| How to Make French Fries Using a Deep Fryer Posted: 18 Aug 2021 05:00 PM PDT French fries are one of those foods that everyone can agree on, no matter how picky an eater they are. Most people get their fries at restaurants or in the frozen section at the grocery store, but the best way to enjoy them is to prepare them yourself at home. All you need is a deep fryer, lots of clean oil, and enough potatoes to satisfy your hunger. Be sure to make enough to share, 'cause these puppies are guaranteed to go fast! [Edit]Ingredients - 5-6 large Russet or Kennebec potatoes
- Oil for frying (peanut, canola, vegetable, sunflower, etc.)
- Sea salt
- Ketchup
- Additional spices and seasonings (optional)
- Miscellaneous condiments (optional)
Makes 4-6 servings [Edit]Cleaning and Slicing the Potatoes - Wash your potatoes with cool, clean water. Place your potatoes in a colander or wire strainer and give them a good dousing, or hold them under the faucet and rinse them off one-by-one. Use the pads of your fingers or a stiff-bristled brush to scrub away clinging dirt and debris. When you're done, shake off the excess water.[1]
- If you're a stickler for food safety, you can also soak your potatoes for 2-5 minutes in your own all-natural vegetable wash made from water, white vinegar, and lemon juice.[2]
- Remember, potatoes grow in the ground, so it's always a good idea to make sure they're nice and clean before cooking with them.
- Cut the potatoes in half down the middle. Lay out your potatoes on a cutting board or scratch-resistant surface and run a sharp knife through the center of each. Be sure to cut them lengthwise rather than widthwise to ensure that your fries don't come out short and stubby.[3]
- There's no need to peel your potatoes unless they're particularly dirty, or you prefer them without the skins. If you do decide to peel them, use a veggie peeler with a wide blade to save time.[4]
- Longer potatoes tend to make for better French fries.
- Cut the halves into slices. Rest each bisected potato against your cutting board flat-side-down and slice it longways 3-4 times. Doing so will reduce it to more manageable sections that you can then easily cut into individual fries of your preferred thickness.[5]
- For especially large potatoes, you may need to make 1 or 2 extra cuts to simplify the task of slicing.
- Slice the sections into strips. Work your way down the line turning each piece into 6-8 fries. Try to keep your cuts as consistent as you can. Once you've sliced your last potato, gather up the fries and transfer them to an empty, spacious serving or mixing bowl.[6]
- You can also cut your fries smaller, if you like. This will require making finer, more precise cuts, though, so watch your fingers.
- It's okay if not all of your fries are exactly the same thickness. Just make sure there's not such a size difference that they cook unevenly.[7]
- Soak your sliced potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to an hour. Fill the bowl with fresh water until the potatoes are completely immersed. Keep an eye on the clock as they soak. Once they've sat for half an hour or so, it will be time to drain them and get cooking.[8]
- Alternatively, you can soak your potatoes for 2-3 hours or even overnight the day before you fry them, though this isn't a necessity.
- Giving your potatoes a good soak is optional, but it will reduce the amount of starch in the potatoes, preventing them from browning prematurely in the deep fryer.[9]
[Edit]Frying Initially to Cook the Fries Through - Fill your deep fryer up about 1/3 of the way with your preferred frying oil. Pour in the oil until it reaches the indicated fill line. Deep fryers are designed to get real hot real fast, so it's important to use an oil with a high smoke point. Peanut, canola, vegetable, and sunflower oil are all good choices.[10]
- If you use an oil with a low smoke point, such as extra virgin olive or avocado, there's a chance that it could burn before you cook time is up, ruining your fries in the process.
