'I made tinned roast potatoes in air fryer - now I'm addicted to festive snack'

10 December 2023 , 15:30

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The air fryer potatoes are a game-changer (Image: Nicola Roy)

Move over mince pies! A brand new festive snack has been discovered - and it's so cheap and easy to make.

Traditionally, people reach for fresh potatoes at Christmas time, ready to roast as the perfect accompaniment to roast turkey. But one reporter has discovered a clever way to use tinned spuds, which retail for just 39p at Tesco, using her trusty air fryer.

The Daily Record's Nicola Roy wanted to find a way to utilise her air fryer, which she purchased earlier this year. And she made a delicious discovery. Here's how it went...

Air fryers are a common feature in many people's homes nowadays, as they act as a quick way to cook food that's often healthier than more alternative methods such as the oven. I only bought mine earlier this year but already I can't imagine being without it. They're convenient and time-saving, and I'm always on the hunt for new recipes to try out in the handy gadget.

Nicola picked up a tin of potatoes for just 39p (Nicola Roy)

This is my first Christmas having one, so I was keen to try out some festive recipes. And nothing says Christmas like a deliciously crispy batch of roast potatoes, which pair perfectly with dinner on the big day. But who says you can't eat roast potatoes as a snack? I decided to put my own spin on the classic side dish by making mini roasties in my air fryer, with a budget-friendly twist.

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I decided to use a tin of potatoes for this recipe, which I picked up for 38p from Tesco. Not only are these easy on your wallet, but they're pre-peeled, which saves you from faffing around with the peeler which can be really time-consuming. They also last a lot longer than fresh potatoes which means no waste at all, and they were ready in less than 30 minutes. I was so impressed with the crispy texture I was met with and will definitely be making these again and again.

To start, I drained the tin of new potatoes and cut each one in half. I then boiled them for around five minutes - because they had come in a can, they were already quite soft, which made them easier to slice and also cut down on the boiling time.

I then poured the contents of the pan into a colander and fluffed up the potatoes by tossing them around and leaving to steam for a few minutes.

Nicola was delighted with the end result (Nicola Roy)

This was where I began to worry that these would be a disaster. Most roast potato recipes require Maris Piper potatoes as they're much fluffier, and that is what gives roasties their distinctive crunch. These new potatoes didn't appear to fluff up very much, but I decided to trust the process anyway. After they had steamed for a couple of minutes, I put them back in the pot and stirred through one tablespoon of oil, and some salt and pepper for flavour.

Then it was time to put them in the air fryer. I have a Russell Hobbs SatisFry model that is quite small, but ideal for a one-person household. If you have a bigger one, you could definitely make a bigger batch - maybe even big enough to serve with your Christmas dinner.

Reporter Nicola Roy made a festive discovery when she put her tinned potatoes in the air fryer (Nicola Roy)

It's really important not to crowd the basket and ensure the potatoes are spread out, which will allow them to cook evenly.

I then cooked them at 190C for 25 minutes, giving the basket a shake around halfway through. I honestly wasn't expecting much when I went to check on them but was surprised to find that they crisped up nicely, and I couldn't wait for them to be done.

The crunch was off the scale and it wasn't long before I'd eaten them all. I was too excited to eat them to prepare any toppings - and they were great on their own - but they'd also be nice with some gravy and maybe even some leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. Think loaded fries, but with roast potatoes instead.

These will now be a Christmas snacking staple in my home and I can't wait to make them again.

Will you be giving it a go? Let us know in the comments.

Savvy woman fed herself for less than £1 per day using items from Tesco

Gemma Strong