Southern Fried Potato Wedges (2024)

FAQs

Should you boil potatoes before frying them? ›

How do you know when fried potatoes are done? It takes about 20 minutes for the potatoes to be tender (which is about the same amount of time it would take for the water to come up to a boil and for the potatoes to cook in it, therefore there's no need to incorporate boiling into the process).

If possible, soak sliced potato wedges in cold water for at least 20 minutes (or even overnight). It's a way to rid them of excess starch. Starch makes things crumbly and soft. Removing starch by soaking and rinsing is a great way to yield the crispiest possible result.

wedges are often confused with potato fries which is generally thin and has different shape. wedges have more curvy in shape and has very distinct corners or in other words it can be termed as half moon shaped snack. having said that, it can be cut into waffle, crinkle or even curly shaped wedges too.

The key to making a super crispy potato wedges is cutting them nice and thin and giving them plenty of time in the oven to crisp. Flipping them too early or over-crowding the pan will leave you with less than crispy potatoes but if you are willing to wait - you can make something every one will love.

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

This sure sounds a lot like potatoes that have been stored too long, in too cold of an environment before cooking. When potatoes are held below 41°F for too long a period, the starches convert to sugar and it changes the cooking chemistry.

In our homemade french fries recipe, we suggest soaking your potatoes for at least 15 minutes, but if you'd like to do this step ahead of time, they can soak overnight. Avoid excess water on the potatoes: make sure to pat them dry after removing them from the water bath otherwise you'll end up with limp fries.

Why use salt water for soaking potatoes? There's moisture naturally found in potatoes, and moisture is drawn to higher concentrations of salt. (This is a process called osmosis.) So, if you put the potatoes in a salt water bath, that will help draw out some of their moisture, resulting in crispier fries.

To prepare your potatoes for frying, start by slicing them into long strips of uniform thickness. As soon as you slice each potato, immediately place the slices in a bowl filled with cold water. This step is crucial because it prevents the potato slices from turning brown due to oxidation caused by exposure to oxygen.

"KFC evolves its menu based on what resonates with consumers," a spokesperson for the chain told The U.S. Sun. "While we know our potato wedges hold a special place in the hearts of some KFC fans, we wanted to make room for something even tastier on the permanent menu," they said.

What are fried potato wedges called? ›

Jojos are potato wedges that are battered, seasoned, and either deep-fried in the same vat as fried chicken, or pressure-fried.

Drain and leave to steam dry for 5 mins. Spread the wedges out on a large baking sheet or two smaller ones. Toss with the oil and 1 tsp salt (preferably sea salt) and spread out so that they aren't overlapping. Roast for 30 mins, turning halfway until golden and crisp.

Right amount of oil.

Too much and it actually makes them soggy. Too little and the seasoning doesn't stick on the wedges and the wedges stick to the baking tray.

Before all that, though, the secret is to briefly poach them in boiling water (or "blanch" them) before they go into the hot oil. This ensures that the fries are cooked all the way through before getting crisped up in the fryer. Makes 1-2 servings.

A general rule of thumb is to parboil potatoes until they are fork-tender but not falling apart, this can range anywhere from 15 minutes for small potatoes to 25-30 minutes for large whole potatoes.

Boil your cut potatoes in a pot of salted water for about 5 minutes, just until they begin to soften and become slightly translucent. Remove them from the water and let them air dry on paper towels.

Soak potatoes in water mixture for 15 minutes. Remove potatoes from water and dry thoroughly on paper towels. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Cook potatoes in hot oil until golden, 5 to 6 minutes.