Ive never met a potato I didnt like, but Crispy Fried Potatoes, also known as Country Potatoes, just might be my favorite way to eat them.
This simple technique results in the most delicious potatoes that are soft and creamy on the inside, and golden and crispy on the outside. Eat them any way you choose – on their own, with eggs for breakfast, alongside Roast Chicken or any other main dish, or as a delicious topping for soup.
One of my favorite was to eat these potatoes is topped with mushroom ragu. A ragù is traditionally an Italian meat based sauce thats most commonly served with pasta. This version replaces the meat with mushrooms for an incredibly rich and versatile meatless ragù that is pure magic with fried potatoes.
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The truth is: you don’t need to pre-cook your potatoes at all. Our easy, quick (ready in 20 minutes!) recipe results in extra-crispy pan-fried potatoes without all the hassle.
Kelly Dobkin is a freelance food writer who lives in New York City. She is currently Associate Editor of restaurant blog, Eater NY and has been writing about food since 2006. She attended the University of Michigan and is currently a student at the French Culinary Institute in NYC. She has written for Time Out NY, Metromix.com, Sheckys.com, and also maintains her own food blog, Applesauce. Follow Kelly on Twitter at @Kelly Dobkin
In addition to taste, what separates a so-so French fry from a superb one is its texture. A properly made fry must hit the oil twice–once at a lower temperature, and then again at 350 degrees Fahrenheit–to get the perfect creamy interior and crunchy exterior. Before all that, though, the secret is to briefly poach them in boiling water (or “blanch” them) before they go into the hot oil. This ensures that the fries are cooked all the way through before getting crisped up in the fryer.
Before I went to culinary school, I thought the procedure for making French fries went something like this: soak potatoes in water, pat dry, throw into sizzling hot oil, drain, eat. (And if all else fails, make a run for McDonalds.) I had the basic idea, but then I started classes at the French Culinary Institute. If culinary training has taught me anything, its that a little technique can elevate the most basic food from ordinary to extraordinary.
How much salt should you add to the water?
Seasoning the potatoes by boiling them in salt water is a great technique for infusing the entire potato with flavor rather than just salting the surface. But, it only works if you add enough salt to the water. The goal is to add enough salt to the water to make the water taste like salty.
For 12 cups of water, 3 – 4 tablespoons of salt is generally about right. However, feel free to play around with the amount of salt that tastes right to you. Start with 1 or 2 tablespoons, taste the water, and add more from there.
I know this seems like a LOT of salt. But, most of the salt will stay in the water, not end up in your potatoes. When your water is well salted, there is no need to add any more salt during frying. The potatoes will absorb the salt water and be very well seasoned before you even add them to the skillet to fry.
Tips for Frying Potatoes⎢Martha Stewart’s Cooking School
FAQ
Is it better to boil potatoes before frying?
How do you soften potatoes before pan frying?
Should I blanch potatoes before frying?
How long should you boil potatoes before frying reddit?
Should you boil potatoes before frying?
It is not necessary to boil potatoes before frying, but it can help to shorten the frying time and make the potatoes more tender on the inside. If you want crispy and evenly cooked potatoes, it is recommended to soak them in cold water for about 30 minutes before frying, and then pat them dry with a paper towel before frying in hot oil.
Why boil sweet potatoes instead of baking them?
Baked sweet potatoes have a higher glycemic index than boil sweet potatoes. This is because the type of cooking affects the structure of the potato starch, making it more or less digestible. That is, the starch in the baked potato is digested more quickly than the starch in the boil sweet potato, thus raising the blood glucose rate more quickly and in greater amounts than when we boil the potato. Roasted sweet potatoes have a glycemic index of 94, while baked potatoes have a 46.
Should you parboil potatoes before frying?
The goal is to have a potato that is cooked about three-fourths of the way. By doing so, you won’t end up frying potatoes that are fully cooked and browned on the outside but still undercooked or raw on the inside. Parboiling potatoes before cooking them also facilitates a process known as gelation.
Can You boil potatoes before air frying?
If you choose to boil potatoes before air frying, you can boil them for 5-7 minutes until they are slightly tender but still firm. Be sure to pat them dry before seasoning and air frying to achieve a crispy exterior. 4. Can I boil and air fry potatoes ahead of time?