Frying Tips Plus Red, White, and Blue Chips

No Fourth of July feast would be complete without crispy, salty chips to pair with your lineup of flame-kissed favorites, including burgers, chicken, seafood, and sides. But we're skipping the store-bought varieties and bringing the oil to a boil for homemade Red, White, and Blue Potato and Beet Chips.

Our recipe combines the classic flavor and crunch of potato chips with the slight sweetness of beet chips. The result is a patriotic snack that's brimming with red, white, and blue spirit—perfect for your Independence Day bash or any summer picnic. So fire up the burners for our Red, White, and Blue Potato and Beet Chips recipe, plus handy technique tips to help you overcome your fear of frying.
deep-frying tips:

Set Up for Success
It's important to assemble all the necessary ingredients and tools before the first potato takes its plunge into hot oil. Deep-frying is a fast technique, and one that requires you to man the pot at all times, which means there's no downtime to dig through your drawer for a slotted spoon or dash to the pantry for salt.

Organize your setup while your oil is heating to the required temperature. Essential equipment includes a deep, heavy-bottomed medium saucepan (or a deep fryer), a deep-fry thermometer, a slotted metal spoon or spider, a paper towel-lined baking sheet, and a small bowl of salt. Arrange the baking sheet near your saucepan so that the food is transferred a minimum distance from the hot oil to where it will drain. Remember to clear all other appliances and equipment away from the stove in the event the oil splatters.

Fry Fast
Speed is the key to a crispy, deep-fried food that's not bogged down by oil. The faster you can get your item into and out of the boiling oil, the less oil it will absorb and the less greasy it will be. And this is where oil temperature comes into play. The oil has to stay between 350°F and 375°F at all times. This specific temperature range is low enough to allow the food to cook on both the inside and outside without burning, but also hot enough that the food cooks quickly and doesn't become soggy from a prolonged fry time.

Save the Salt for Last
Seasoning is a critical component of any dish, but when it comes to deep-frying, salt comes second. Never season a food before you deep-fry it, as the salt will immediately draw out any water trapped in the food and cause the oil to splatter. Instead, always salt the food right after it comes out of the oil, as salt sticks best when sprinkled on a hot surface.

Get the Recipe: Red, White and Blue Chips

Text, recipe and photo by Kelly Senyei

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