- Heat your oil to . Turn on your deep fryer and let it begin warming up. If your machine has a lid, make sure it's on and secure at this point to help lock in heat. Most electric deep fryers will get to their target temperature within 10-20 minutes.[11]
- Different deep fryers have different designs, settings, and functions. Follow the instructions in the owner's manual that came with your fryer to make sure you're using the device safely and correctly.[12]
- Dry your potatoes thoroughly. While you're waiting for your oil to heat up, drain the water from your sliced potatoes and dump them out onto a layer of folded paper towels. Use a separate towel to pat them dry on all sides, making sure that there's as little lingering moisture left behind as possible.[13]
- It's a well-known fact that oil and water don't mix. For this reason, adding wet food to hot frying oil a recipe for disaster.[14]
- Place your potatoes in a fry basket, if your fryer came with one. Arrange the potatoes so that they're sitting level inside the basket. This will help ensure that they cook more evenly. Avoid filling the basket more than 2/3 of the way full, as this is likely to result in inconsistent heating and could even be a potential fire hazard.[15]
- If you plan on preparing a large quantity of French fries, you may may need to do it in multiple batches, depending on the size of your deep fryer or fry basket.
- If you don't have a fry basket, you have the option of either buying one (it's sure to come in handy if you do a lot of deep frying) or using a metal skimmer or pair of metal tongs to move them in and out of the oil.[16]
- Blanch the potatoes for 4-5 minutes at . If you're using a fry basket, attach it to the edge of the fryer so that the potatoes are completely immersed in the oil. Otherwise, use your skimmer or tongs to lower the potatoes in carefully and avoid splashing.[17]
- Remember to set a timer so you'll know exactly how long your fries have been cooking.
- In order to achieve the optimum flavor and texture, you'll be cooking your French fries twice. The point of this first round is just to heat them through.
- Your fries should still be relatively soft by the time you take them out. If they begin to brown or crisp during the initial phase of frying, either your oil is too hot or you've left them in for too long.[18]
- Take the fries out and increase the heat of the oil to . Once the first 5 minutes are up, remove the basket by taking hold of the insulated handle or carefully retrieve the loose fries using your skimmer or tongs. Set the partially cooked fries on a large plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels and allow them to cool off slightly as your oil climbs to its new target temperature.[19]
- Cooling your potatoes briefly will prevent them from becoming overdone. Some chefs even chill par-cooked French fries before frying them a second time.[20]
[Edit]Frying a Second Time for the Perfect Finish - Cook your fries for 3-6 more minutes, or until crisp and golden. Put your fries back into the fryer for their second and final round of frying. Monitor them closely this time so you can pull them as soon as they're done. You'll know they're ready to come out when they just start to brown around the edges.[21]
- Plan on removing your fries out shortly before they reach the desired doneness. They'll continue to cook for a few moments after you take them out of the fryer.
- Remove the fries and allow them to cool to a safe temperature. Let your fries rest on a fresh layer of paper towels to absorb the excess oil on the outside. Needless to say, they'll be blistering hot when they first come out of the deep fryer, so hold off on eating them for at least 5 minutes while they cool off.[22]
- If you're too eager to get a nibble, you could end up burning your fingers, your mouth, or both, which would certainly make the whole experience less enjoyable.
- Consider keeping some absorbent fiber food trays on hand if you're trying to cut down on your paper towel consumption.
- Season your fries to taste. Keep things simple by sprinkling a generous amount of sea salt over your freshly-cooked fries and calling it a day. You can also dress them up a bit by hitting them with a dash of cracked black pepper or other choice spices, such as seasoned salt, ground garlic, or onion powder.[23]
- For new take on classic French fries, try combining 1/2-1 teaspoon each of black pepper, garlic powder, onion salt, paprika, and dried parsley, oregano, thyme, and basil and shaking it onto your fries.[24]
- Serve your fries with your favorite condiments and enjoy. Ketchup is a traditional crowd-pleaser, but you could also use mayo, ranch dressing, honey mustard, malt vinegar, sriracha, chili, queso, brown gravy, or whatever tickles your fancy. Dip, dab, slather, or cover them and savor every bite![25]
- Deep frying calls for a lot of oil, which can get expensive over time. Fortunately, it's perfectly alright to save and reuse your spent frying oil, at least until it takes on an unpleasant odor or begins to discolor.
- Take a moment to make sure your deep fryer is off and unplugged before you dig in.
