A pub chef has shared a simple trick to achieve perfectly crispy roast potatoes: adding bicarbonate of soda to the water before parboiling. The tip, revealed by food content creator Emma on TikTok, has garnered over 80,000 views.
Emma, known as Ems Foodie Fix, explained that the alkalinity of baking soda breaks down the potato's outer edges, releasing starches that form a starchy slurry. This creates craggy edges that crisp beautifully when roasted.
After parboiling, drain the potatoes and shake them in a colander to roughen the edges. Roast in the oven, turning at least four times to ensure even coating in fat and golden browning.
For seasoning, Emma recommends a simple mix of salt and fresh rosemary, added after roasting to preserve flavour. The method is also endorsed by chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, who uses half a teaspoon of baking soda per two litres of water for about 450g of potatoes.
