Americas Test Kitchen Crisp Roasted Potatoes Food

PERFECTLY ROASTED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place a rack in the lowest position in your oven and preheat to 425°F. Halve potatoes lengthwise.
• Arrange potatoes, cut side down, on a large rimmed baking sheet, spacing evenly. Pour in 1 1/2 to 2 cups water-enough to cover the surface in a thin layer but not so much that it spills the second you move the sheet.
• Cover baking sheet with a double layer of foil, crimping sides very tightly to seal well. This will trap in steam and prevent water from sloshing out if you accidentally jostle the sheet.
• Bake until a fork or a skewer slides easily through the potatoes, 25 to 30 minutes. The foil will be puffed; pierce it with the fork or skewer and poke around for a couple of potatoes to test.
• Let potatos cool, still covered, 5 minutes. Use tongs to peel back foil about 1 inch at on corner. Carefully tip sheet and pour off water (its job is done). Crank up oven to 500°F or as high as it goes.
• Remove foil. Drizzle olive oil over potatoes. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Let potatoes cool to the point that you can handle them, then toss to coat.
• Arrange potatoes cut side down and roast, uncovered, until skins are golden, cut sides are deeply browned and crisp, and you can see the edges frying and sizzling in the oil on the sheet, 20-25 minutes.
• Let potatoes cool for a minute or two, then use a spatula to unstick them from the baking sheet. Serve them exactly as they are because these potatoes need absolutely nothing else.

CRISP-SKIN HIGH-ROAST BUTTERFLIED CHICKEN WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Dissolve salt and sugar in 2 quarts cold water in large container. Immerse chicken and refrigerate until fully seasoned, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 500°.
• Line bottom of broiler pan with foil and spray with nonstick vegetable cooking spray. Remove chicken from brine and rinse thoroughly under cold running water. Following illustrations 1 through 6, butterfly chicken, flatten breastbone, apply flavored butter (if using), and position chicken on broiler pan rack; thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
• Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil, salt and pepper to taste in medium bowl. Spread potatoes in even layer in foil-lined broiler pan bottom. Place broiler pan rack with chicken on top. Rub chicken with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with pepper.
• Roast chicken until spotty brown, about 20 minutes. Rotate pan and continue to roast until skin has crisped and turned a deep brown and an instant-read internal thermometer registers 160° in thickest part of breast, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Transfer chicken to cutting board. With potholders, remove broiler pan rack; soak up excess grease from potatoes with several sheets paper towels. Remove foil liner with potatoes from broiler pan bottom and invert foil and potatoes onto cookie sheet or second cutting board. Carefully peel back foil, using a metal spatula to help scrape potatoes off foil as needed. With additional paper towels, pat off remaining grease.

ATK'S BEST BAKED POTATO

Steps:

• Using a fork, poke six times to make holes into each large Russet potato.
• Combine salt and water. Roll each potato in liquid.
• Transfer potatoes to a wire rack on a baking pan. Place into oven.
• Bake in a preheated 450 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. IMPORTANT: Internal temperature should be 205 degrees to be done.
• Test temperature into the end of the potato and see that there is no resistance. 205 to 212 degrees is the ideal range.
• Brush potatoes with 1 Tbsp. of vegetable oil and return to oven for 10 minutes to crisp skin.
• Cut an X in the top of the baked potato and using a dishtowel, squeeze potato at each end to open the X and let steam escape.
• Top with butter or whatever toppings you prefer.
• DO NOT LEAVE POTATOES UNCUT/SPLIT -- EAT IMMEDIATELY FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE.