How to cook roast potatoes

I love roast potatoes and there are a couple of ways we cook roast potatoes at home. There is the lazy way which produces not so good results, and then there is the peeled method, that produces fantastic crispy roast potatoes. Below is how to cook roast potatoes.

Note: If you are a child please ask an adult to help you cook roast potatoes as there are knives, boiling water and ovens being used.

 

What you need:

• Ideally a potato peeler (optional).
• Roast potatoes!
• Cooking oil (we use rice bran oil).
• A baking tray.
• Chopping board.
• A large saucepan.
• A sieve.
• A sharp knife.

 

Step 1 – Wash the potatoes.

It is very important you wash the potatoes before using. I know you are about to peel them, but you are washing them for your own hygiene during preparation.

 

Step 2 – Peel and chop the potatoes.

I use a potato peeler to peel the potatoes and then chop into halves. If the potatoes are monster potatoes, I will then chop into quarters, as this will help them cook quicker.

 

Step 3 – Boil the potatoes.

This really does help and will make the inside of the potatoes taste fantastic later! So place the potatoes into a large pan and then bring to the boil, but don’t let them sit there boiling. Once boiled use the sieve to drain the water.

 

Step 4 – Place on baking tray and cook.

I place a layer of rice bran oil on the baking tray, then lay the potatoes on the tray. I will move the potatoes gently so that they are covered, but don’t break up. If they are a bit fragile I will pour drizzle some oil over them. I won’t overdo the oil though.

Then I will cook the potatoes for around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on when they go crispy on the outside. It will vary depending on the oven, amount of potatoes, place in the oven. Don’t be tempted to try and cook them quickly. I use gas mark 5 which is around 190 celsius.

 

Optional – The quick, but not as good version.

The lazy version is to wash the potatoes, not peel them and then cut them in half or quarters. Place onto a tray and cook. They do actually taste quite nice, but the reality is they will probably be quite soft, not crisp, not taste as good as the method explained above and probably not suitable for guests.

So best stick with the peeled, boiled and oven cooked roast potato method I’ve explained above, and avoid the lazy method (which I admit I’ve done too many times). I hope you cook great roast potatoes!