How long do roast potatoes take?
Roast potatoes take 50 to 60 minutes at 220°C (200°C fan), 425°F, after 10 minutes of parboiling. Here’s the method, and times for other potatoes and Yorkshire puddings.
Crisp roast potatoes, step by step
- Peel and cut the potatoes into even pieces, about the size of an egg. Maris Piper, King Edward or Russet work best.
- Put them in cold salted water, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the fat (goose fat, beef dripping or vegetable oil) in a roasting tin in the oven.
- Drain, leave to steam dry for 3 minutes, then shake in the pan to rough up the edges.
- Tip them carefully into the hot fat, turn to coat, and roast for 50–60 minutes, turning once halfway.
Got a roast in at a lower temperature? Put the potatoes in alongside it, then turn the oven up to 220°C (200°C fan) when the meat comes out to rest. The roast dinner planner works out the timings for you.
Potato cooking times
| What | How | Time | Oven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast potatoes | Parboil 10 min, shake, then roast in hot fat | 50–60 min | 220°C (200°C fan), 425°F |
| Baked (jacket) potato, medium | Prick, rub with oil and salt, bake on the shelf | 1 h–1 h 15 min | 200°C (180°C fan), 400°F |
| Baked sweet potato | Prick and bake on a lined tray | 45 min–1 h | 200°C (180°C fan), 400°F |
| Boiled potatoes for mash | Peel, cut into even chunks, start in cold salted water | 15–20 min after boiling | Hob |
| New potatoes | Boil whole in salted water | 12–15 min after boiling | Hob |
| Hasselback potatoes | Slice thinly, not all the way through, then roast | 1 h–1 h 10 min | 200°C (180°C fan), 400°F |
| Yorkshire puddings, individual | Batter into smoking-hot oil in a muffin tin; don’t open the door | 20–25 min | 220°C (200°C fan), 425°F |
| Yorkshire pudding, one large tin | As above, in a roasting tin | 30–35 min | 220°C (200°C fan), 425°F |
Making them ahead
Peel the potatoes the day before and keep them in cold water in the fridge. You can also parboil, rough up and cool them, then roast from cold on the day; add 10 minutes.
Questions
How long do roast potatoes take?
50–60 minutes at 220°C (200°C fan), 425°F, after parboiling for 10 minutes.
How long do you boil potatoes for mash?
15–20 minutes after the water comes to the boil, until a knife slides in easily.
How long does a baked potato take in the oven?
About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes at 200°C (180°C fan), 400°F, for a medium potato.
How long do Yorkshire puddings take?
20–25 minutes for individual puddings at 220°C (200°C fan), 425°F, or 30–35 minutes for one large tin.
Times are a guide: ovens and joints vary. Always check meat with a thermometer before serving. FeastFlow’s times come from British Turkey, AHDB and USDA guidance, last checked 9 November 2026.