- If potatoes aren't your thing, you can use this same method to make scrumptious homemade sweet potato, turnip, parsnip, beet, carrot, green bean, or asparagus fries, or any number of other low-carb French fry variations.[26]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Cleaning and Slicing the Potatoes - Water
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Large mixing or serving bowl
- Vegetable slicer (optional)
[Edit]Frying Initially to Cook the Fries Through - Deep fryer
- Skimmer spoon or metal tongs
- Large plate or baking sheet
- Paper towels
- Deep fry thermometer
[Edit]Frying a Second Time for the Perfect Finish - Deep fryer
- Skimmer spoon or metal tongs
- Large serving dish
- Paper towels
- Absorbent fiber food trays (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Lock a Discord Channel on a PC or Mac Posted: 18 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT This wikiHow teaches you how to lock a Discord channel when you're using a PC or Mac. Locking a channel allows you to keep the channel visible while preventing users from adding new messages or other content. This is a great idea for channels that contain a wealth of information but no longer needs new contributions. If you'd rather your users not be able to see a channel's content at all, you can make the channel private instead. [Edit]Locking a Channel While Keeping It Readable - Open Discord on your PC or Mac. You'll find Discord in your Start menu on Windows, or in the Applications folder on macOS. If you'd rather sign in on the web, you can do so at https://discord.com
- You'll need to be a server administrator (or have been assigned appropriate permissions by an administrator) to lock a channel.
- When you lock a channel, server members will still be able to see it, however, they won't be able to send messages or contribute in any other way.
- If you want to completely hide the channel from other users who you haven't specifically added, see this method instead.
- Click the server that hosts the channel you want to lock. Servers are represented by round icons running down the left side of the app.
- Click the gear next to the channel you want to lock. The gear only appears when you hover the mouse cursor over the channel's name in the list.
- Click the tab. It's the second option in the menu running along the left side of Discord.
- Click the role. You'll find this under "ROLES/MEMBERS" in the "Advanced permissions" section.[1] This displays the channel's permissions for everyone on the server.
- The "everyone" group includes every single member on the server. This means that the remaining steps will affect every single person on the server except the server owner and any server administrators.
- Click the green checkmark next to "View Channel." It's in the "General Channel Permissions" section at the top of "Advanced permissions." This ensures that everyone can still see the channel.
- Disable all other permissions under "General Channel Permissions." If you haven't already done so, click the red X next to all other permissions options in this category—Manage Channel, Manage Permissions, and Manage Webhooks.
- Click the green checkmark next to "Read Message History." It's in the "Text Channel Permissions" section. This ensures that everyone can still read what's in the channel (if that's what you want).
- If you don't want people to see past messages in the channel but do want them to be able to view messages as they happen, click the X next to this option instead.
- Click the red "X" next to all other permissions in this category. Everything else in the "Text Channel Permissions" section should be marked with an "X" so that members of the @everyone group can no longer do more than reading what's already there.
- Click the green button at the bottom. The selected channel is now set to private and cannot be used by anyone other than those you've specifically added.
- Allow some people to keep using the locked channel (optional). Now that the channel is locked, nobody but the server owner and administrators can type into it. However, if you want to allow certain members (or members who you've assigned certain roles) to keep chatting in the channel, you can add those members now. To do so:
- Scroll back up to the "Roles/Members" list under "Advanced permissions."
- If you don't see the member or role you want to edit, click the + next to "Roles/Members," and then click the role or member.
- As you did for the @everyone roll, click the X next to each permission you want to deny, and then click the green checkmark next to each permission you want to allow. Since you want to allow the selected member or role to type into the chat, make sure you've checked "Send Messages."
- Click Save changes when you're finished.
[Edit]Making a Channel Private - Open Discord on your PC or Mac. You'll find Discord in your Start menu on Windows, or in the Applications folder on macOS. If you'd rather sign in on the web, you can do so at https://discord.com
- You must be a server administrator or have the proper permissions to make a channel private.
- If you still want most server members to be able to see the content of the channel but not contribute to it, you can lock the channel to new messages while keeping the previous content readable instead.
- Click the server that hosts the channel you want to hide. Servers are represented by round icons running down the left side of the app.
- Click the gear next to the channel you want to hide. The gear only appears when you hover the mouse cursor over the channel's name in the list.
- Click the tab. It's the second option in the menu running along the left side of Discord.
- Toggle the "Private Channel" switch to On . It's at the top of the window. This makes it so nobody will be able to see the channel unless they've been added to it.
