The great frozen french fry debate: to soak or not to soak?

For years, I'd just dump frozen fries straight from the bag into my air fryer basket. They were fine, but never super crispy. Then, last winter, a friend told me to soak them in hot water for 10 minutes and pat them dry first. I tried it and the difference was huge, way crispier outside. But it adds an extra step and uses another bowl. Some people say the soak is a waste of time for a frozen product. What's your take, do you bother with a pre-soak for frozen fries or just go straight in?

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3 Comments

max4156mo ago

The soak is totally worth it for me. That extra starch gets pulled out and they dry off way better, which is what gives you the real crunch. Skipping it just gives you a steamy fry instead of a crispy one. Sure, it's another step, but the payoff is huge for something I'm already cooking from scratch.

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owens.cameron6mo ago

Okay max415, but it's just a french fry. The whole soak and dry thing feels like a lot of work for a side dish. I've made them both ways and honestly, the difference isn't that huge to me. If I'm already going through the trouble of cutting potatoes, I just want to get them in the oil. The extra hour of waiting for a soak never feels worth the small change in crunch.

5

charles_kelly436mo ago

Honestly the soak is less about drying and more about washing off the starch. That's what stops them from sticking together and getting gummy. I mean, you can skip it, but you'll notice a bigger difference in texture than just crunch.

3