"In a TikTok video shared by Josh Weissman, the chef demonstrates a simple yet ingenious process for transforming frozen french fries that uses both wet and dry cooking methods. He starts by pouring frozen fries into a microwave-safe Tupperware container before filling it with water. After soaking for 30 seconds, he drains and seals the container, giving the fries a quick and vigorous shake."
"The soak, shake, and stint in the microwave mimic parboiling, which we use in this recipe for crispy fingerling potatoes. In essence, the water draws out the starches in the spuds, the shake breaks up their exterior and coats them in their own starches to maximize crispiness, and the microwave partially cooks them. Air fryers are essentially high-powered, efficient convection ovens that can then circulate hot, dry air around each fry, evaporating water and crisping up the potatoes' starchy exterior."
Frozen french fries can reach exceptional crispiness using a three-step method: a brief water soak, vigorous shaking, a short microwave stint, and final air-frying at 400°F for 15 minutes. The water soak draws out surface starches, the shake roughens and coats exteriors in starch to promote crust formation, and the microwave partially cooks the interior. Air frying circulates hot, dry air to evaporate moisture and crisp the potato exterior. Using frozen fries saves time because manufacturers select quality potatoes and pre-cook them before flash-freezing, yielding consistent, high-quality results.
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