| How to Make French Fries Posted: 16 Jan 2021 04:00 PM PST When the craving for french fries strikes, it's great to be able to make them at home! For crispy french fries, use starchy russet potatoes to get fries crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. To make fries without heating up oil, turn on your oven and toss in a sheet of seasoned french fries. They'll crisp up beautifully and you can drizzle an optional herbed butter over them before serving. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Crispy French Fries - of russet potatoes, about 5 large
- of vegetable or peanut oil, for frying
- Salt, for sprinkling
- Ketchup and mayonnaise, for serving
Makes 4 servings [Edit]Oven-Baked French Fries - of russet potatoes, about 5 large
- of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (5.5 g) of sea salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (21 g) of butter, optional
- 1 garlic clove, minced, optional
- 2 tablespoons (7 g) of chopped parsley, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of freshly ground black pepper, optional
Makes 4 servings [Edit]Frying Crispy French Fries - Peel russet potatoes and cut them into thick sticks. Rinse of russet potatoes and set them on a cutting board. Use a large knife to carefully cut each potato in half lengthwise into thick slices. Lay the slices flat and cut them lengthwise again into sticks.[1]
- For rustic fries, leave the peels on, but scrub the potatoes extra well.
- Put the fries in a bowl of cold water and refrigerate them for at least 1 hour. Place the french fries in a large bowl and pour in enough cold water to completely cover them. Put the bowl in the fridge and chill the french fries for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.[2]
- If you'd like to make french fries ahead of time, work up until this step and refrigerate the fries overnight. Then, make the fries the following day.
- Drain the fries and pat them dry with paper towels. Set a colander in the sink and take the bowl of fries out of the fridge. Pour the fries into the colander so the water drains. Then, arrange the fries on a paper towel-lined plate or tray. Take another paper towel and blot the tops of the fries.[3]
- It's important to dry the fries so they'll become really crispy as they fry.
- Pour oil into a heavy pot and heat it to . Set a deep pot on the stove or get out a tabletop deep fryer. Pour of vegetable or peanut oil into it and clip a deep-fry thermometer to the side. Turn the burner to medium-high and heat the oil until it reaches .[4]
- If you're using a tabletop deep fryer, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Ensure that the thermometer is in the oil so it reads an accurate temperature.
- Lower 1/3 of the fries into the oil and fry them for 3 to 4 minutes. If you put all of the fries into the oil, they'll lower the heat too quickly, so just put about 1/3 of the french fries into the oil. Use a slotted skimmer for frying to turn the fries occasionally and fry them until they're softened and pale in color.[5]
- If you're concerned that the oil will splatter you, you could place the fries on a deep fry skimmer and lower it into the oil.
- Transfer the fries to paper towels and par-fry the remaining batches. Once the fries are par-fried, scoop them out with the skimmer and place them on a sheet lined with dry paper towels. Then, lower another batch of the fries into the hot oil.[6]
- Par-frying means that you only partially fry the potatoes. They'll soften, but won't become completely crispy.
- Check the oil to ensure it's still at before you add the next batch of fries.
- Heat the oil to and fry 1 batch of par-fried french fries for 3 to 4 minutes. Once you've finished par-frying all of them, set them aside while you bring the oil temperature up to . Then, carefully lower 1 batch of the fries into the hot oil and fry them until they're browned and crispy.[7]
- The higher temperature of oil makes the outsides of the fries extra crunchy.
- Fry the remaining batches of fries until they're crispy. Transfer the finished fries to a paper towel-lined plate and lower another batch into the hot oil. Keep frying the french fries until they're all golden brown. Sprinkle salt over the fries and enjoy them while they're hot.[8]
[Edit]Making Oven-Baked French Fries - Put a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to . Place a rimmed baking sheet into the middle of the oven. Then, turn the oven on so it preheats and the sheet gets really hot.[9]
- When you place the french fries on the hot sheet, they'll immediately begin to crisp up.
- Peel of russet potatoes if you want crispy fries. Rinse about 5 large starchy potatoes and peel them. Although you can leave the peels on, the fries will be slightly chewier than if you'd peel them.[10]
- Don't peel the potatoes in advance or they'll begin to brown.
- Cut the potatoes into sticks. Place the peeled potatoes on a cutting board and cut them lengthwise into thick slices. Lay the slices flat and cut them lengthwise again into thick sticks.[11]
- If you prefer even crunchier french fries, you can cut them into thick sticks. Since they're smaller, reduce the cooking time by 5 to 8 minutes.
- Toss the french fries with olive oil and salt. Get out a large bowl and put the french fries into it. Drizzle of olive oil over them and sprinkle over 1 teaspoon (5.5 g) of sea salt. Use your hands or large spoons to toss the fries so they're coated in the oil and salt.[12]
- The oil prevents the fries from sticking to the sheet. It also helps them become crunchy as they bake.
