It seems that nothing could be simpler than baking potatoes, however, in order for baked potatoes to turn out to be truly delicious, one should take into account a small secret, writes “unian.net”.
Why should potatoes be covered with boiling water before frying?
In order to understand how to bake potatoes deliciously, you need to delve a little deeper into the world of chemistry and look at the composition of root vegetables.
The main ingredient of potatoes – starch – prevents the potato from forming a crispy crust. When raw potatoes are placed in the pan, they release moisture and mix with the starch. As a result, we get a sticky mass that prevents the potato from browning. Potatoes the slices stick together, become soggy, and the end result is a kind of boiled and fried mass – although tasty, but not perfect.
What to do?
Boiling water acts as a “cage” for the starch – simply immerse the cut potatoes in boiling water for 1-2 minutes and the hot water will “seal” them, creating a thin film of starch. The oil from the pan will not be able to penetrate this film, allowing the potato to absorb a minimum amount of fat, resulting in a healthy, crispy texture and a soft, crumbly interior.
Cut the potatoes into slices or sticks of the same thickness. Bring a pot of water to the boil, add salt and then gently submerge the potatoes in the boiling liquid for 1-2 minutes. Do not boil them – just submerge and keep in water.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the potato slices from the pot and place them on paper towels to dry. The more thoroughly you dry the potato slices, the crispier the skin will be.
Then place the potatoes in a preheated, generously oiled pan – ideally use a mixture of butter and vegetable oil to create a unique flavor.
Fry the potatoes in batches – if there are too many potatoes in the pan, they will stew instead of frying.
The temperature at which you fry the potatoes is also important: a medium temperature will allow the potatoes to cook evenly without burning or becoming too soft.
If you do everything correctly, you will get a delicious, aromatic and crunchy addition to any dish!
