1. Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.

2. Cooking times - as a general guide, you need to allow 50 – 60 minutes cooking time in the oven for roast potatoes to achieve that gorgeous crispy outer layer and a soft melt in the mouth centre.

How to prepare roast potatoes:

1. Peel the potatoes and cut into similarly sized even pieces. (Around 5-7cm cubes)

2. Place in a saucepan, with some salt and cover with cold water.

3. Bring to a simmer over a hot heat and when boiling, simmer gently for 5 minutes.

4. After 5 minutes drain immediately. NB – I always keep this cooking water for use in the gravy later.

5. Leave the potatoes in the sieve or colander for a few minutes so water on the surface of the potatoes evaporates.

6. Make sure the inside of the saucepan is dry and return the potatoes to the pan. Cover with a lid and, holding the lid down tightly, shake the pan.

7. Add the oil to the potatoes and stir well ensuring all the potatoes are evenly coated. If you are using goose or duck fat, you will need to melt it first.

8. Add some oil to your baking tray and ensure it covers the whole surface area.

9. Tip the potatoes onto the tray, making sure they are well spread out.

10. Your potatoes are now ready to go in the oven.

How to cook your pre-prepared roast potatoes, with a roast joint already in the oven!

1. Prepare the potatoes as described above in ‘How to prepare roast potatoes’ points 1 – 10.

2. When ready to cook your potatoes, pop them in the oven with the meat, around 35 - 40 minutes before you expect to remove the roast meat.

3. Remember to baste and turn your potatoes every 15 - 20 minutes.

4. After removing the meat, set the oven temperature to a minimum of Fan Oven 180°C/200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. If the potatoes are looking quite pale, increase to Fan Oven 200°C/220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7.

5. You now have 15 – 30 minutes to continue cooking the roast potatoes, once the meat is removed, and you can adjust the temperature of the oven if necessary.

6. The potatoes are ready when they are golden and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

How to cook your pre-prepared roast potatoes, with nothing else in the oven!

1. Prepare the potatoes as described above in ‘How to prepare roast potatoes’ points 1 – 10.

2. Preheat the oven to Fan Oven 180°C/200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.

3. When ready to cook your potatoes, pop them in the oven 55 minutes before you expect to eat.

4. Remember to baste and turn your potatoes every 15 - 20 minutes.

5. If, after 45 minutes, they are looking a little pale, crank the oven up to a hotter temperature.

6. The potatoes are ready when they are golden and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

If you are not preparing the potatoes in advance and cooking immediately:

1. Before peeling the potatoes, turn on the oven to Fan Oven 180°C/200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.

2. Tip/pour the fat/oil onto your baking tray and pop inside the oven to heat up as you prepare the potatoes.

3. Prepare the potatoes as described above in ‘How to prepare your roast potatoes’ points 1 – 6.

4. After roughing the outside of the potatoes, remove the baking tray with the hot fat from the oven and carefully tip the potatoes onto the tray.

5. Turn the potatoes over using kitchen tongs, ensuring they are all covered in the fat.

6. Return to the oven and cook for 50 – 55 minutes or until cooked to your liking.

7. Remember to baste and turn your potatoes every 15 - 20 minutes.

8. The potatoes are ready when they are golden and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.