Saednews: You’ve probably wondered why your fried potatoes don’t turn out dry and separate from each other? Here, we’ve shared all the tips and tricks, so stay with us!
First, rinse the potato slices in cold water, and if you have time, place them in a bowl of water so that the water covers all the slices. Add salt (about one full teaspoon for two medium potatoes) and let them sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes. This helps prevent the potatoes from sticking together while frying. If you're in a hurry, at least rinse the potatoes a couple of times with cold water to remove the starch that causes them to stick together.
Next, let the slices dry. This helps them absorb less oil and prevents sticking. If you're in a rush, you can use a clean cotton towel or paper napkins to dry them.
If you want your fries to have the crispy texture like fast food fries, bring a pot of water to a boil and add the potato slices. Let them boil for about 4-5 minutes until they are partially cooked. This step helps make the fries crispy. However, if you want them to be dry and crunchy like potatoes in stews, you don't need to parboil them.
Pour enough oil into the pan, preferably a non-stick one to use less oil and avoid the potatoes sticking to the bottom. Let the oil heat until you hear a sizzle when you drop a piece of potato in. You can drop one slice in to check when the oil is hot enough for the rest.
As for the oil, if it’s not a problem for you, pour enough to cover the potatoes. If you want to use less oil, it’s fine; just use enough so the potatoes fry as normal. In this case, the potatoes will turn a bit brown around the edges but won’t have the uniform golden color you get when using a lot of oil.
Once the fries are in the pan and spread out, don’t stir them until the underside starts turning golden and crispy. Stir gently to avoid breaking them into pieces. Especially if you used less oil, be extra careful and stir slowly.
If you want, you can freeze the boiled fries for 1-2 hours before frying to help prevent them from breaking apart. However, I don’t do this; I just pay attention and stir gently while frying.
Once the fries are crispy and golden, drain them in a colander to remove excess oil. If you want to remove even more oil, lay them on paper towels or parchment paper.
