Roast potatoes are a staple component of any roast dinner, and they can be made in a variety of different ways. However, everyone loves a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior, which can be challenging to achieve, especially in an air fryer.
Now that air fryers are a staple in kitchens across the UK, the experts at online butchers, Campbells Meat, have shared their top tips for achieving crispy roast potatoes in no time. The experts have shared three simple tips to follow, including how to prepare the potatoes, how to shake them after boiling, and the type of fat to use for cooking.
Prepping potatoes
The experts said: “The key to perfect roasties is in the preparation, and there are a couple of simple tricks you can do to ensure your potatoes have the perfect crunch.
“Once you’ve chopped and peeled your potatoes, add half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to your boiling water before par-boiling. The alkaline water helps to soften the potatoes’ exterior and increases surface starch for the perfect crispy spud.”
Roughing them up
Once parboiled, the experts advised draining the potatoes and then giving them a gentle shake in the pan.
This roughens the edges, providing more surface area for that “irresistible crispiness.” The pros added: “To add an extra crunch, try adding a sprinkling of semolina or flour to achieve the perfect texture.
“If you fancy your potatoes with a flavour twist, then swap the flour for a crushed-up stock cube.”
Duck fat
Toss the potatoes in a generous coating of duck fat or an alternative of your choice, such as vegetable oil.
Sprinkle them with a pinch of salt and pepper. The experts noted: “The fat adds rich flavour and helps them crisp up beautifully in the air fryer.
“According to the experts, the optimal temperature to roast your potatoes in the air fryer is 180C.
“Spread the potatoes out in a single layer and make sure to avoid overcrowding them to allow for even cooking.
“Cook them for around 30 minutes and shake halfway through to make sure your potatoes are browned all over.”
