Steam the Potatoes Before Frying for a Perfectly Crispy Potato
The best things about perfectly fried potatoes are crispy crunchy crust and a lush, aromatic interior. If you are looking for a method that works every time, then the easiest way to get it is to quickly steam the potatoes before roasting them in the oven.
Boiling the potato slices before baking helps to cook them evenly and crisp quickly. Kenji Lopez-Alt from Cooking Light explains how this method works:
Boiling starchy potatoes for baking in water (seasoned with salt) gelatinizes a layer of starch on its outer surface. This layer will dehydrate and brown as the potatoes are baked, creating a thick, crispy shell.
When the potatoes are tender, remove them from the water. Then season as usual with butter and spices and place in the oven. However, you don’t want to overcook the potatoes, so he suggests you add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the water to keep the potatoes from falling apart.
This tip isn’t just good for fried potato slices: you can apply this method to homemade fries, broken potatoes , steak, or just about any other baked potato dish.
Help Me, Kenji – How To Make Chips Crunchier | Cooking light