Freeze Ahead Roasties Food

RIGHT-EVERY-TIME ROASTIES

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into quarters, or eighths if really large - you want to end up with even-size 5cm pieces. Put the potatoes in a large pan of salted water and boil for 5 mins, just until the outside of the potato starts to soften. To check, try scraping a potato with a fork - it should be easy to make a mark but you shouldn't be able to slide it into the flesh. Drain really well.
• Return to the pan and scatter over the flour and polenta (if using) and a little salt. Place a lid on top of the pan and give it a couple of good shakes, coating the potatoes in the flour and polenta and lightly crushing the sides.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Place the goose fat and oil in a roasting tin large enough to hold all the potatoes in one layer and heat in the oven for 5 mins. Quickly tip the potatoes in and return to the oven. Cook for 30 mins, turning once, then increase the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Cook for 20 mins more or until crisp all over. Sprinkle with a little more salt, then serve.

GOLDEN ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, then cut into halves, or quarters if large. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add a little salt, then tip the potatoes into the pan. Bring back to the boil and cook for 7 mins. Drain really well, then return to the pan and sprinkle over the flour. Place a lid on top of the pan, then pick up the pan using oven gloves or a tea towel and give it a few really hard shakes so the potatoes get bashed around (this will make them nice and crisp).
• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Spoon the goose fat or sunflower oil onto a large, lipped baking tray and leave to heat on the top shelf of the oven for 5 mins. Carefully pull out the tray, make sure its surface is evenly coated with the fat, then tip on the potatoes. Roast for 20 mins, then turn up the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7 and roast for another 30 mins, turning the potatoes once, until golden and crisp. Sprinkle with a little salt and serve straight away.

FREEZE-AHEAD ROASTIES

Steps:

• Leave small and medium potatoes whole, but halve large potatoes. Tip the potatoes into a large pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Boil for 6 mins exactly, then drain in a colander and leave to steam-dry for a few mins. Toss in the colander to rough up the sides.
• Transfer to a large bowl. Shake over the flour, some salt and a little pepper, and toss well to combine. Spoon over 100g of the fat and toss to coat evenly. Lay the potatoes on a tray lined with baking parchment and freeze. Once frozen, the potatoes can be transferred to a freezer bag for easy storage. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pour remaining fat and the oil into a baking tray and put in the oven. When the fat is sizzling, carefully add the potatoes, then roast for 25 mins. Remove tray, then increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Turn over the potatoes and return to the oven for a further 40 mins until golden and crisp.