There are many ways to roast potatoes in an oven, but what is the best way? This is a question that I get asked all the time, so I decided to write a blog post about it.
Roasting potatoes in an oven can be tricky, but I have tips and tricks to help you get the perfect results every time. This blog post will share my tips for roasting potatoes in an oven.
So, if you want to learn how to roast potatoes in an oven, then read on.
Key Takeaways
- The best way to roast potatoes in an oven is to preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the potatoes into pieces, and toss with olive oil and sea salt.
- Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Here’s The Answer To What Is The Best Way To Roast Potatoes In An Oven
Roasting potatoes in the oven is an easy way to get a crispy outside and a soft inside. You can roast potatoes with any seasoning you want, but we like to do it with olive oil and salt.
If you’re cooking them for dinner or making them as a side dish, try roasting twice as many potatoes as you need to have leftovers. Leftover roasted potatoes are great cold in salads or reheated in soups.
To get the best results from roasted potatoes, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it’s important to understand that not all potato varieties are created equal.
For instance, Yukon Gold potatoes have more starch than other varieties like Russet potatoes. This means they’ll require less roasting time and are less likely to dry out.
If you’re using small Yukon Gold or fingerling potatoes, there’s no need to soak them beforehand. Instead, rinse them well and dry them with a clean towel.
Preheat The Oven To 400 Degrees Fahrenheit

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees after about 20 minutes. Most people roast potatoes in an oven at high heat, but this is not always necessary.
If you have a convection oven, you can roast them at 350 degrees without any problems; however, if you’re using a standard home oven that doesn’t have a fan that circulates hot air around the food. In contrast, it roasts (like many commercial kitchens).
Then it’s best to use the higher temperature so there are not to be any uneven cooking issues, as well as ensure everything cooks evenly throughout all parts of each piece of potatoes.
Wash The Potatoes
Wash the potatoes thoroughly, including cutting away any brown or black spots. If you don’t wash off dirt and debris from your potatoes, they will stick to them during roasting, giving them a bitter taste.
Use a small brush to scrub off any dirt outside of each potato.
Cut Potatoes Into Wedges
There are various benefits to cutting potatoes into wedges before roasting them in the oven. First and foremost, it allows for even cooking.
By ensuring that each potato wedge is roughly the same size, you can guarantee that they will all be cooked through by the time the dish is finished.
Secondly, it allows the maximum surface area to be exposed to heat, resulting in a crispy exterior. And lastly, it just looks nicer.
Place The Potatoes On A Baking Tray

You will first want to prepare the baking dish where you will be roasting your potatoes. You can buy disposable aluminum or foil baking pans, non-stick silicone baking sheets, and parchment paper.
These can be found in most grocery stores or local kitchen supply stores. If you don’t have any of these items on hand, then a sheet pan would also work fine (they are often used for roasting meat).
Drizzle Olive Oil On Top Of The Potatoes
Olive oil should be drizzled over the potatoes. Drizzling olive oil will help give your potatoes that golden brown color and crispy texture, which makes for a much tastier potato than one that comes out pale in color and soft to the touch.
You can use any olive oil, but we recommend an extra virgin variety for its fruity flavor.
Sprinkle With Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, And Onion Powder If Desired
In addition to the seasonings listed above, you can also sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on the potatoes before roasting them.
You might add spices such as paprika, cayenne pepper, or thyme. Herbs like rosemary and thyme are also great options.
Mix The Potatoes Well And Arrange Them In A Single Layer On The Baking Tray

Once you have your potatoes ready, make sure they are spread out evenly on the tray. If the pieces are too crowded, they may steam instead of browning in the oven.
To avoid overcrowding the baking tray, use at least two baking sheets and space them out when possible. If a dish is small enough to fit into one pan or dish without overcrowding, do so.
Keep an eye on them while roasting in the oven, and make any adjustments necessary as necessary to ensure even browning throughout every potato piece.
Bake In The Oven For 20 Minutes
If you want your potatoes to be cooked on the outside and soft on the inside, bake them in the oven for 20 minutes. This will give you a beautiful golden brown exterior and a fluffy interior.
If you’re looking for something more rustic, try cooking your potatoes under a broiler instead of baking them in an oven.
Just place them directly under an open broiler at high heat until they’re browned on all sides (about 10 minutes), then flip them over and repeat with another 10-15 minutes of broiling.
The best part? Your kitchen won’t smell like burnt food afterward.
Turn Potatoes Over
After 20 minutes, remove the skillet from the oven and use tongs to turn the potatoes. The bottom side should be crispy and golden brown by now. They will burn on the bottom and cook unevenly if you don’t turn them over.
You can also turn them over halfway through cooking time if you’re worried about this happening (be sure not to let them sit on top of burning embers). Still, it’s best to do it right at 20 minutes so that they finish cooking without any additional exposure to heat or oxygen.
If you’ve left some of your potatoes in their original positions—the ones turned over once—they’ll probably end up with a bit more charring than we’d like.
This is especially true if your oven tends toward hot spots at certain temperatures/heights within its venting system! If that’s been your experience with roasting vegetables in general (as opposed to just these specific spuds), try using foil. At the same time, they’re still hot out of their respective pans.
Roast Them Until They Are Tender

