Which oil is best for roasting potatoes?

I usually use olive oil but have just seen that I'm almost all out, I have a fair bit of vegetable oil but I've never used this to roast potatoes before.

Can I use vegetable oil and does it really make a difference to the taste?

Comments

  • Whatever fat you use will make a difference to the taste. Which taste is best is totally a matter of personal preference, though.

    Pal of mine uses beef dripping and he does the best roast potatoes I've ever had. Some folk swear by goose fat. Mind, if you're a vegetarian, those aren't much help to you.

  • Believe me if I had Goose fat or beef dripping to hand I would use that! Unfortunately I've only got the vegetable oil. I guess I'm just going to have to use it and hope they come out ok.

  • The fat off the meat I'm cooking to go with the roast potatoes.

  • CBFreakCBFreak Posts: 28,533

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    Don't know how it was be with potatoes but I like to use Ground nut oil mostly.

  • I use rapeseed for all cooking - better for you than olive oil plus it can take heat, olive oil can't. If not a groundnut oil is good for roasting etc. I'm veggie but know my hubby would adore dripping.:rolleyes: he's not allowed it btw because he'd eat himself sick!

  • The fat off the meat I'm cooking to go with the roast potatoes.

    yh i did this before :) no oil , just the juice from the meat (chicken)

  • Supermarket Veg Oil is usually Rapeseed oil which is fine for doing roasties. Just get it nice and hot first and parboil the spuds for about 5 mins before draining and basting in the hot oil.

  • yh i did this before :) no oil , just the juice from the meat (chicken)

    this^^

  • I don't like roasties on Olive Oil :o so I normally use vegetable oil and they come out lovely!

  • Thanks everyone. Sorry don't mean to sound rude but I asked which oil was the best, I do usually use the joint fat or goose fat etc but I was using oil today so that's why I needed to know which oil was best. :)

    I used the vegetable oil and they came out lovely, although they tasted different - not necessarily bad different I'm just used to olive oil roasties :p

  • Veg oil would indeed make a difference to the taste - to me, olive oil and a bit of butter is the best combination to fry or roast potatoes in.

    Maybe you could chuck a bit of butter in with the veg oil if you have any?

    Edit: too late! :D Glad the veg oil worked okay!

  • Can't beat goose fat, but if you're talking solely oil, then go for a general rapeseed or frying oil. DO NOT use olive oil if you plan on roasting on a high heat as it can give a bit of a burnt taste. Olive oil is fine if you're going for the slow, lower heated roast.

    Also if the meat you are roasting is left with some liquid fat after it's ooked, save it and pour it into a jar while it's still liquid and store in the fridge until the next weeks roast. Gammon, goose and duck fat is best for this, but any meat fat still works well.

  • Use the fat off the meat you are cooking.

  • IvanIVIvanIV Posts: 29,529

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    For cooking I use almost exclusively sunflower oil. Its taste is neutral enough not to overpower other ingredients. I only use olive oil when cooking vegetables (excluding potatoes) or raw for salads. I usually add cubed bacon when roasting potatoes, it gives them an extra kick.

  • Olive oil isn't especially good for roasties due to the burning point, your much better off with sunflower/rapeseed/vegetable oil if you don't wish to use dripping etc

  • I use a mix of oil from the roast meat and a bit of olive oil. Always very very crispy.

  • I usually use olive oil but have just seen that I'm almost all out, I have a fair bit of vegetable oil but I've never used this to roast potatoes before.

    Can I use vegetable oil and does it really make a difference to the taste?

    I have with cornoil and sunflower oil. Some of the oils vapours can smell burnt at times. Use a oil with a higher smoking points.

    http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/collectedinfo/oilsmokepoints.htm

  • c4rvc4rv Posts: 27,822

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    I've used goose fat a few times after the fad started and tbh the roasties ended up being way too greasy for my liking. Now I have gone back to sunflower oil and they come out beautifully crispy without being greasy.

  • misha06misha06 Posts: 3,378

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    Always just used bog standard vegetable oil, but last crimble, the first time we were at home alone we 'pushed the boat out' and bought some really top quality goose fat.

    Best ever.

    I would say though, if you screw up the rest of the process, no posh oil will save your roasties.

  • pugamopugamo Posts: 18,039

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    I use Tesco value lard and always get complimented on my excellent roasties. Can't eat them too often though, the calorie count must be off the scale.

  • SHAFTSHAFT Posts: 4,369

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    Duck fat. Its not as greasy as goose fat and doesn't smoke as much. The taste is much better too.

  • I use Vegetable Oil. If it's a special dinner it's always Goose Fat. I prefer the taste that Goose Fat gives.

    Though yesterday, we had to improvise as we were making the roast we had no vegetable oil, so my boyfriend used the juices of the chicken we were roasting, probably very unhealthy but made a very nice roast potato!

  • Use veggie oil because you won't feel a difference.

  • Veg oil will be fine - I use Beef dripping for mine :D

  • whatever you use , let the potatoes cool after par boiling and roughing them up before putting them in the oil , i have found it makes a big difference to them .....