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35-minute experiment

Crowded pan vs roomy pan

Same vegetables. One pan is having a better time.

The idea

Vegetables spread out on a pan brown. Piled up, they steam.

The one thing you change: Space between pieces

You need

  • About 500 g broccoli or potato chunks, split in two
  • Oil and salt
  • 2 baking sheets, or 1 sheet done in two rounds

Steps

What you should find

The spread-out batch is browned and crisp at the edges. The crowded batch is soft and pale.

The science behind it

Don't crowd the roasting pan

Vegetables are mostly water. In a 220°C (425°F) oven that water turns to steam, and the steam needs somewhere to go. Leave a finger-width between pieces so…

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