Why are my roasted potatoes soggy?

There are several reasons why roasted potatoes can turn soggy. Here are some of the most common ones:

• You used a type of potato—red or white, for example—that has a lot of internal moisture. We recommend a russet or yellow.
• The potatoes didn’t rest long enough to release steam after they were boiled. Make sure they sit for at least 1-2 minutes.
• The potatoes weren’t spread evenly on the pan when cooking, so they didn’t roast on all sides. Make sure your pieces aren’t clumped together or touching.
• The oven wasn’t hot enough. Some can run cooler, so you’ll need to set it to a slightly higher temperature if this is true for your oven.
• You served them in a bowl, which can trap heat and moisture in the potatoes. We recommend serving them on a flat dish.
• You added liquid, like lemon juice, to the potatoes after they roasted. If you want to add any more flavor to your potatoes after they come out of the oven, stick to seasonings, herbs, and oils or fats (while these are liquid in form, they don’t add moisture).

You may also like our classic Oven Roasted Potatoes Recipe.