How to Cook Roast Potatoes to Perfection Every Time

There’s something magical about roast potatoes — crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and utterly irresistible. Whether it’s for a Sunday lunch, a comforting weekday meal, or a special occasion like Easter or Christmas where you want to impress the whole family, getting them just right is a non-negotiable. 

At Lakeland, we have all the expert tips and tricks to help you nail the roasties game every single time. With our delicious recipe, cooking equipment recommendations and answers to your most common questions, you’ll be the star of the dinner table.

Contents

• How to make easy roast potatoes in 12 steps
• What are the best potatoes for roasting?
• How to make roast potatoes extra crispy
• How to cook roast potatoes in an air fryer
• The best equipment for making roast potatoes
• Frequently asked questions

How to make easy roast potatoes in 12 steps

What you’ll need

Before we dive into the method, let’s quickly gather the essentials:

• Maris Piper or King Edward potatoes
• Vegetable oil, olive oil or goose fat
• Salt and pepper 
• Herbs like rosemary or thyme (optional)
• Garlic (optional)
• Flour (optional) 
• Saucepan
• Roasting tray 
• Colander

Method

1. Turn your oven on — Preheat your oven to 220°C (Gas 7). This is the magic temperature for getting your potatoes nice and crispy. 
2. Add your oil to a tray — Add about 2 tablespoons of your chosen oil (or goose fat) to a roasting tray and pop it into the oven for 5 minutes to get it sizzling hot. 
3. Peel and chop — Peel your Maris Piper or King Edward potatoes and use a knife to chop them into even-sized chunks, roughly 2.5cm in diameter. The more uneven the edges, the crispier they’ll be, so don’t be afraid to get a bit rough with the chopping!
4. Parboil your potatoes — Place them in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to the boil. Let them cook for about 10 minutes — you’ll know they’re ready when the edges start to soften, but they’re still holding their shape.
5. Drain your potatoes — Once parboiled, carefully drain your potatoes and give them a little shake in the colander to rough them up a bit. These jagged edges are what will crisp up beautifully in the oven.
6. Add potatoes to the tray — Once the oil is nice and hot, carefully add your potatoes to the tray, making sure they’re evenly spaced out. 
7. Add flour (optional) — For an even crispier finish, you can sprinkle a little flour over your potatoes. Don’t skip this step if you love an extra crisp!
8. Season your potatoes — Sprinkle your potatoes with salt and pepper. Hold off on adding herbs just yet – garlic and rosemary, for example, can burn quicker, so it’s better to add them a little later.
9. Roast your potatoes — Put your potatoes in the oven for around 45–60 minutes, turning them halfway through so they cook evenly.
10. Add your herbs — Around 10 minutes before your potatoes are done, add your herbs. Toss your garlic and rosemary into the tray. You can also get creative with herbs like thyme or sage if that’s more your style.
11. Remove from the oven and leave to rest — Once your potatoes are golden and crispy, take them out of the oven and let them rest for a couple of minutes. This helps them firm up even more, giving you a crispier texture. 

What are the best potatoes for roasting?

Not all potatoes are created equal when it comes to roasting. For the fluffiest interior and the crispiest exterior, floury potatoes like Maris Piper or King Edward are your best bet. The higher starch content makes them perfect for that soft, fluffy centre we all love. 

How to make roast potatoes extra crispy

To make roast potatoes really crispy, there are a few tried-and-tested methods to give that perfect crunch:

Bicarbonate of soda

Adding a small amount of bicarbonate of soda to the water when boiling your potatoes helps to break down their surface. This makes them extra rough and increases the crispiness when roasted. It also helps to achieve that perfect golden crust.

Just add half a teaspoon of bicarb to the boiling water after it has started to boil. Then, let the potatoes simmer for around 10 minutes. The surface of the potatoes will start to soften and roughen up, making them ideal for roasting.

