Dame Mary Berry, the undisputed queen of British baking, has finally shared her game-changing secret for creating the perfect roast potatoes - and it involves an ingredient you'd never expect to find in your Sunday roast.
The Unexpected Kitchen Staple That Makes All The Difference
While most home cooks rely on the traditional combination of fluffy Maris Piper potatoes, hot oil, and plenty of salt, Mary's revolutionary method incorporates a surprising addition: baking powder.
"It's my number one tip that I've been using for years," the 88-year-old culinary legend revealed. "Just half a teaspoon of baking powder added when you parboil the potatoes makes them incredibly crisp and fluffy."
The Science Behind Perfect Roasties
The magic lies in how baking powder affects the potato's surface. The alkaline nature of baking powder helps break down the outer layer of the potatoes, creating a rougher surface that becomes wonderfully crispy when roasted.
Mary's full method involves:
- Peeling and cutting Maris Piper potatoes into even-sized pieces
- Parboiling with baking powder for exactly 7 minutes
- Draining and roughing up the edges in the colander
- Roasting in very hot oil or fat until golden and crisp
Why This Method Beats Traditional Approaches
Unlike many celebrity chefs who recommend complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients, Mary's approach is beautifully simple and accessible to every home cook. The baking powder trick requires no special equipment or advanced skills - just that one secret addition to your usual routine.
"The result is a roast potato that's crispier than you ever thought possible," Mary promises. "They come out golden brown with a fluffy interior that simply melts in your mouth."
This revelation comes as no surprise to those familiar with Mary's no-nonsense approach to cooking. Throughout her six-decade career, she's consistently championed practical, reliable methods that deliver exceptional results without unnecessary fuss.
A New Sunday Lunch Tradition
For British families who take their Sunday roasts seriously, this simple tip could revolutionise weekly meals. The humble roast potato, often the star of the Sunday lunch plate, can now reach new heights of perfection with Mary's clever baking powder hack.
As Mary herself would say: "It's the little touches that make all the difference between good cooking and great cooking."
