Potatoes are one of the most versatile — and delicious — vegetables around. You can eat them with any meal, at any time of day, and the ways to prepare them are virtually endless. Still, there’s one thing about potatoes that constantly befuddles home chefs: How do you get roasted potatoes as crispy as the ones served…
Something Crispy This Way Comes
There’s a simple trick to this using something you probably already have in your pantry: cornstarch. America’s Test Kitchen is credited with creating this method, and it works like a charm. Here’s how to do it:
Grab a bag of Yukon Gold baby potatoes, or another small variety, and cut them in half. If your potatoes vary in size, cut the larger ones down so all the pieces are uniform. In a microwave-safe bowl large enough to hold your potatoes, whisk together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water. (This ratio is for 1 1/2 pounds of potatoes; adjust the measurements proportionally for larger or smaller batches.)
Microwave the mixture in 20-second increments until it forms a gooey, jellylike substance. Next, add your potatoes to the bowl and use your hands to coat them thoroughly. This coating is what helps the potatoes get nice and crunchy on the outside while remaining creamy on the inside.
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Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a sheet pan with both cooking spray and a neutral oil with a high smoke point (e.g., avocado oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil). Don’t skip the cooking spray — its specific ingredients offer that extra bit of slip needed to keep the potatoes from sticking. Place your potatoes cut-side down on the sheet pan and tent it with aluminum foil. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes. The foil tent steams the potatoes, helping them achieve that wonderfully fluffy interior.
Next, remove the foil and return the pan to the oven until the potatoes are perfectly browned and crisp. This step typically takes 15 to 20 minutes, though you may need a bit longer depending on the size of your spuds.
Just before serving, toss the potatoes with your desired seasonings and pop them back in the oven for five more minutes to get them ultra-crispy.