Let the potatoes cool completely after boiling

Once you’ve parboiled and drained your potatoes, spread them out on a tray and let them cool for 10 to 15 minutes. This little rest helps dry out the surface, giving you that super crispy finish we all crave. If you’ve got the time, leave them to cool at room temperature a bit longer — the crunchier, the better, in our opinion!

You could even leave your boiled potatoes to completely cool overnight and roast them the next day — the drier the potato, the crunchier it’ll be once it’s hit the hot fat or oil.

Roast in goose fat 

Goose fat has a higher smoke point compared to many other oils, meaning it can get hotter without burning. This allows it to crisp up the exterior of the potato quickly, locking in the fluffiness of the interior.

Goose fat is also rich in saturated fats, which solidify at room temperature, giving the potatoes a crunchy, textured surface.

It can be a bit pricy, though, so you might want to save it for special occasions like Easter or Christmas.

Add a sprinkle of flour or semolina

For that extra level of crunch, don’t miss lightly dusting your potatoes with semolina or flour after parboiling. This helps form a crispy coating that enhances the texture. Just be sure to use a light hand — too much can affect the flavour.

How to cook roast potatoes in an air fryer

If you’re short on time but still want crispy, golden roast potatoes, the air fryer is your new best friend! It’s quick, easy, and still delivers that perfect crunch. Here’s how to make your roast potatoes in a flash without missing out on all the flavour.

For air fryer roast potatoes, just follow the same steps as you would for oven-roasted — peel, chop, parboil for 10 minutes, drain and shake to rough up the edges.

Then, place your potatoes in the air fryer basket in a shallow tray insert. Drizzle over a little oil — or skip the oil entirely for a healthier version. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then give it all a good shake to make sure they’re evenly coated.

Set your air fryer to 200°C and cook for about 25 minutes, shaking the basket a couple of times during cooking to ensure they cook evenly and get crispy all over.

They may not get quite as crispy as they would in the oven, but they’re still perfect for when you need something quick!

The best equipment for making roast potatoes

Lakeland Large Roasting Tin with Pouring Lip

For perfect roasties, the right roasting tin makes all the difference. A large tray ensures there’s space between them, allowing the heat to circulate properly. If the potatoes are too close together, they’ll steam instead of roast, resulting in soggy potatoes rather than the crispiness you’re aiming for.

The Lakeland Large Roasting Tin with Pouring Lip is a great pick. Its heavy-duty non-stick design means your potatoes won’t get stuck to the pan or break apart when you shake them.

Plus, it’s oven-safe up to 240°C, giving you the high heat needed for that perfect roast.

The textured base is another standout feature — it helps air circulate underneath the potatoes, ensuring even, golden-brown crispiness. 

But this tin isn’t just for potatoes! Whether you’re roasting chicken or making gravy, the pouring lip makes it easy to transfer excess liquids.

Lakeland Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid 20cm

This Lakeland Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid is perfect for daily use, but it really shines when the whole family is around. With its 20cm diameter and 3.7L capacity, it’s spacious enough to parboil a big batch of roasties.

It’s made from stainless steel, making it incredibly durable — it won’t rust, scratch, or react with your food. The encapsulated aluminium base ensures heat is distributed evenly, meaning your potatoes cook quickly and consistently without any hotspots. This gives you perfect, evenly cooked potatoes every time.

If that wasn’t enough, it’s backed by a 25-year guarantee, so you can rely on this saucepan to last for years to come.

Joseph Joseph® Elevate Tongs

The Joseph Joseph® Elevate Tongs are made from durable stainless steel with heat-resistant silicone tips, making them gentle on your non-stick pots and pans. These turners can easily handle high temperatures up to 270°C — perfect for flipping those crispy roast potatoes without any fuss.

With Elevate™ technology, the tips never touch your work surface, which is especially handy when you’re done turning your roasties on the tray, keeping your kitchen mess-free. Plus, the lockable handles make them compact and easy to store.

Lakeland Large Adjustable Drawer Air Fryer 9L

If you’re juggling a busy schedule, an air fryer is a great electrical to have in your kitchen for roast potatoes. And the Lakeland Large Adjustable Drawer Air Fryer (9L) is a perfect choice. With a 9-litre cooking drawer, it has plenty of room for a big batch of roasties to feed the whole family. But what really sets this air fryer apart is its versatility.

