Chef's secret to perfect roasties is 'love child of French fries and mashed potatoes'

Sunday roasts just got a game-changing twist, thanks to chef Ronny Joseph Lvovski. The culinary whizz has taken to his and blog to share his secret for achieving the that taste "rich and decadent". Describing them as if "if a French fry and a mashed potato were to have a love child", Ronny's potatoes are a textural dream – "impossibly crunchy on the outside [but] soft and fluffy on the inside".

Ronny swears by two key ingredients to elevate the humble spud to new heights. He says: "I roast the potatoes in duck fat which gives them a rich and decadent taste, but you can substitute any neutral flavoured oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil beef tallow or ghee."

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To add an extra zing to your Sunday lunch, Ronny suggests: "For an extra pop of flavour, I sometimes combine some roasted garlic with chopped fresh rosemary and toss it with the potatoes just before they're finished cooking."

And for that irresistible crunch? Ronny reveals the secret is baking soda: "As for the baking soda, it's not mandatory but adding a small amount to the water creates a more alkaline environment that helps break down the potatoes, resulting in more crispy bits as they roast."

The secret to achieving that perfect golden brown and crispy roast potato might just lie in a common kitchen staple: baking soda.

When added during cooking, it breaks down the starch known as pectin in potatoes, drawing it to the surface and creating that much-desired crispy exterior.

And it's not just Joseph who swears by the addition of baking soda for the ultimate roasties, reports .

On TikTok, culinary whizz Oli Brandon is also preaching the baking soda gospel for that extra crunch.

In his viral video, he declares: "The sound of the best roast potatoes you've ever had."

Brandon shares with his followers that the magic component for potatoes that are impeccably crunchy on the outside while remaining soft on the inside is indeed baking soda.

His pro tip? Just a teaspoon of the stuff while they're cooking away.