The famous Maillard reactions are turning them golden-brown. The secret around this problem is to fry your food twice. … Moisture in the center of the food migrates to the surface after the food cools and the surface gets soggy again. Then you boil off that moisture again on the second fry.
Should you fry French fries twice?
Here’s the secret: In order to get perfect French fries, almost all chefs and professional kitchens use a double-fry method to cook their potatoes. … Next, increase the temperature of the same oil to 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and fry the potatoes for the second time.
Why do we cook French fries twice?
Theory #1: “The first fry gets the outside to create a water tight barrier. That way, when you fry them the second time, they stay moist.” Or, Theory #2: “The first fry cooks them through to the center—if you skipped that step, your fries would brown on the outside, but still be raw in the middle.”
Why won’t my french fries get crispy?
Perhaps most important, water on the surface can inhibit crispness and produce greasy fries. Remember that the surface starch absorbs nearby moisture and seals the surface. If you don’t dry the potatoes, you won’t get a dry surface that seals.
Why do you boil fries before frying?
Boiling not only pre-cooks the interior of the fry so it will be nice and soft when you eat it but more importantly this step is the secret to prevent fries from turning dark brown later in the frying process.
What happens if you don’t Soak potatoes before frying?
It is said that excess starch on the outside of the potato can cause potatoes to stick to one another, because of the gelatinization of the starch. Also, it is said that rinsing of some of those excess sugars will reduce the risk of your fries burning and turning black (because of the Maillard reaction).
How do you make French fries soft inside?
We start with soaking raw, cut potatoes, then rinse and dry them 3 times to get rid of the excess starch, so they don’t stick together while frying. When it’s time to cook, we fry potatoes in low-temperature oil (250°F) for a few minutes. It crystallizes the starch granules so fries get creamy on the inside.
Why are my fries mushy?
Improperly cooked french fries are limp, greasy, or soggy and often over-browned. These problems all arise from the improper handling of starch and sugar when exposed to high heat.
How hot should grease be for French fries?
Pour oil in a deep fryer or heavy saucepan to reach halfway up the sides of the pan. Heat to 325 degrees F, use a deep fry thermometer to determine this. While the oil is heating, peel the potatoes and push through a French fry cutter to form uniform sticks.
What is the best oil to fry French fries?
Peanut oil is a popular choice for frying, thanks to its high smoke point and nutty flavor. In fact, it’s the go-to oil for fast food restaurant Five Guys, which is why their French fries are so delicious and buttery.
Why do restaurant fries taste better?
Taste of Home reports that the real reason McDonald’s fries taste better than other fast food restaurants is because they originally fried the potatoes in beef tallow. They might use vegetable oil today, but they add a chemical flavoring to the oil to mimic the way the fries tasted when they were cooked in beef fat.
How do you make French fries stay crispy for a long time?
The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you’re frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.
Why do you boil oil and water for fries?
Reason: We fry stuff in oil because oil has much higher boiling point in comparison to water. So after heating when oil reaches temperatures greater than the boiling point of water (100 C) it instantly vaporize the water present in food into steam.
Does freezing fries make them crispy?
Commercial french fries — both the kind from the grocery store and drive-thru — are quickly boiled before flash freezing. … This quick dip in boiling water partially cooks the potatoes and draws out some of the starch, rendering the fries tender and fluffy on the inside, while crisp on the outside once frozen and cooked.
Why do you soak potatoes in vinegar?
Boiling the potatoes in a salt and vinegar bath allows them to soak up all of that briny flavor before you dry them off and crisp them up in the oven. The result is a soft-in-the-center, crispy-on-the-outside potato that’s loaded with flavor.