You can easily split the cooking drawer into two 4.2-litre compartments with the optional dividing wall, making it ideal for cooking two different dishes at once. Imagine making your crispy potatoes in one side and your favourite meat or veggies in the other. Plus, the Smart Finish function ensures both sides are ready at the same time!

Even with its generous size, this air fryer is surprisingly compact and fits snugly on your kitchen countertop — perfect for those with limited space.

To learn more, take a look at our guide on how to use your air fryer.

Frequently asked questions

How can you make vegan roast potatoes?

To make vegan roasties, simply swap out any animal fats, like butter or goose fat, for plant-based options. Olive oil or vegetable oil works wonders, and don’t forget to season with your favourite herbs — rosemary and garlic are always a hit!

How long should you cook roast potatoes?

Roast potatoes typically take around 45-60 minutes at 220°C, but this can vary based on the size of your potato chunks. You’ll know they’re ready when they’re golden brown and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside.

Don’t forget to give them a shake halfway through cooking to make sure every side gets that beautiful crunch!

How should you season roast potatoes?

Start with the basics: salt and pepper to taste. From there, get creative with your seasonings! 

Add some garlic, fresh rosemary, or thyme for that classic flavour combo, or try a dash of paprika or chilli flakes for a bit of heat. Just remember to add your herbs about 10 minutes before the potatoes are done to prevent them from burning.

For an extra layer of flavour, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar at the end can really make your potatoes pop.

What oil is best for roast potatoes?

The key to crispy roast potatoes is the right oil. You want something with a high smoke point, so it can handle the heat without burning.

Olive oil is a trusty all-rounder, giving your potatoes a lovely flavour and that perfect crispy finish. For an extra indulgent touch and even crispier results, goose fat is the way to go. Or, if you’re after something a bit more neutral, vegetable oil or sunflower oil are great picks that won’t steal the spotlight from your seasoning.

How do you reheat roast potatoes?

The best way to bring your roasties back to life is by reheating them in the oven. Preheat your oven to around 200°C (180°C for fan ovens) and place your roast potatoes on a baking tray. Cover them loosely with foil and pop them in for about 10 minutes. Then, remove the foil and let them cook for another 5 minutes to get them crispy again.

If you’re looking to get a bit of extra crunch, you can drizzle a small amount of oil over the potatoes before reheating, or even spritz them with a bit of cooking spray.

For a quicker, super-crispy option, try using an air fryer! Set it to around 180°C and cook for 5-10 minutes, giving them a shake halfway through.

“You could put them in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes, but I wouldn’t suggest it because while it’ll warm them up quickly, the potatoes will lose their crispy texture and end up a bit soggy. For that perfect crispiness, the oven or air fryer is definitely your best bet!”

Can roast potatoes be frozen?

Yes, they can! Freezing them can actually help add to the crispiness when reheating, and the best part? You don’t usually need to defrost your frozen potatoes before cooking them again — this actually makes them crispier.

When frozen, the surface of the potato develops a slight protective layer, which prevents too much moisture from escaping. As a result, the outside crisps up better while the inside remains fluffy.

To freeze, just let them cool completely, then pop them in an airtight container or freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, spread them on a baking tray and into a preheated oven at around 180°C for about 15 minutes. They’ll come out golden and absolutely delicious!

Master roast potato perfection with Lakeland

And there you have it — perfectly crispy, fluffy roast potatoes that will have everyone coming back for seconds (or thirds!). With these tips and tricks, you’re ready to wow your guests at every meal, from casual dinners to those big family get-togethers.

At Lakeland, we’ve got all the products you need to make it happen, from pots and pans and roastware to kitchen electricals, like food processors and blenders, that make batch cooking easy.

For more expert tips, tasty recipes, and all the kitchen inspiration you could ever need, be sure to check out our blog.