What Can I Use Instead Of Goose Fat For Perfect Roast Potatoes?

Our answer

Nigella's Perfect Roast Potatoes (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS) are crisp and golden roast potatoes that are a great accompaniment to any roast lunch or dinner. The potatoes are cooked in goose fat as this has a high smoke point and also has a good flavour that goes well with roasted meats.

Duck fat is a good alternative, particularly if you have managed to drain it off yourself when cooking a duck, though if you have saved duck fat you need to make sure that the fat is free of any crisp bits of meat or any meat juices as these could burn in the hot oven. Otherwise, a neutral oil is the best alternative, such as sunflower, corn, rapeseed (canola) or groundnut (peanut) oil. All of these have a high smoke point so are suitable for using in a very hot oven. Avoid using unrefined oils such as extra virgin olive oil and cold-pressed rapeseed oil as these can burn too easily and they also have quite a strong, assertive flavour.