How to Cook Perfect Roast Potatoes in a Range Cooker

If Christmas dinner had a popularity contest, roast potatoes would quietly win it. Every time. Crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and absolutely essential once the weather turns cold.

If you have a range cooker, you are already set up for success. The steady heat, generous oven space and big roasting trays make all the difference, especially on Christmas Day when the kitchen is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

This is our go-to method at F & R Fornello. It is reliable, forgiving, and delivers the sort of roast potatoes people talk about long after the plates are cleared.

Ingredients (serves 6 generously)

• 1.5 kg Maris Piper or King Edward potatoes

• 4–6 tbsp goose fat (duck fat, rapeseed or vegetable oil also works)

• 1–2 tsp sea salt (Himalayan pink works well)

• Black pepper, to finish

Optional, but very Christmas:

• 2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed

• A small sprig of rosemary

Equipment

• Large saucepan

• Colander

• Large, sturdy roasting tray

• Range cooker with a roasting oven or main oven

Preparation time

15 minutes

Cooking time

60–75 minutes

Step 1: Prepare the potatoes

Peel the potatoes and cut them into large, even chunks. Not too small. Roast potatoes should feel generous, especially at Christmas when everyone wants seconds.

Rinse briefly under cold water to remove excess starch.

Step 2: Parboil for fluffiness

Place the potatoes into a large pan of cold, salted water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 8–10 minutes until the edges are just starting to soften.

Drain well in a colander and leave them for about 20 – 30 mins so the steam can escape. This matters more than you might think in getting excess moisture out of the potatoes (water is the enemy of crispy potatoes!).

Once they have stopped steaming, give the colander a gentle shake to rough up the edges. Those fluffy bits are what turn crisp and golden later.

Step 3: Heat the fat

While the potatoes are boiling, place a large roasting tray into the roasting oven or main oven of your range cooker.

Add the goose fat and allow it to heat until it shimmers hot. It should be properly hot (smoking or very close to it) when the potatoes go in. You want an immediate sizzle.

Oven temperatures for roast potatoes in a range cooker

Roasting oven (if your range cooker has one)

Use the roasting oven as it is designed to run hot and steady.

• Approx. 220–230°C

• This is perfect for crisping the outside while keeping the centres fluffy

You usually do not need to adjust the dial once it is up to temperature.

Main oven (fan or conventional)

• 220°C conventional

• 200°C fan

Preheat fully before adding the tray. 

Step 4: Roast

Carefully add the potatoes to the hot tray, turning them so they are well coated in the fat. Do not overcrowd the tray. Space equals crispness.

Season generously with sea salt.

Return the tray to the hot oven and roast for 30 minutes without disturbing them.

After 30 minutes, remove the tray and turn the potatoes. They should already be taking on colour.

Return to the oven for a further 30–40 minutes, turning once more if needed, until deeply golden and crisp all over. 

Step 5: Final flavour

Around 10 minutes before the end of cooking, add the garlic cloves and rosemary if using.

Finish with a little black pepper just before serving.

How to keep roast potatoes crisp on Christmas Day

One of the great advantages of a range cooker is flexibility.

Once cooked, you can move the potatoes into a cooler oven or warming oven to hold them for 20–30 minutes. Leave the oven door slightly ajar so steam can escape and the potatoes stay crisp.

This is a lifesaver when gravy, vegetables and turkey are all competing for attention.

Why range cookers excel at roast potatoes

Christmas cooking can feel like a juggling act, but a range cooker makes it calmer. Multiple ovens, steady heat and proper space for large trays mean roast potatoes cook evenly and stay crisp without stress.

It is one of those moments where you really appreciate a range cooker, especially when the table is full and everyone is waiting for piping hot roast potatoes.

If you would like advice on getting the most from your range cooker this Christmas, or you are thinking about upgrading to a Everhot, Bertazzoni or Lacanche range cooker before the festive season rolls around again, visit F & R Fornello’s range cooker showroom in Forest Row, Sussex. We are always happy to talk anything range cooker related including, of course, roast potatoes!