- Arrange the fries on the hot sheet. Put on oven mitts to remove the hot baking sheet from the oven. Then, spread the seasoned french fries on the sheet so they're in a single layer.
- If you forgot to preheat the sheet, you can still spread the fries on a cold baking sheet.
- Bake the fries for 40 to 50 minutes, flipping them halfway. Wear the mitts to put the sheet back into the oven and bake the fries until they're browned on the edges. Use a spatula to flip the fries over halfway through the baking time so they cook evenly and become golden brown.
- To test if the fries are done in the center, insert a fork into a fry and remove it to see if it releases easily.
- Remove the fries and season them with more salt according to your taste. Once the fries are crispy and browned, take the sheet out of the oven and transfer the fries to a serving dish. Taste one and sprinkle more salt over the fries if you like.[13] (21 g) of butter with 1 minced clove of garlic for 1 minute over medium heat. Then, stir in (7 g) of chopped parsley and 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of freshly ground black pepper. Toss this herbed butter over your crispy french fries just before serving.}}
- The fries will become soggy and chewy if you refrigerate them, so enjoy them immediately!
- Although starchy potatoes, like Russets, are usually used to make french fries, you can use red or yukon gold potatoes.
[Edit]Warnings - Always use caution when frying food with hot oil and keep children and pets away from the stove.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Crispy French Fries - Knife and cutting board
- Vegetable peeler
- Bowl
- Colander
- Paper towels
- Deep-fry skimmer
- Deep, heavy pot or tabletop deep fryer
- Deep-fry thermometer
[Edit]Oven-Baked French Fries - Rimmed baking sheet
- Oven mitts
- Spatula
- Knife and cutting board
- Vegetable peeler
- Serving dish
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Create a Minimalist Home Posted: 16 Jan 2021 08:00 AM PST Minimalism isn't just a personal aesthetic choice—it's a streamlined, organized, and refreshing way to reorganize your home so you're only holding onto the essentials. If you have a lot of different odds and ends lying around your home, creating a minimalist living space might seem a bit daunting. There's no need to worry! There are plenty of easy, stylish ways you can simplify your home, even if you're on a budget. [Edit]Simplify your home one room at a time. - Break things down so you don't have so much to do at once. Creating a minimalist house or apartment is a really big undertaking, and it's understandable if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed. Take a deep breath, and focus on 1 room a time. There's no deadline for reorganizing your home, so give yourself as much time as you need to get your home exactly the way you'd like it.[1]
- It might help to target your messiest room first, and then branch out from there.
- You might also reorganize your rooms in the order that you usually walk through them. For instance, you might start in your bedroom, then move on to the bathroom, living room, and kitchen.
[Edit]Get rid of anything you don't need. - Start with the biggest items and work your way down. Look at each piece of furniture, and ask yourself if you really need it or not. Then, work your way down to smaller items, like household appliances, pieces of decor, books, and other personal belongings. See if your home really needs the item, or if it's just taking up space—this can really help narrow things down.[2]
- For example, you might have an old armchair that you never use or sit in. You can donate this to charity, or resell it to a new owner.
- You might have too many lamps in 1 room, or lots of books and magazines that you never read. These are things you can get rid of to simplify and "minimize" your space.
[Edit]Discard any duplicates. - Donate or toss out any extra items that you don't need. Look through your drawers and cabinets to see if you have any duplicate items lying around, like measuring cups, extra silverware, throw pillows, blankets, extra cosmetics, and more. Ask yourself if you're using these extra objects frequently—if the answer is no, then it's probably safe to throw them out.[3]
- For example, if you have an extra tube of lipstick that you never use, consider throwing it out (or giving it to a friend if it's unopened).
- If you have 5 or 6 throw pillows on your couch, donate most of them so you only have 1 or 2.
[Edit]Donate your items regularly. - Sort your belongings once a season and donate some of them to charity. Set a time during the year to go through all of your things, whether it's clothing, kitchen tools, books, or anything else. If you don't actively use the item any more, set it aside in a donation pile.[4]
- Charities like Goodwill and Volunteers of America are great to consider. You can also sell your old, unwanted items and donate the profits to a charity.[5]
[Edit]Clean your home often. - Try to clean up clutter as soon as you notice it. Get in the habit of putting everything away as soon as you're done with it, so your home can be really clean, open, and streamlined. Set aside a few minutes every night to clean off the surfaces of your home, so it doesn't start to stack up.[6]
- For instance, you can recycle any old receipts and papers laying on your countertop before you go to bed.
- You can wash your dishes right after each meal so they don't collect in your sink.
