Perfect roast potatoes

Published January 6, 2017 | By Becky

As the daughter of a chef I’m a shockingly bad cook, smoke alarms going off and me burning myself are regular occurrences. I am trying to improve my skills but these things take time. But the one thing I pride myself in are my roast potatoes. I don’t cook traditional roast dinners very often, I really should as a kid we had a roast dinner every Sunday, where as I think other than Christmas the last time I did a roast was Mothering Sunday! But I will often do roast potatoes to accompany other dishes. For me the perfect roast potato is crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

So this is how I achieve (in my opinion anyway) the perfect roast potato.

You will need

potatoes (I have found Maris Piper potatoes to be the best)

beef dripping

I start by putting the oven on on its highest setting 220 (mine is a fan assisted.) I then peel and chop the potatoes and then put them in to a saucepan of cold, lightly salted water and bring to the boil while the potatoes are cooking, once the oven is up to heat put some of the dripping in to your roasting tray (used about a 3rd of a block and cut it up) and put it in to the oven to get nice and hot!

I boil the potatoes for about 10mins then drain, put them back into the saucepan pop a lid on and give them a good shake, to rough up the edges. Next, I carefully remove the roasting tray of fat from the oven and very carefully put the potatoes in WARNING please be really careful and expect the oil to spit.

Once the potatoes are in use a spoon to ensure the potatoes are covered in the fat and get them into the oven as quickly as possible. Once in cook for 20mins at 220 (fan assisted) and then turn down to 200 for 1 hour. After 30mins at 200 take them out give them a quick shake and then pop them back in.

After an hour of cooking remove from the oven and enjoy with your chosen accompaniment – I can recommend lashings of gravy!

I hope you enjoy these roasties and remember I love to hear your feedback and see what you cook.

@sparkly_mummy on Twitter and Instagram

Posted in recipes

18 Responses to Perfect roast potatoes

Debbie Nicholas on January 6, 2017 at 08:13

Oh they do look fabulous!! Love roasties!

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Sarah on January 6, 2017 at 08:38

Ooh they look awesome! My recipe is similar but I use oil and I put marmite on them during the shake…mmm! #foodiefriday

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Deb Sharratt on January 6, 2017 at 10:14

They do look delicious – shame I don’t eat beef dripping. May try the oil and marmite suggestion, though 🙂 #foodiefriday

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Helen @Talking_Mums on January 6, 2017 at 10:20

This is exactly how I do mine except I haven’t tried using dripping before so will have to give it a go, thanks. #FoodieFriday

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Amy on January 6, 2017 at 10:32

Wow these look fantastic! Mine never come out like this! I will have to try harder #foodiefriday

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Laura on January 6, 2017 at 12:22

I don’t do roast potatoes very often but these look great #foodiefriday

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donna on January 6, 2017 at 12:30

My husband makes amazing roast potatoes. Mine are never quite right for some reason, will have to give this a go. #foodiefriday

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Cathryn - Little Paper Swans on January 6, 2017 at 13:22

Ooooh they look so good. I love a roast potato. For Christmas this year I followed Jamie Oliver’s advice and half eay through cooking squashed them a little with a potato masher and oh my. They were the crispiest potatoes I’ve ever had!

#FoodieFriday

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Epril on January 6, 2017 at 14:40

Looks delicious and seems to be a perfect roast potato.

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Kat on January 6, 2017 at 15:27

Oh who doesn’t love a good roast potato?! Yummy! #FoodieFriday

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Lisa mummybakesdairyfree on January 6, 2017 at 15:35

These look yummy! Roast potatoes are the best bit of a Sunday roast!

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Twin Pickle on January 6, 2017 at 16:11

I LOVE roast potatoes and have been unable to perfect them so the standards my Gran used to make. I’ll give your method a go! #FoodieFriday

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Amethyst | One Sage Mama on January 6, 2017 at 19:55

That looks amazing. Potatoes are my favorite veggie. My daughter loves them too. Thanks for the nice post! #foodiefriday

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Savings 4 Savvy Mums on January 6, 2017 at 20:17

I could have done with this on christmas day! I was frantically googling roast potatoes and only Jamie Oliver came up! Oh well, all turn out ok in the end! Will def use yours next time though! #foodiefriday

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The Mum Reviews on January 7, 2017 at 11:23

Those really do look crunchy and perfect. I’m a bit phobic of making roast potatoes. I leave it to my husband! We got an actifry during Christmas though so I might try making them in that. #foodiefriday

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Nicola on January 9, 2017 at 15:53

They sound amazing. Like you, I very rarely cook a roast. I will definitely be trying your methods next time I do though!

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Mummy and the Mexicans on January 10, 2017 at 05:16

I agree with your definition of the perfect roast potato and yours looks really great! It sounds similar to my dad’s roast potato method and they are definitely the best! Will have to try to make them myself one day! #FoodieFriday

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Pat - White Camellias on January 11, 2017 at 22:11

There is nothing better than a good roasted potatoe. They are my son’s favourite too. We make ours in a very similar way x #foodiefriday

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