- Choose who will still have access to the channel (optional). Anyone with an Administrator or Server Owner role on the server will be able to see and use a channel by default, even if it's locked. If you want to allow any other users to be able to see the channel after making it private:
- Click the blue Add members or roles button at the top.
- If you want to allow all members with a certain role to be able to view the channel, check the box next to that role.
- If you want to give permission to individual members by name, click the checkbox(es) next to each member.
- Click Done.
- Choose permissions for people who can still view the channel. If you added members to the now-private channel in the last step, you can decide what permissions these members will continue to have in the private channel.
- Under "Advanced permissions, click the role or member you want to adjust under the "ROLES/MEMBERS" heading.
- To prevent the selected member (or members with the selected role, if you selected a role) from editing the channel or managing its permissions, click the red X next to Manage Channel, Manage Permissions, and Manage Webhooks.
- To prevent the selected member or role from inviting people to the channel, click the red X next to "Create invite" toward the top.
- If you want the selected member or role to be able to see what's in the channel but not contribute to it, click the green checkmark next to Read Message History in the "TEXT CHANNEL PERMISSIONS" section. But if you want to hide those old channel messages as well, click X next to Read Message History instead.
- Click the red X next to all other options in this section.
- Repeat for all other members or roles you are allowing to continue using the private channel.
- Click the green button at the bottom. The selected channel is now set to private and cannot be used by anyone other than those you've specifically added.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Wash Decorative Pillows Posted: 18 Aug 2021 01:00 AM PDT Decorative pillows are a great way to add a personal, comfortable touch to any room. Whether you use them as throw pillows on the couch or as decorative touches in your bedroom, over time, your pillows can get grimy. Dirt, sweat, and oils from your skin get into your throw pillows, leaving them in need of a good cleaning. Luckily, you can clean many types of throw pillows yourself! [Edit]Washing the Cover and the Interior Pillow - Look at the care label on your pillow to determine how to clean it. If your pillow has a care label, read it carefully, as it will have important cleaning instructions. This tag will typically tell you how to wash both the pillow and the cover, although if the cover is removable, it may have a separate tag.[1]
- If your pillow doesn't have a care tag, look at the materials to determine how to clean the separate parts. Try looking online if you're not sure how to clean a specific fabric. For instance, if your cover is made from denim, you'd probably be fine putting in the washing machine, but if it's delicate silk, you'd need to dry clean it.
- Take off any removable covers and wash them separately. Often, decorative pillows will consist of an inner pillow and a removable cover. The cover may overlap in the back, similar to a pillow sham, or it may have a hidden zipper. If you can, remove this cover and wash it separately according to the care tag's instructions. If it's safe to machine or hand-wash, use mild laundry detergent.[2]
- If you can't remove the cover, you'll probably need to wash the whole thing. Take the cover material and the fill into consideration when you're deciding which cleaning method to use. For example, even if you have a machine-washable cover made from a material like cotton, denim, or polyester, but the fill is memory foam, you'd need to spot-clean it because of the fill material.
- If the cover is made from a delicate material like silk, wool, or velvet, or if it has a lot of decorative trim, it probably needs to be dry cleaned, or you can spot clean it if you just need to clean a small stain.
- Do a spot test if you're not sure how to clean the cover. If you're not sure which approach is best, or if you just want the extra peace of mind, you can spot test an area before you wash the pillow cover. To do that, rub a clean, damp sponge over an inconspicuous spot on the pillow. Then, press a white towel to the spot. If the color transfers, the cover needs to be dry-cleaned. If it doesn't, you can hand-wash or machine-wash it, instead.[3]
- If the color doesn't transfer but the cover isn't removable, choose your cleaning method based on the fill of the pillow.
- Machine-wash the pillow if the care tag says it's okay. Many pillows can be placed into the washing machine for an easy clean. If the pillow is machine-washable, run it through a hot wash with mild detergent on the longest cycle possible. If you can, set your machine to 2 rinse cycles to ensure all the detergent and grime get washed away.[4]
- If the fill material is down, feathers, or fiber, the pillow is probably okay to machine wash.
