In a cast iron skillet fitted with a thermometer, or a small fryer, heat the oil until it reaches 275 to 300 degrees F. Remove the potatoes from the water and pat dry. Working in small batches, fry the potatoes until they go from shiny to matte, 3 to 5 minutes (this is also called blanching).
Can you blanch fries in oil?
Get a crispier finished fry by blanching potatoes in hot oil to precook before peak periods and then finish in a final fry before serving. Fries are completely cooked during the blanching stage at a lower temperature to allow the potato to cook slowly without becoming golden brown.
How long do you blanch chips before frying?
Blanch for about five minutes until cooked through but not coloured. Remove, drain, pat dry, and refrigerate. When you’re ready to eat, heat the fat to 160C and add the chips. Cook until crisp and golden, then remove, drain, season and serve immediately.
How long do you leave frozen fries in oil?
Fry for at least 4 minutes per batch until the french fries turn into a lovely golden brown color. Once the fries are cooked, set it aside on a paper towel so it absorbs all the excess grease from the oil. Repeat the same steps with the rest of the frozen french fries batches.
Why are my fries not 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.
What is the best temperature for deep frying french fries?
Use a thermometer to ensure the temperature is correct: 325 degrees for French fries, 375 degrees for shoestring and basket-weave fries. Carefully add potatoes to oil in small batches so as not to lower the temperature of the oil. Cook shoestring and basket-weave potatoes for 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally.
How is blanching done?
Blanching is a cooking process in which a food, usually a vegetable or fruit, is scalded in boiling water, removed after a brief, timed interval, and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water (known as shocking or refreshing) to halt the cooking process.
How long do you blanch potatoes for?
Blanch the potatoes
Carefully lower potatoes into the boiling water and leave them there to cook for a few minutes. Blanching time depends on the size of the spud—baby potatoes, or any potato that has been cut in one-inch thick pieces, should blanch for three to five minutes from the moment they hit the water.
Should you blanch chips before frying?
Blanching the potato in water before frying makes the mealy centre of a chip drier and more fluffy. Once blanched in oil, it doesn’t really matter whether the potatoes are left to cool before the final crisping or whether they are fried at once.
Why do you blanch fries?
Blanching also works to reduce the moisture content of the French fry, helping them crisp up much more easily when fried. When the potatoes are transferred to the cold water after the hot liquid dip, the cells of the potato shrink, ensuring the fry will not absorb as much oil when it is later fried.
Will blanched potatoes turn brown?
Boiling temperatures also destroy the enzyme that causes browning, so by blanching or parboiling your peeled or sliced potatoes you’ll will preserve their color.
Can I put frozen fries in oil?
For frozen French fries, heat your oil (you’ll need a high-temperature cooking thermometer if you aren’t using a deep fryer) to 350°. Fry for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. … Unlike if you were making fries from scratch, there’s no need to double fry them if you are frying frozen french fries.
Can you cook frozen French fries in olive oil?
To create crispy frozen French fries without having to cook them in a deep fryer, toss them with oil prior to oven-baking them. Spray the fries in a bag evenly with an olive oil-based cooking spray, which will give them a crispier texture. …
Do you thaw frozen fries before frying?
When frying French fries, do not let them thaw before using. I recommend that frozen French fries be kept completely frozen before using. This guarantees that the surface of the potato is sealed during the frying process, resulting in a crispy, high quality fry. Some operations do thaw potatoes before cooking.