How to make perfect roast potatoes

Christmas dinner, or any other roast lunch for that matter, is greatly enhanced by the presence of beautifully cooked roast potatoes. Ideally, they have a crunchy outside and a soft and fluffy inside.

But how do you make sure they're going to be perfect? Chef Jun Tanaka lets you in on some of the tricks of his trade, ensuring your festive feast is hassle-free. Step one has to be that you make sure you have a really good pair of thick oven gloves before you attempt this.

Jun likes to cook his in beef dripping, but goose fat would be a good alternative. If you want to avoid animal fats, rapeseed oil is far better than olive oil or sunflower oil.

More potato dishes:
Pommes boulangere
Crispy potato skins
Creamy mashed potatoes

More side dishes for Christmas feasting:
Yorkshire pudding
Pork stuffing
Brussels sprouts with chorizo
Brussels sprouts with chestnuts
Sprouts with bacon, garlic, and shallots
Three-ingredient Brussels sprouts dish
Caramelized carrots and parsnips
Balsamic roasted beetroot
Braised red cabbage
Roast sweet potatoes
Apple, chestnut and pistachio stuffing

More festive food ideas:
Christmas menus: Festive food for everyone
Good Housekeeping's tried and tested Guide to Christmas 2016 food shopping
Festive cocktails, hot drinks and party food
How to have a Scandinavian-style Christmas
Christmas baking and dessert recipes

Make Christmas easier on yourself:
The ultimate Christmas countdown
How to decode a whisky label
Quick and easy last-minute Christmas
Take the stress out of Christmas