The Hack For Perfect Roasted Potatoes Calls For Zero Extra Ingredients

Potatoes are a staple in most cuisines for a reason. They are delicious, nutritious, and there no end to the ways to prepare them so you'll never get bored. And the flavors! One of the best things about potatoes is that the flavor blends perfectly with so many different ingredients and seasonings that you can have potatoes every day for weeks without repeating the exact same recipe. 

One of the easiest ways to prepare potatoes is also one of the healthiest, and it's incredibly simple to do. We're talking about roasting them in the oven. You can cut them up, clean them, and pat them dry, then season as desired and toss them in the oven until they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. But if you want to make them absolutely perfect, you don't have to search your pantry for extra ingredients. You'll simply want to add an extra step to your technique. Before you place your potatoes in the oven, cover them with a sheet of aluminum foil and fold it around the edges, creating a nice seal to hold the heat inside the pan.

This technique helps lock in flavor and allows the heat to distribute evenly throughout the pan of potatoes. If you really want to root through your pantry to upgrade your potatoes, we aren't going to stop you. Potatoes are a great vehicle to showcase flavor, and you can always use a flour and oil hack to give your potatoes a deep-fried vibe, but all you really need to do is master the art of buying aluminum foil.

Aluminum foil has a time and place in cooking. For example, you'll want to keep it away from acidic foods (the acid might just eat right through it), but it's the perfect tool for other jobs like making killer popcorn. As long as you know which side of aluminum foil to use and when, the foil is a savior in the kitchen. Trust the process and let the foil do the work so you can have fun with creating great flavors and, of course, eating your delicious creations.

When you're using it for this perfect roasted potato hack, you don't want to leave it on the pan the whole time. About 10 to 15 minutes before your potatoes are ready to come out, take off the foil so the potatoes can develop a nice golden brown, crispy finish. Once they're done, they'll be the perfect side dish for just about anything, from grilled fish or steak to roast pork or chicken. If you want to up your game beyond basic seasonings like salt and pepper, you can start playing with your ingredients and try different flavor combos like oregano and lemon juice for a Greek-inspired potato to crushed red pepper for a spicy kick. You can even give them a Middle Eastern flair with a sprinkling of za'atar. The key is to have fun with your flavors and trust the process.