How Long To Soak Potatoes For The Crispiest Possible Fries

Water works via osmosis to draw out extra moisture before frying

Certainly! You can always opt to wash, slice, and fry or bake your potatoes without soaking them first. Sometimes, the craving for fries outweighs the desire for perfection. However, if you want to take your potato preparation to the next level and achieve that restaurant-quality texture, soaking is essential.

You'll find varying recommendations depending on who you consult. Some suggest adding salt to the soaking water, allowing the potato slices to marinate in the brine. Remember your middle school science lessons? Salt, whether in the human body or in vegetables, attracts moisture through a process known as osmosis. You might have witnessed this when salting eggplant slices before breading and cooking them. In the case of French fries, though, the soaking water doesn't necessarily need to be salted to be effective; you'll come across recipes that include salt and others that don't. The key takeaway is that soaking helps eliminate excess starch from the potatoes, preventing them from sticking together and resulting in a crispier, crunchier finish.

Soaking may create a healthier and crispier fry

Another reason to consider soaking your potatoes in water before baking or frying is that it can significantly reduce the levels of acrylamide, a naturally occurring chemical that forms when cooking starchy foods at high temperatures. While more research is needed, animal studies have suggested a potential link between this chemical and cancer. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to soak it away, it’s a wise choice.

Once you remove the fries from the water, it’s crucial to dry them thoroughly; otherwise, they may turn out soggy instead of crispy, which defeats the purpose. To test your methods, using ice-cold water or giving the potatoes an ice bath can help prevent the starch from becoming gummy, as it tends to do. This cold soak helps maintain the potatoes' structure, keeping them crispy and firm.

After soaking and drying, you can either fry the slices in a pot of oil for a classic approach or, if you're mindful of your oil consumption (or want to avoid the mess and time spent on the stove), bake them in an oven preheated to 450 degrees Fahrenheit—or use an air fryer for an even simpler option. Don’t forget to add your favorite spices, salt, and pepper, and of course, ketchup for the perfect homemade side to accompany your burger or sandwich.