Crispy Roasted Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

Why can't I get my roast potatoes crispy? ›

Preheat the fat. While the potatoes parboil, add the oil or butter to the roasting pan, transfer it to the warm oven, and heat it for about 5 minutes before adding the potatoes. This allows the outside of the potatoes to crisp up nicely and not just absorb the cold fat when you put them in the oven.

Keep potatoes crisp in a warm oven if you're serving them in 1-2 hours. If there is a slight wait before everyone eats, don't cover the crispy potatoes—this traps steam which will make the potatoes soggy. Just keep them in the oven, but turn the temperature to the lowest setting.

Vegetable oil is the ideal choice for those who like a subtle, or blander flavour from their roast potatoes, because it cooks best at a medium heat and so the potatoes won't take on too much flavour from the oil. This also means the potatoes won't overpower other dishes.

Arrange cooked potatoes on a baking sheet in a single layer (if desired, line with parchment paper). Cover pan with aluminum foil and place in hot oven. Cook for 20 minutes, and then remove foil and let them go for another 5-10 minutes or until they are the crispy potatoes you are looking for.

If roasted potatoes lack their crunchy sheen, overcrowding is usually the culprit. Just as overcrowding bacon or mushrooms in a saucepan causes disappointingly mushy results, placing potatoes too close to each other on a baking sheet will prevent them from crisping while they roast.

If the potato cubes were too large or unevenly cut, this might result in some pieces remaining crunchy. Crockpot Temperature: Crockpots can cook at varying temperatures, even on the same setting. If your crockpot is not heating evenly or maintaining a consistent temperature, it might have resulted in uneven cooking.

Should potatoes be soaked before roasting? Yes. You can skip this step but your oven roasted red potatoes will not get as crispy as they would with the soaking.

Roasted potatoes can become soggy if the water content in the potato isn't fully cooked. Different potatoes have different water content percentages. Also, be mindful of the oil. Potatoes can react like sponges; too much oil can make your potatoes appear to be soggy.

The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying. Additionally, the vinegar can contribute to a golden-brown color on the exterior of the fries.

In fact, Serious Eats puts extra-virgin olive oil right at the bottom of its smoke point chart ― meaning it's better used as a dressing or dip than a cooking aid. That's because once you heat oil past its smoke point, its fats start to break down, releasing free radicals and a substance called acrolein.

What is the best fat to use for roast potatoes? ›

Goose fat is ideal for roast potatoes as it has a high smoke point, so the potatoes can be cooked at high temperature to make sure that the outsides are golden and crisp. Goose fat also gives the potatoes a good flavour. Goose fat is often sold in jars or cans can be bought in larger supermarkets and on-line.

Is regular or extra virgin olive oil better for roasting? Regular olive oil, due to its higher smoke point, is better suited for roasting at high temperatures. Extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoke point and may impart a slightly bitter taste when exposed to high heat.

Add the potatoes to the fat, spooning the fat over the potatoes to coat completely, and shake the tin to prevent sticking. Continue to roast for about an hour, depending on size, turning the potatoes from time to time until golden and crisp. Sprinkle the roast potatoes with salt just before serving.

How do you keep roast potatoes warm and crispy? If it's for a short time, just spread them on a half-sheet pan and stick in a 200F oven. Because it's below 212F the potatoes won't keep cooking and because the oven is dry, they will stay crispy.

If you're cooking the potatoes after they've been in the fridge, the cooking time may be a little longer than normal as the potatoes will be cold. If you are cooking a whole roast dinner and are in and out of the oven you may find your roasties take a little longer.

Also, if you are going to fry them they will turn out crispier. Soaking them helps to remove the starch. Just make sure you dry them well before frying. The water will spatter and cause burns but also steam the potatoes and not get crunchy and crisp.

One method to avoid this is to peel the potatoes, place in water covering the potatoes, remove and slice on a cutting board with a knife that is steel (some blades have iron in them and till will turn the potato dark). Then place back in water, drain and dry before cooking on a shallow aluminum tray.