Crispy and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy inside: sounds simple enough, but it’s easier said than done.

Roast potatoes are considered one of the most basic sides to prepare, but it’s not always easy to make them as crunchy as they should be. Here are some useful tips for making perfect roast potatoes.

Don’t skimp on the oil. You may think you can simply cut and peel the potatoes, place them in the oven at the right temperature and wait until they’re done... but you couldn’t be more wrong! For perfectly golden and crispy potatoes, coat them with plenty of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt before putting them in.

 Lay them out evenly on the tray. To make sure they’re crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, the oven’s heat must be distributed uniformly. Therefore, it’s crucial to lay out the potato pieces evenly on your baking tray, and avoid having one on top of another. 

Boil them for a few minutes. For optimal texture, it’s advisable to boil the potatoes for a couple of minutes before roasting them in the oven. After having peeled and cut them, a dip in lightly-salted boiling water will make the exterior more compact and will shorten cooking time in the oven.

Choose the right type of potato. For a soft and tasty inside, you should always use yellow-flesh potatoes and avoid the white-flesh ones. While the former, in fact, are more compact and contain less starch, the latter are more crumbly and floury. 

Click here to find the perfect potato for any recipe. 

Last but not least, remember that roast potatoes are at their crunchy best when eaten right away, fresh out of the oven!