[Edit]Scan paper files into digital copies. - Search for any loose receipts or files lying around. Ask yourself if you need them, or if they're just taking up valuable space in your home. To be safe, scan the documents to your computer or phone so you can have them on hand if you need them. Then, recycle the leftover paper to get rid of the clutter![7]
- You can use a regular scanner, or a special scanning app, like Dropbox, Evernote, Adobe Scan, or Piksoft TurboScan Pro.[8]
[Edit]Hide any unused items in storage. - Keep everything out of sight unless you're actively using it. Find a place in your home for all of your leftover items, whether it's a cabinet, dresser, ottoman, or some other form of storage.[9] Choose an assigned space for every item in your home, so you can remember where everything goes in the future.[10]
- For example, you can keep a few DVDs stored in an entertainment center, and your basic toiletries stored in a bathroom cabinet.
- You can keep your clothes organized in a dresser or wardrobe, depending on what your closet space is like.
[Edit]Opt for just a few meaningful decorations or accents. - Decorate with a few accents you really love, then get rid of the rest. Chances are, you don't need dozens of pictures or pieces of art hanging up on your wall or cluttering up your counters and surfaces. Look through each decoration—does this art, photo, or decor item hold a lot of personal value, or is it just taking up space? Focus on the decorations and accents that really add a personal touch to your home, instead of hanging up random paintings and photographs.[11]
- For instance, you might hang up a piece of art that a friend or family member made instead of a random accent you bought at a store.
- You might prefer hanging up a tasteful family photo instead of a bunch of random nature photos.
- Limit 1-2 accents for each room, so your home isn't overwhelmed with odds and ends.
- Stick to one or two styles of decor to keep things consistent. It's okay to mix styles a little bit, but for a minimalist feel, you'll want to keep the majority of your decor in one style.[12]
[Edit]Invest in multi-purpose furniture. - Look for furniture that can do at least 2 things at once. Minimalism is all about streamlining your space. Shop for pieces of furniture that really help make the most of your home. Fill your rooms with furniture that double as storage, or serve another useful purpose.[13]
- For example, you might have a sofa that pulls out into a bed.
- You can fill your room with small, empty ottomans that you can open and fill with different odds and ends.
- Some bed frames can double as a nightstand.
[Edit]Create a neutral-toned color scheme. - Don't decorate your home with a lot of distracting colors. Instead, focus on calm, neutral-toned hues that really balance out your living space. Play around with subtle tones, like whites, tans, grays, and browns. You can create a really inviting and engaging living space, even if you don't have a lot of colorful decorations.[14]
- Neutral tones don't have to be boring! You can add a lot of life and character to your living space by adjusting the tone. For instance, you can repaint basic white walls with a warm, coconut milk color.[15]
- If you want to jazz things up, choose a single, warm color to liven up your room. This could be something like a bright red nightstand or a yellow area rug.
[Edit]Decorate with linens. - Add a couple of blankets, pillows, or drapes to your home. Your home doesn't need to be overflowing with linens, but a few textiles can really help give your home a little personality. Hang up a few simple drapes around your windows, and prop a few floor pillows around your living space. A little linen can go a long way![16]
- You can create some warm, cozy effects by arranging linens with heavier materials, like wool. For example, you can make up your bed with linen sheets and a warmer blanket.
[Edit]Hang up plain curtains or window coverings. - Add simple, neutral-toned window coverings to help minimize your space. Ditch any curtains or drapes with a lot of crazy colors and patterns—these are pretty distracting, and add a lot of visual "clutter" to your home. Instead, choose basic shades, coverings, blinds or drapes, which offer some privacy without sticking out.[17]
- For example, you might invest in a set of window blinds instead of colorful curtains.
- You might switch out patterned drapes for simple, neutral tones.
[Edit]Mess around with texture. - Add an extra dimension to your living space with a few textured items. Look for rugs, accessories, and other accents that add a fun, textured touch to your living space without overwhelming the room's simple design. Pick out different materials, like wood, velvet, or leather, and see what kinds of arrangements you can create.[18]
- For instance, you might have a wooden coffee table paired with a velvet chair, along with a leather couch.
- You might add a spiky houseplant to your living space as an extra touch.
[Edit]Try out warm-toned lights. - Pick out simple lights that won't overwhelm your living space. Cool-toned lights are really popular, but they make your living space feel cold and harsh. Instead, go for some slightly warmer bulbs—these will keep your living space well-lit, but also add a nice ambiance.[19]
- Candles tend to add a lot of clutter to your living space, and aren't a really great option for a minimalist home. If you really love natural light, invest in some uniquely shaped candles that don't require a lantern or container.
