Chef Poppy O'Toole has shared a simple step that she says guarantees perfectly crunchy roast potatoes with a fluffy centre every time: steaming the potatoes dry after boiling.
In a recent TikTok video, the chef known as the Potato Queen outlined her top 10 rules for making roast potatoes at home. Among them, one stage stands out as crucial for achieving the ideal crisp exterior.
The essential step
Poppy explained that potatoes should be boiled for slightly longer than usual, between 10 and 15 minutes. The next step, however, is key to getting a crispy shell.
After draining the potatoes into a colander, she advises placing them over the pan used for boiling and returning it to the hob with the heat turned off. The residual heat and remaining water will create steam that helps dry the potatoes out.
In the video, Poppy said: "The drier your potatoes when they go into the oven, the crispier they're going to be."
How to get crispy roasties
Cover the potatoes with a tea towel and leave them to steam dry for around 10 minutes. Once sufficiently dried, add them to hot oil or fat, ensuring they are thoroughly coated.
Roast in the oven at 200 (fan) for 30 minutes, then turn the potatoes once and roast for a further 20 to 30 minutes. Poppy said: "Hmm. Perfect, every time."
Poppy had previously described this step as the "most important" for achieving crispy roast potatoes, speaking to BBC Food.
Wet potatoes tend to steam in the oven rather than frying or roasting properly, which can result in a soggy or pale crust. Steam drying allows surface moisture to escape, creating a better surface for hot oil to adhere to, helping the outer layer crisp up while keeping the centre light and fluffy.
For a craggier edge and extra crispy bits, potatoes can be roughed up in the saucepan or container before steaming dry, which helps them become crisp during roasting.
