Can I Roast Potatoes Ahead Of Time And Reheat? (My Tips)

Making a complete meal can become somewhat overwhelming if you are making all the elements simultaneously. If you include roast potatoes in the meal, you may wonder if you can roast the potatoes ahead of time and reheat them. There are a few pitfalls when preparing food in advance, so I have put together some of my best tips.

You can roast potatoes fully ahead of time and then reheat them later, or try partly boiling them first. Roast them again at 400F (200C) for around 20 minutes before serving to regain the crispy texture. If you partly boil the potatoes, store them in the refrigerator coated in oil or fat. Roast them for 40-60 minutes until golden when ready.

Ensure all reheated food is thoroughly hot through before eating to avoid getting sick. Read the section below for my tips to reheat the potatoes without drying them out.

Whether you begin your preparation in the morning or the day before, you can roast potatoes ahead of time to help with preparations. Since I have tried a few methods of doing this, I have collected a few tips that I will share with you.

How To Prepare Roast Potatoes In Advance

When planning a roast meal, it is helpful to have a set idea of what you will roast first, second, and so on. Since this cooking method takes a fair amount of time and coordination, it may help to prepare your roast potatoes in advance. Here’s how.

1. Peel your potatoes and cut them into sizes similar to each other. (Do you really need to peel potatoes?)
2. Place them in a large pot of salted water and boil them for about ten minutes.
3. Remove, drain, and let them steam dry for around five minutes.
4. Coat your potatoes in whichever oil or fat you use for the roast.
5. Wrap them in cling wrap or store them in an airtight container. Leave them in the refrigerator until it is time to finish the roasting process for serving.
6. When it is time to complete the potatoes, simply remove them from the packaging and roast at 400F/200C until done. (This part should take forty minutes to an hour, depending on your oven, the size of your potatoes, and how thoroughly they were boiled.)

Check out my post on the best pan for the crispiest roast potatoes, and some other tips thrown in too.

When it is time to roast the potatoes, there is no need to bring them to room temperature before roasting them in the oven. Simply place them in your roasting pan in a preheated oven and let the magic happen.

If you would like to add a little extra flavor to your roast potatoes, you can go further, a la Jamie Oliver. Remove them after half an hour and add additional ingredients. I love to use extra garlic, lemon zest, and herbs in oil for this part. Mix the potatoes in the other ingredients and then return them to the oven for the remainder of the cook.

Can I Parboil Potatoes In Advance Of Roasting?

Parboiling potatoes is a great way to prepare them before roasting. This method helps to shorten the roasting time, get fluffy centers, and remove some of the starch to get that crispy end result.

Parboiling your potatoes before roasting is an excellent practice if you want to prepare them in advance. You can parboil the potatoes earlier during the same day or even the day before serving the roast.

If you partly boil your potatoes the day before roasting, store them in cling wrap or an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cover them in oil or fat before storing them, and they will be delicious and crispy once roasted.

Knowing how long to boil your potatoes before roasting them can get tricky, especially with varying oven strengths, sizes, and types of potatoes. The general rule is to parboil them for around ten minutes; however, you should watch them to ensure they do not become overly soft.  

Test your potatoes while parboiling them by pricking one or two with a fork. They should be slightly softer than when raw yet still firm.

How Long Can You Keep Parboiled Potatoes Before Roasting?

If you are planning a roast meal, you may wish to parboil the potatoes ahead of time. But just how long ahead of time are we talking?

If you coat the parboiled potatoes in olive oil and store them in plastic wrap or an airtight container in the refrigerator, they will be good to roast for up to two days. It’s best to use them sooner rather than later for the best taste and texture.

Parboiling is a great way to prepare potatoes for the next roasting step. It makes the potatoes soft and fluffy, but it also helps with cooking time. Parboiling potatoes helps give us that crispy outer layer and fluffy center of our roast potatoes that we love.

If your parboiled potatoes give off a foul smell or have mold, do not cook them or eat them. These are signs that the potatoes have gone bad and need to be replaced for your roast meal. When you are ready to roast your parboiled potatoes, simply remove them from the packaging, preheat the oven, and let them begin roasting. 

What Is The Best Way To Reheat Roast Potatoes?

Roast potatoes are pretty filling so more often than not, we find ourselves with leftovers. The biggest problem with heating leftover roast potatoes is that they become soggy. That is why I like to stay away from the microwave in this case.

Reheating Roast Potatoes In The Oven

The best way to reheat roast potatoes by far is in the oven. Preheat your oven to around 400°F/200C and wrap your roast potatoes in foil. Re-roast your potatoes in the foil for around fifteen minutes. Then remove the foil and give them another five or ten minutes to become crispy again.

Reheating roast potatoes in this way maintains their flavor and that crispy outer layer that makes roast potatoes so good.

Reheating Roast Potatoes In A Toaster Oven

If you do not wish to use an oven, you can also use a toaster oven to reheat your roast potatoes. 

If you choose to use this method, preheat the toaster oven to 400°F/200C, just as you do with a regular oven. 

Place them on the pan and cover with foil. Let them heat for around fifteen minutes before checking on them. Uncover them for the last five minutes to regain their crispy outer layer. Check they do not brown too quickly.

Reheating Roast Potatoes In An Air Fryer

The last method I will mention here is the air fryer. This nifty appliance is fast becoming a popular addition to many kitchens, and it’s easy to see why. Air fryers are a brilliant way to reheat roast potatoes since it almost guarantees that you will not end up with a soggy potato on your plate.

To reheat your roast potatoes in an air fryer, heat it to around 400°F/200C. Please take note that air fryers differ substantially in their temperatures. For this reason, it is best to experiment with yours to know what temperature is best for you.

Place the potatoes on the rack or in the bowl of the air fryer and heat them for about five minutes. 

Test the potatoes to ensure they are at the temperature you would like. If they are still cool, leave them for another two minutes and test again.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now know whether you can roast potatoes ahead of time. Preparing a roast dinner is a lot of work and can be tricky to get ready simultaneously for serving.

It is possible to partly roast potatoes ahead of time and complete the process before serving. It is also possible to partially boil them and roast them before serving. Parboiled potatoes can keep for up to two days, giving you ample time to create the rest of the meal and get back to those crispy potatoes.

Have any questions? Ask me in the comment section below and I’ll get back to you.