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updated Jul 19, 2023
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This easy method for crispy smashed potatoes will be your new go-to side dish.
Serves4 to 6Prep10 minutesCook30 minutes to 1 hourJump to Recipe
Jump to Recipe
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I’ve been praising the versatility of eggs for as long as I can remember, but honestly potatoes should really be getting lauded. Just when I thought I’d prepared the budget-friendly tuber in every possible way — baked, fried, boiled, mashed, even melted — I stumbled upon a shiny new method that quickly rose to the top of my ranking.
Crash hot potatoes are like a cross between a fluffy baked potato and a greasy, golden french fry. You get all the creamy, buttery goodness of a baked tater, packaged in a super-crispy, crackly shell that’s glistening with oil and sparkling with salt. It’s the sexiest side dish I know how to make.
Quick Overview
Steps to Make Crash Hot Potatoes
- Boil potatoes until tender. Boiling time varies depending on the type and size of potato.
- Spread onto an oiled sheet tray, toss to coat in the oil.
- Smash potatoes and season them with salt and pepper.
- Roast smashed potatoes at 500°F, placing them at lowest rack then finish them up top.
But First, What Is a Crash Hot Potato?
Crash hot potatoes are Australia’s answer to smashed potatoes, which are essentially small potatoes that are crushed to maximize their surface area and baked until crisp. I first encountered crash hot potatoes on the Pioneer Woman’s site, who credits Australian food writer and cookbook author Jill Dupleix with their inception.
After studying Jill and Ree’s recipes, along with a handful of others, I determined that for a potato to be given the (highly esteemed) title of a crash hot potato, it must be boiled until tender, smashed on a baking sheet, tossed with oil (or, in some cases, butter) and roasted at high heat. The type of potato, the seasonings, the exact oven temperature — that was all up to me.
How to Make Crash Hot Potatoes with Any Type of Potato
Once I had devoured my first batch, I wanted to tell everyone I knew to go straight home and do the same. What I didn’t want was for them to have to go scavenger hunting at their local grocery stores until they found the right kind of potato. So I came up with a method that works with almost any variety, with the only difference being how long they take to boil.
Start with 1 1/2 pounds of any of the following potatoes, then follow the recipe below, using these boiling times.
- Micro potatoes (about 36): Boil 7 to 10 minutes
- Baby red potatoes (12 to 16): Boil 12 to 17 minutes
- Baby Yukon gold potatoes (10 to 14): Boil 20 to 25 minutes
- Red potatoes (about 6): Boil 25 to 30 minutes
- Yukon gold potatoes (about 4): Boil 30 to 35 minutes
Although the time estimates are helpful, the best way to determine whether a potato is tender is to pierce the largest potato in the pot with the tip of a sharp knife. If it slides in easily with no resistance, the potatoes are done. Don’t pull them out too early, or you’ll have a tough time smashing them. (The time they later spend in the oven is more about crisping and less about cooking).
When cooked and drained, the rest of the process is simple: Spread onto an oiled sheet tray, toss to coat in the oil, then smash them with a measuring cup, drinking glass, or potato masher. Season generously with salt and pepper, then transfer them to a 500°F oven, which is the secret to the crispiest, crackliest potatoes. (This is also the point where you can add minced garlic, grated cheese, or any other seasonings. But really, you don’t need to.)
You’ll start them on the lowest oven rack so the undersides of the potatoes form a deeply golden crust, then finish them up top where the exposed smashed surface gets a turn near the heat. Serve warm, and prepare to make more tomorrow.
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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)
How To Make Crash Hot Potatoes
This easy method for crispy smashed potatoes will be your new go-to side dish.
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes to 1 hour
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds
baby Yukon gold potatoes (10 to 14 potatoes, about 2 inches in diameter)
- 2 tablespoons
plus 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 3 tablespoons
olive oil, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)
Equipment
Medium saucepan
Measuring cups and spoons
Colander
Rimmed baking sheet
Instructions
Simmer the potatoes until tender. Scrub the potatoes clean and place in a large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover potatoes by about an inch. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the salt, place over high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are very tender and can be easily pierced with a sharp knife with no resistance, 20 to 25 minutes. (See above for cooking times for other types of potatoes.)
Drain the potatoes. Drain the potatoes in a colander and return to the pot to dry off and cool. Meanwhile, heat the oven.
Drizzle a baking sheet with oil. Arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat to 500°F. Drizzle a rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of the oil.
Transfer the potatoes to the baking sheet. When cool enough to handle, transfer the potatoes to the baking sheet and turn to coat in the oil (or, if you're using small potatoes, simply shake the tray to coat the potatoes).
Smash the potatoes. Using the bottom of a lightly greased drinking glass or measuring cup, press down on each potato until it splits open and is flattened to 3/4 to 1-inch thick, depending on the size of potato.
Season the potatoes. Drizzle the potatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with the pepper and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt.
Roast until crispy. Roast on the lower rack until the bottoms are golden-brown, about 10 minutes. Move to the higher rack and roast until the tops are brown and crispy, 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve warm, sprinkled with the parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The potatoes can be boiled and refrigerated for up to 2 days before roasting.
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Potato options: Almost any potato can be turned into a crash hot potato. See below for specific cooking instructions.
- Micro potatoes (about 36): Boil 7 to 10 minutes
- Baby red potatoes (12 to 16): Boil 12 to 17 minutes
- Baby Yukon gold potatoes (10 to 14): Boil 20 to 25 minutes
- Red potatoes (about 6): Boil 25 to 30 minutes
- Yukon gold potatoes (about 4): Boil 30 to 35 minutes
Filed in:
children
Dairy-Free
dinner
easy
Gluten-Free
How To