- Organize your mail as soon as you pick it up. This way, you won't have any clutter building up around your home.[20]
- Always measure around each room before ordering new furniture.[21]
[Edit]References |
| How to Prepare a Pop Tart Posted: 16 Jan 2021 12:00 AM PST Pop Tarts are delicious small pastries that you can eat for breakfast or as a snack. Although you can eat Pop Tarts straight out of the package, they taste a little better when they're warmed up. You can use the tools in your kitchen to heat up any flavor of Pop Tart to make them taste great. [Edit]Using the Toaster - Take the Pop Tart out of the foil package. All Pop Tarts come in a metal foil package with 2 Pop Tarts in each. You can eat 1 or 2 Pop Tarts at a time, depending on how hungry you are.[1]
- If you don't want to eat the second Pop Tart, put it into a plastic bag so that it doesn't get stale.
- Set your toaster to the lowest setting. Since Pop Tarts aren't very thick, they can get burned if you toast them on a high setting. Turn the dial on your toaster all the way down so that you Pop Tart will get warm but not burnt.[2]
- You can turn your toaster to a higher setting if you want your Pop Tart a little more well-done, but keep an eye on it so that it doesn't burn.
- Toast your Pop Tart for about 1 minute. Place your Pop Tart into the toaster vertically and let it toast on the lowest setting. For most toasters, this lasts about 1 minute. Keep an eye on your Pop Tart and take it out of the toaster if the edges or the icing start to turn black.[3]
- If your toaster doesn't have a low setting, you can set a timer for 1 minute and just take your Pop Tart out manually.
- Wait for 30 seconds to let the Pop Tart cool down. It will be tempting to grab your Pop Tart out of the toaster right away, but it's going to be hot! Leave your Pop Tart in the toaster for about 30 seconds so that it doesn't burn you.[4]
- Grab your Pop Tart with your fingers and put it on a plate. Carefully grab the top of your Pop Tart and transfer it to a plate. Since it's already cooled down in the toaster, it should be cool enough to eat.[5]
[Edit]Heating in a Microwave - Unwrap the Pop Tart and take it out of the foil package. Pop Tarts come in a metal foil package, so you need to take them out before you put them in the microwave. You can heat up 1 or both of the Pop Tarts at a time depending on how much you want to eat.[6]
- Put the Pop Tart on a microwave-safe plate. Make sure the plate you are using is safe to go into the microwave by checking on the back. It should say "microwave-safe" somewhere on the label. Center you Pop Tart in the middle of the plate so that it gets heated evenly.[7]
- If you don't have a microwave-safe plate, use a paper towel instead.
- Microwave your Pop Tart for 3 seconds. Since Pop Tarts are pretty thin, they don't need to go in the microwave for a long time. Set the timer for 3 seconds and make sure the microwave stops.[8]
- It may seem silly to only microwave your Pop Tart for 3 seconds, but that's all the heat it needs!
- Wait for about 10 seconds before picking up your Pop Tart. Your Pop Tart may be a little warm, so let it sit in the microwave for a little bit before you grab it. Then, you can pick up your Pop Tart and dig in.[9]
- If your plate got super hot in the microwave, use an oven mitt to grab it out so you don't hurt your hands.
[Edit]Toasting in a Toaster Oven - Take the Pop Tarts out of the foil package. You can toast 1 of the Pop Tarts or take both out at the same time. Make sure the foil wrapping is completely off of the Pop Tarts and then throw it away.[10]
- If you aren't going to eat the second Pop Tart, seal it in a plastic bag and save it for later.
- Place your Pop Tarts on the middle rack of the toaster oven. Make sure the frosting side is pointed upwards so that it doesn't burn. Try to put the Pop Tarts onto the center part of the middle rack so they get toasted evenly.[11]
- If your toaster oven has 2 racks, put your Pop Tart on the top one.
- Set the timer for 1 to 3 minutes. Make sure your toaster oven is on the "toasting" setting. Click the timer over until it's at 1 to 3 minutes, then wait for your Pop Tart to crisp up.[12]
- The longer your Pop Tart is in the toaster oven, the more crispy it will be.
- Use a pair of tongs to grab your Pop Tart. The Pop Tart will probably be pretty hot, so don't use your bare hands. Instead, grab a pair of tongs or a spatula and gently pull the Pop Tart out of the toaster oven and onto a plate. Enjoy your warm Pop Tart![13]
- The instructions for preparing a Pop Tart are on the back of the box. If you get stuck, check the box that your Pop Tarts came in.
- You can also eat Pop Tarts cold if you don't want to warm them up!
[Edit]Warnings - Always take your Pop Tart out of the package before putting it in the toaster or microwave.
- Let your Pop Tart cool down before picking it up or eating it so that you don't burn yourself.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Using the Toaster [Edit]Toasting in a Toaster Oven [Edit]Heating in a Microwave - Microwave-safe plate
- Microwave
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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