- Sponge-clean the pillows if you can't wash them in the machine. Spray the pillow with upholstery shampoo, then use a clean, firm sponge to work the foam into the surface of the pillow. When you're finished, blot away the shampoo and grime with a clean, white towel.[5]
- Read the manufacturer's label on your shampoo, as some brands will direct you to dampen the pillow with cool water before applying the product.
- It's best to use a white towel to blot away the shampoo because the dye could transfer if you use a different-colored towel.
- Foam pillows or pillows made of other synthetic fillers should be sponge-cleaned.
- Spot-clean your pillow if it has a non-washable, non-removable cover. If your pillow is covered with a delicate material like silk or velvet, or if it contains a non-washable fill material like microbeads or memory foam, try spot-cleaning it with dry cleaning fluid. Apply a little of the cleaning product to a clean, white cloth, then dab at any spots or stains. When you're finished, blot the area dry with a separate white cloth.[6]
- You can find dry-cleaning fluid at most big box supermarkets or where cleaning supplies are sold.
- You can also take the pillow to the dry cleaners, if you prefer.
- Wash removable covers every few weeks to keep them clean. To keep the inside of your pillows cleaner, get in the habit of washing the covers frequently, if you can remove them. Follow any care tag instructions, either hand-washing, machine-washing, or spot-cleaning as necessary.[7]
- You only need to wash your pillows every 6-12 months.[8]
[Edit]Drying Your Decorative Pillows - Dry the covers according to the care label. The care label should have instructions on how to dry your removable cover, if you washed it separately from the pillow. For instance, if the pillow cover is made from a machine-washable fabric like cotton or denim, it may be okay to put in the dryer.[9]
- However, high heat might shrink some fabrics, like silk or wool. If you're not sure, it's best to hang it up to dry or tumble-dry it with no heat.
- Hang the pillows somewhere to air dry most of the way. Use heavy-duty clothespins to hang the pillow on a clothesline in a ventilated area and allow it to air dry. Leave it there until the pillow is mostly dry to the touch. However, it's important to make sure the interior of the pillow is completely dry, so it's a good idea to finish it in the dryer.[10]
- If the cover isn't removable, air dry the whole pillow.
- Fluff the pillow to reshape it. Once your pillow is mostly dry, take it in your hands and squish it back and forth, similar to how you'd play an accordion. Do this for both of the sides, then the top and bottom. This will help loosen the filling, returning your pillow to its original shape.[11]
- Place the pillows in the dryer with no heat once they're mostly dry. After you've fluffed your pillow, place it into the dryer on the longest cycle with no heat. Check that the pillow is thoroughly dry before you put it back in its original location. If there's any moisture left in the pillow, it can develop mold or mildew, which can lead to respiratory and other health issues.[12]
- If you'd like, you can place dryer balls into the dryer to help the pillow retain its shape.
[Edit]Getting a Quick Clean - Fluff your pillows daily to keep them smelling fresh. Once your pillows are cleaned, you can keep them fresh longer by fluffing them every day or two. That will help remove any dust that could build up and leave your pillow smelling musty.[13]
- You can also fluff your pillows in the dryer or spray them with a deodorizing spray if you think they're starting to harbor odors.
- Spritz the pillows with vodka to sanitize them quickly. Fill a spray bottle with inexpensive vodka, then lightly dampen the surface of the pillow. This will disinfect the surface, and since the vodka will evaporate quickly, you don't have to worry about mildew or mold building up.[14]
- This is a great technique for killing germs if someone in your house has recently been ill.
- Vacuum the throw pillow if you only need to remove light dust and debris. To keep dirt and grime from working their way down into your pillow, use a brush attachment to vacuum the outside of the pillow whenever you wash the cover. That way, if any dirt, skin cells, or dust have fallen through the cover, you can remove them quickly and easily.[15]
- You can also vacuum the pillow cover, if you don't want to take it off and wash it separately or if you can't remove it.au
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Washing the Covers and Pillows - Firm sponge (optional)
- White towels or cloths (optional)
- Mild detergent (optional)
- Upholstery shampoo (optional)
- Dry cleaning fluid (optional)
[Edit]Drying Your Decorative Pillows - Heavy-duty clothespins
- Clothesline
- Dryer
[Edit]Getting a Quick Clean [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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