Step 1

Place a rack in lowest position in oven and preheat to 425°. Halve 2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes crosswise.→ Here's why yukon golds are our top choice for roasting.

Step 2

Arrange potatoes, cut side down, on a rimmed baking sheet, spacing evenly apart. Pour in 1½–2 cups water (it needs to cover baking sheet in a thin layer).

Step 3

Cover baking sheet with a double layer of foil, crimping sides very tightly to seal well. Doing this will trap in steam and prevent water from dribbling out if you tip the sheet.

Step 4

Bake potatoes until a fork or skewer slides easily through potatoes, 25–30 minutes. The foil will be puffed, but poke through and feel around for a potato to test. Try testing a couple to gauge doneness.

Step 5

Let potatoes cool about 5 minutes. Crank up oven temperature to 500° (or as high as your oven goes). Use tongs to lift up foil at 1 corner, peeling it back only about 1". Tip open corner into the sink and pour off water.

Step 6

Remove foil and drizzle ¼ cup oil over potatoes; season generously with salt and pepper. Let potatoes cool to the point you can handle them, then toss with your hands to coat completely. Arrange cut side down again.

Step 7

Roast potatoes until tops are golden, bottoms are deeply browned and crisp, and oil around edges is sizzling and, 20–25 minutes.

Step 8

Let potatoes cool slightly, then use a spatula to unstick them from baking sheet.→ That brown gunk you can never get off of your sheet pans? Here's the easy way to get rid of it.