Do You Need To Soak Roasted Potatoes? Here Is What The Experts Have To Say
Many cooks enjoy roasted small potatoes. They have a crispy exterior and are tender on their inside. Their flavor is also bursting. If you want to serve roasted potatoes as a dish that is both tasty and appealing, you will need to use the right method. One of the most debated questions in potato prep is this: Do you need to soak roasted small potatoes before cooking them?
At first glance, soaking could seem like an unnecessary, extra step. However, chefs, food experts, and cooks say the answer doesn’t come down to a yes-or-no question. Depending on what texture you desire, the type of potato you use, and even the time available, you will decide whether you should soak the potatoes. What do the experts really have to say on this hot kitchen subject?
What Soaking Do
It is not just a custom passed down from generation to generation, but it has a very specific purpose. When potatoes are soaked in cold or even warm water, they release a small amount of surface starch. You might notice a cloudy, white substance in your soaking bowl.
The removal of some starch has several benefits. First, the potatoes can be roasted more evenly. If the outer layer of starch is removed, the potatoes can brown and dry properly. Second, soaking potatoes can prevent them from sticking together and to the pan.
However, small potatoes — like fingerlings and baby reds — are usually roasted whole. Their skins naturally lock in moisture to help create that crispy outside. Is it necessary to soak roasted little potatoes for that golden crunch to obtain? Not necessarily, but it could help.
Experts Offer Their Views
Many professional cooks swear by soaking, especially for larger or chopped potatoes. But small potatoes are a separate category.
Culinary professionals claim that soaking potatoes in water for 30 minutes after halving or quartering them can make the potatoes crispier. When the potatoes are whole, soaking makes a smaller difference. The reason is that the surface area of the potato is smaller, and its skin acts as a protective barrier.
Celebrity chefs, including Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay, tend to skip the soaking step entirely when it comes to small potatoes. Instead, they focus on high oven temperature, olive oil, and proper seasonings. Their approach tends toward simplicity — just roast them hot, letting their natural sugars caramelize.
However, some food scientists and testers suggest that a simple 15-to-30-minute soak may help achieve a better texture and a more even browning. For those seeking the crispest results, they point out that soaking has a small but noticeable benefit.
There Are Other Important Factors When Roasting Potatoes
The other steps you take are equally important, whether or not you soak. If you opt to skip soaking the potatoes, pay attention to this:
1. Dry the Potatoes Thoroughly: Even if you soak potatoes, they need to be thoroughly dried before roasting. Steam is created in the oven when there is too much moisture. This softens the potatoes’ skins and prevents them from crisping.
2. Use High Heat: Roasting at a high temperature–typically 425degF (220°C)–helps create that golden-brown crust. It is important to fully preheat your stove before placing potatoes inside.
3. Give Them Space: Overcrowding leads to steamed potatoes, not roasted. Spread out the potatoes, cut-side up if they are halved. Do not stack them.
4. Don’t Skimp on the Oil: Oil not only helps to crisp, but it also prevents sticking. Douse your potatoes in olive oil, avocado oil, or both before roasting.
Soak, or Skip the Bath? The Final Verdict
Do you still need to soak the small potatoes that are roasted? The answer will depend on your goals.
If you don’t care about the extra effort, but want to roast potatoes to perfection, a quick soak, especially for quartered or halved potatoes, can be well worth it. It removes the surface starch to allow for better browning.
If you are roasting small, whole potatoes or if the texture you desire is rustic, with creamy skins and an inside that’s slightly crisp, you may want to skip the soaking process. However, high heat and good techniques will still yield great results.
In the end, soaking can be used as a method, but not a standard. Try both methods out and choose the one that best suits your style of cooking and tastes.
Final Thoughts
The simplicity of roasted potatoes is their appeal. Even though soaking your potatoes before cooking can help them become crispier, it’s certainly not required. Use fresh ingredients. Give your potatoes plenty of room to roast. Let your oven do the magic. You can use this information the next time that you are cooking dinner.