Roast potatoes until they are tender. When the potatoes are finished cooking, check to see whether they are soft throughout with a fork. If not, return them to the oven for 5-10 minutes, check again, and repeat until they are soft enough that you can easily sink your fork into them.
When you pull out those roasted potatoes from your oven, take them off their pan and place them on paper towels or another cooling rack so that any extra oil will drain away before serving.
Remove Them From The Oven And Serve
Take out and serve the potatoes once they are done cooking. It’s essential to keep an eye on them throughout this process, as they can burn easily if you let them sit too long.
Once you have taken them out of the oven, place them on a serving dish and enjoy.
What Are The Benefits Of Roasting Potatoes In An Oven?
There are many benefits to roasting potatoes in the oven. The first benefit is that they are easy to make. You don’t need a lot of ingredients or a lot of time, and they still come out great.
This is excellent if you’re throwing a party or having visitors around because it’s a pastime that doesn’t require any work on your part.
They also store well, so you can make them in advance and save yourself later when you’re busy hosting or entertaining.
The second benefit is that they are delicious! Roasted potatoes have such a fantastic flavor and texture that it makes them hard not to love – especially when seasoned with salt and pepper.
The third benefit is their healthiness: roasted potatoes contain vitamins A & C and potassium and fiber, which help keep us healthy during cold weather like wintertime here in New York City (the cold season lasts nine months).
What Type Of Oil Should Be Use To Roast Potatoes In An Oven?
The best choice is olive oil—it has a high smoke point and can roast meat. Canola oil is also a good choice but has a slightly lower smoke point than olive oil.
The other oils that you can use are peanut, vegetable, corn, and soybean oils.
You should not use butter or margarine because they have low smoke points and will burn quickly. Also, do not use oils like lard or extra virgin olive oil because they also have very low smoke points.
What Is The Best Temperature To Roast Potatoes In An Oven?
When it comes to roasting potatoes in an oven, the temperature is just as important as your cooking method. To get a crispy exterior and fluffy interior, you’ll want to set your oven’s temperature at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is low enough that it won’t burn or dry out your potatoes too quickly.
But if you prefer a crispier skin on your spuds, crank up the heat and roast them at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on top and tender all through.
What Is The Best Way To Cut Potatoes For Roasting In An Oven?
When it comes to cutting potatoes for roasting in an oven, there are several ways you can prepare them. Try these:
- Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and slice each half into wedges. You can cut the wedges into smaller sections if you’d like, but you don’t have to.
- Cut the potatoes lengthwise into strips as long as possible, then cut them width-wise. Hence, they’re all rectangular blocks or rectangles with rounded corners (like little cubes). If there’s any leftover potato from this step that’s too small for roasting whole or cubing but large enough for frying (say, about a quarter inch), slice these pieces into strips about ¼” wide by ⅛” thick; they cook up quickly and make great fries.
- For even more variety of shape and size, cut each potato in half lengthwise again; then cut each half crosswise into chunks around ½” wide by ¾” long with rounded corners on all sides (rather than being square). This will give your roast potatoes extra surface area while keeping their true identity intact—they’ll look like little pies when cooked.
How To Store Roasted Potatoes?
Once the potatoes have cooled down, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They will keep their flavor and texture best if stored at room temperature.
However, if you prefer cold and crunchy, keep them in the refrigerator for up to two days before serving. Alternatively, you could freeze your roasted potato wedges for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
The best way to roast potatoes in an oven is by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, then Cutting the potatoes into thin slices and spreading them on a baking sheet.
Next, Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
For perfectly roasted potatoes, be sure to preheat your oven and cut the potatoes into thin slices.
You can also drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and season with salt and pepper before roasting for 20-25 minutes. With these tips in mind, you’ll surely have delicious roasted potatoes that everyone will enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute other vegetables for roasted potatoes in dishes?
You can substitute other vegetables for roasted potatoes in dishes like sweet potatoes in this vegetarian queso.
Is it okay to brown my potatoes before roasting them in the oven?
You can brown your potatoes in a skillet on the stovetop. However, it’s best to roast them in the oven without browning first because this process causes them to dry out and lose moisture.
How do I avoid burnt potatoes when baking?
Keep the baking sheet from turning color by using a light-colored pan and setting the alarm for when to check the potatoes. Keep the heat at 425 degrees Fahrenheit or lower by covering the pan with foil if needed.
Are sweet potatoes better than russet potatoes for roasting?
Sweet potatoes are better than russet potatoes for roasting because they hold their shape and stay moist. In contrast, russet potatoes dry out and can get mushy when roasted.
Author
I’m Vid Jovanovic and I’m 36 years old. I’m a teacher by profession and my passion lies in baking. I have been baking since my early teens, when my grandmother taught me how to make a simple cake that you can find in any supermarket. My passion for baking grew as I got older and I started experimenting with different ingredients and recipes.
- How Long To Bake A 14 Lb Unstuffed Turkey (We’ve Got You Covered)
- Can We Bake In Aluminium Foil (Yes, You Can!)
- Can We Bake In Aluminium Foil Tray (Yay or Nay?)
- How To Bake Turkey In Air Fryer (And Get It Perfect)
- How To Bake Turkey Wings In Air Fryer (One Simple Trick)
- How To Bake A Sweet Potato Without Aluminum Foil (And Why You Should)