A chef on social media has shared a simple ingredient that promises to make roast potatoes super crispy on the outside while staying fluffy inside. The secret, according to Chef Fatty, who has more than 517,000 followers on TikTok, is adding a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to the water when boiling the potatoes.
The science behind the trick
In his video, which has received thousands of likes and comments, Chef Fatty joked that Brits aren't doing roast potatoes right. His method is not too different from the usual approach, but the baking soda makes all the difference.
He explains that because baking soda is alkaline, it helps break down the surface of the potato. This results in a crunchy exterior but does not affect the fluffiness of the inside, making it the perfect spud.
How to make the perfect roast potatoes
To make the ideal roasties, grab some potatoes—preferably Maris Piper—peel them, and chop them into bite-size pieces. Boil them for around 8-10 minutes, adding the baking soda to the water as they cook.
When they are done, drain the potatoes, then add two tablespoons of ghee or clarified butter, as well as a teaspoon of garlic salt, and give everything a good shake. Doing this makes their edges roughen up, resulting in a crispier, crunchier texture.
Cooking and reaction
You can then airfry them on a rack at 220°C for 40 minutes, or alternatively, cook them in the oven for the same amount of time. Make sure to turn them halfway through and reduce the heat slightly if you think they might burn.
Taking the golden spuds out of the air fryer, the chef declared: "Now that's a proper roast potato." Although some commenters pointed out that they are technically not roast potatoes since they're cooked in the air fryer, others praised how good they looked. One person wrote: "Looks perfect to me. Thank you." Another commented: "That's exactly how I do mine .. I do cut them a-bit bigger though."
