A TikTok chef has claimed that a simple kitchen staple can transform roast potatoes from ordinary to extraordinary. Oli Brandon, known as @olibrandon on TikTok, suggests adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the boiling water when parboiling potatoes.
According to Brandon, the baking soda increases the water's pH level, which promotes the Maillard reaction—the chemical process responsible for the golden-brown crust on roasted potatoes. After cooking the potatoes until fork tender, he recommends draining and fluffing them before roasting.
Brandon's method includes tossing the potatoes with toasted rosemary and garlic fried in olive oil, then roasting at 180°C for 20 minutes, turning them over, and roasting for another 20 to 30 minutes until super crispy. He finishes by tossing the potatoes with the toasted garlic and rosemary.
The video has gone viral, with viewers expressing their craving for the dish. One commented, "It's 11pm and you've got me wanting roast potatoes," while another said, "You ain't lying when you said this is the sound of the best roast potatoes. I approve!" Brandon humorously warned that whoever cooks these potatoes will be expected to make them every Sunday.
