8 folks I’ll use two roasting tins for the par-roasting stage, however switch all of them to 1 roasting tin for the second roasting to save lots of oven area).
📺 Watch how you can make it
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Preheat the oven to 220C/425F (fan).
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Peel the potatoes and chop them into chunky items a bit larger than a ping pong ball (approx 2 inches/5cm throughout).
1 kg (2.25 lbs) floury potatoes
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Place in a pan and canopy with chilly water. Place on the hob on a excessive warmth and produce to the boil, then flip down the warmth and simmer for 8-9 minutes – till softened on the edges *See Tip 1*.
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In the meantime, place the lard or (goose fats if utilizing) in a big roasting tin and place within the oven for 10 minutes till shimmering scorching.
120 g (1/2 cup) lard or duck fats
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Drain the potatoes in a colander *See Tip 2* and provides them a superb shake to essentially roughen up the sides. Don’t be concerned if a number of break aside and so they look overly fluffy. The extra fluffy they’re, the higher they will take up the fats and the crispier they will be.
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Fastidiously place the potatoes – utilizing tongs – within the baking tin with the new fats. Flip them over as soon as to coat within the fats after which place them within the oven.
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Prepare dinner for 30-35 minutes, turning a couple of times within the final quarter-hour of cooking, till golden brown and crispy.
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Take away from the roasting tin and serve topped with a sprinkling of Maldon salt and a few recent thyme leaves.
1 tsp Maldon salt, 1 tbsp recent thyme leaves
*Tip 1
8-9 minutes would possibly look like a very long time to par-boil potatoes, however it’s solely after this period of time that the potatoes will probably be cooked and tender on the edges. It will enable the sides to fluff up lots when shaken. These fluffy bits on the bits that can go further crispy within the oven.
*Tip 2
Don’t tip away the potato water, reserve it (and some other vegetable cooking/steaming water) to make your gravy. I add a inventory dice or two to the roasting juices from the meat (to make the gravy stretch additional), then stir in round 2-3 cups (480-720ml) of vegetable water with a superb pinch of salt and pepper, carry to the boil and stir in a bit cornflour/cornstarch slurry to thicken. Scrumptious!
Making mashed potatoes too?
I boil the chopped potatoes for my roasties and mash in the identical pan on the similar time. Then after 8-9 minutes, I take advantage of a slotted spoon to scoop out the potatoes for the roasties.
The potatoes left within the pan are cooked for an additional 5 minutes or so till tender, earlier than being drained and mashed with butter, cream, salt and pepper. I then cowl the mash and put to 1 aspect while the roasties are within the oven, and reheat the mash within the microwave proper earlier than serving.
Make forward Roast potatoes:
I do that if I wish to get forward or if I’m making a roast dinner for greater than 6 folks.
Observe the recipe in the identical manner (rising the quantity of potatoes and fats to the identical ratio in the event you’re cooking for extra folks), however simply roast the potatoes for 20 minutes – or till calmly golden.
Then take away the potatoes from the fats and place in a bowl to chill. Cowl and refrigerate for as much as a day. Cool and canopy the fats too.
If you’re prepared to complete the potatoes, warmth the fats within the oven at 220C/425F for 10 minutes, then add the potatoes again in and cook dinner for 20-Half-hour, turning as soon as, till golden.
This methodology works notably properly once you’re cooking for extra folks, because the extra potatoes you’re roasting within the pan, the longer the potatoes take. So having them par-roasted means they need to take not than Half-hour to complete off.
Dietary info is per serving.
Be aware – the roast potatoes don’t take up the entire fay, so I’ve halved the quantity of fats for the calculation (that is approximate).
Energy: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 15g | Saturated Fats: 5g | Ldl cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 606mg | Fiber: 6g
Diet info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
This recipe for roast poatoes was first posted in Might 2019. Up to date since with recipe enhancements, images, video and for housekeeping causes.
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