Roast potatoes are a staple food throughout winter, and for many people, a true favorite. When done well, roast potatoes are hard to resist, but there are a variety of reasons why they don’t always turn out perfectly. If you’re struggling to achieve crisp roasted spuds which are still fluffy on the inside, check out these tips on how to prepare and cook them.
Prep the Potatoes
Scrub the potatoes with a stiff brush, run them under cold water, and then remove any remaining brown, green or black bits with a sharp knife. Then, leave the potatoes to dry – water and oil do not mix well, so part of achieving perfect roast potatoes is to make sure they enter the pan ry.
Heat the Oil
Make sure the oil that you’re going to cook with has some time to heat in the oven before the potatoes are added. This will stop the potatoes from absorbing too much oil, and help to crisp the skins nicely.
Start on a High Heat
Roast the potatoes at 400 degrees F for the first 20 minutes, before reducing down to about 350 for the remainder of the cooking time. This will crisp up those skins, without making the middle of the potato overcook or lose flavor.
