Have you ever been underwhelmed by roasted vegetables? They can be absolutely delicious, but when they’re not cooked exactly right, they can fall a bit flat. (Think of a soft, mushy Brussels sprout compared to a browned, crispy one.) Roasted vegetables need a nice sear and ideally a bit of char, and it can be…
That’s where this simple but brilliant hack comes in. When you preheat your oven, put the sheet pan in there too. This technique gives the vegetables a better sear, and as a bonus, it will cook them slightly faster.
The Secret to Crispy Roasted Vegetables
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and set the sheet pan on the bottom rack. While the oven and sheet pan are heating up, dress and season your vegetables as you normally would. (Tossing them in a high-smoke-point oil will help prevent sticking and encourage browning.) When the oven is done preheating, carefully remove the hot sheet pan, add the vegetables, and slide it back in, placing it on the middle rack for even heat distribution. Set your timer for at least five minutes less than you usually would, especially the first time you try this hack. The hot pan will cook the vegetables faster, and you don’t want them to burn. Check on them earlier than you think you have to and add more time as needed.
If you know your oven runs hot, set it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 425. (If you’re not sure whether your oven runs hot, first try this easy hack or use an oven thermometer to figure it out.)
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Bonus Hack: Different Pans for Different Plans
If you’re someone who cooks and bakes, it’s worth having one dedicated sheet pan for savory foods and another for sweet treats. Keep the “sweet pan” clean, and the savory one seasoned to increase the depth of flavor of anything you roast on it. Seasoning a sheet pan works the same way as seasoning a cast-iron skillet. Simply apply a very thin layer of oil to the pan, then put it upside down in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit so the oil doesn’t pool in the corners. Bake it for one to two hours, or until the oil has hardened.
You can wash seasoned sheet pans with soap and water, but you shouldn’t use steel wool or other scratchy cleaning implements on them, and you should never put them in the dishwasher.
