Which Oil for Crispy Fries?
Peanut oil or any other light vegetable oil is ideal for preparing the best homemade fries. It gives you the crispy crust you sometimes miss.
Note: Due to its high smoke point, peanut oil is generally preferred over olive oil.
Why Add Vinegar to Fries?
Pour White Vinegar
How do you get a plate of crispy fries without using a deep fryer? Then it’s important to choose high-quality ingredients. Note that the best frying potato varieties are those that tend to ripen later, like apples. It’s important that they contain little water, starch, and sugar. Otherwise, they tend to brown quickly and caramelize. Also, excess starch makes them soft because it absorbs a lot of oil. A solution to this problem? A secret ingredient: Vinegar. Its acidity delays the breakdown of pectin, preserving it during cooking. Pectin is a soluble fiber that helps keep you full, regulate fat absorption during digestion, and maintain good intestinal passage.
Here are the steps you need to follow to prepare your fries with vinegar:
Peel the potatoes and wash them in very cold water.
Cut the potatoes (as explained above). Remember, for crispy fries, it’s very important that the slices have a wavy shape when cut with a knife or mandoline.
Place the sticks in a bowl with cold water and three tablespoons of white vinegar.
Dry them and place them in a pot of boiling water for 1 minute. This step removes excess starch from the potatoes and gives you a much smoother texture.
Take them out of the boiling water, rinse them under running cold water, and place them in a bowl of ice water. Before proceeding with the next step, the potatoes must be dried with absorbent paper towels.
Heat the oil in a frying pan over high heat and gradually add the potatoes, following the cooking method described above. For a crispier result, it’s advisable to use peanut oil or sunflower oil.
