Roast potatoes are a classic side dish that can elevate any meal. But achieving the perfect crispy exterior and fluffy interior can be a challenge. With our step-by-step guide to the perfect roastie, you'll be able to create the ultimate crispy roast potatoes every time.
Step 1. Boil your potatoes
Start by choosing the right type of potato. Floury potatoes such as Maris Piper or King Edward are perfect for roast potatoes as they have a fluffy texture that crisps up well.
Peel and chop your potatoes into evenly sized pieces.
Start them off in a pan of cold water. Make sure the water is seasoned. Bring them up to the boil gently... you do not want a rapid boil.
Marcus Wareing
Boil them in a saucepan of salted water until they're just beginning to soften. This will help to create a fluffy texture inside the potato, which is essential for achieving the perfect crispy exterior.
Step 2: Rough up the edges
Once your potatoes are boiled, drain them and make sure they are dry.
Use a fork to rough up the edges and give them a scoring. You can then give the potatoes a good shake to rough up the edges. This step is important as it creates more surface area for the lard to stick to, which helps to create a crispy crust on the potato.
Step 3: Put them into a hot roasting tray with lard
Preheat your oven to 210-220°C. Add a generous amount of lard to your Circulon Non Stick Roasting Tray and put it in the oven to heat up.
What you get with this roasting tray is a beautiful even heat distribution. Your pan needs to be non-stick, so they [your potatoes] just gently move around in there.
Marcus Wareing
We recommend using lard rather than oil or butter as it has a high smoking point, which helps to create a crispy crust on the potatoes. Once the lard is hot, carefully add the potatoes to the tray and give them a shake to ensure they're coated in the lard.
Top tip: If you need to keep your crispy roast potatoes vegan, don't use lard - instead try coconut oil for a vegan-friendly fat that has a high smoke point.
Top Tip: Give each potato enough space to ensure it cooks evenly. Overcrowding the tray can cause the potatoes to steam rather than roast, resulting in a soft and soggy texture rather than crispy.
Season your potatoes and put them back in the oven.
Step 4: Cook between 210-220°C
Roast the potatoes in the oven for around 45 minutes, turning them occasionally to ensure they cook evenly. The high temperature will help to create a crispy crust on the outside of the potato, while the fluffy interior will remain soft and delicious.
Serve and Enjoy!
These ultimate crispy roast potatoes pair perfectly with any roast dinner. Top them with our delicious homemade chicken gravy, or serve with Marcus Wareing's Pan-Roasted Rib of Beef.
In summary, achieving the ultimate crispy roast potatoes requires boiling your potatoes, roughing up the edges, using lard in a hot roasting tray, and cooking at a high temperature. With these tips from Marcus Wareing, you'll be able to create the perfect crispy roast potatoes every time, making them the perfect side dish for any meal.
The perfect roasting tray
With Circulon's non-stick roasting tray, you get unrivalled performance from the carbon steel which ensures even heating with no hot-spots, combined with a premium non-stick system that provides exceptional food release. We guarantee that food will not stick!
