The Best Way to Keep Fried Foods Crispy (2024)

Christine Gallary

Christine GallaryFood Editor-at-Large

Christine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and she has worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW.com. She lives in San Francisco and loves teaching cooking classes. Follow her latest culinary escapades on Instagram.

updated Nov 30, 2022

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The Best Way to Keep Fried Foods Crispy (1)

Lots of recipes for fried foods (like fried calamari or fried chicken) call for placing them on paper towels, brown paper bags, or even newspaper to drain excess oil, but unfortunately, this doesn’t help keep that nice crispy texture you worked so hard to achieve.

There’s an easy way, borrowed from restaurants that deep-fry food every day, to keep your fried foods crispy and delicious! The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

If you’re frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

Cooling racks are usually used to quickly cool down baked goods, like cookies and muffins, but they also prevent steam from collecting underneath and making the food soggy. In much the same way, putting fried food on a cooling rack means the excess oil will drip off, but there’s enough air circulating underneath the food that the bottoms don’t get soggy.

If you’ve ever seen a high-volume restaurant or fast-food chain kitchen in action, you’ll notice that they keep deep-fried foods like crispy, fried chicken wings on perforated trays that act in much the same way as the cooling rack and baking sheet combination.

So the next time you make doughnuts, fried chicken, fries, egg rolls, latkes, or whatever deep-fried deliciousness you’re craving, give this tip a try! This even works with keeping non-fried foods like waffles crisp. Also, don’t forget the dipping salts with your fried foods.

The Best Way to Keep Fried Foods Crispy (2024)

FAQs

The Best Way to Keep Fried Foods Crispy? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

How to reheat fried food and keep it crispy? ›

Preventing steam-induced sogginess: For parties or picnics, let your fried foods cool in a single layer to prevent steam from compromising their crispness. Reheating without sacrificing texture: When reheating already crispy food, avoid the microwave. Instead, set your oven to 400 degrees and heat for 5 to 10 minutes.

What is the secret to keeping fried chicken crispy? ›

Proper cooling sets the crust and ensures that the chicken will have done all its carryover cooking. I like to cool any leftover chicken completely and then store in a paper towel-lined airtight container in the fridge. The paper towel absorbs condensation and keeps that chicken crisp for midnight snacking.

How to keep fried food crispy in a lunch box? ›

To keep baked and fried foods crispy, let them cool to room temp before packing them for lunch. If you're short on time, pack warm, crispy food in a small paper bag and cut a few vents to allow heat to escape.

What makes fried food more crispy? ›

Flavor and texture of fried foods

The texture of fried foods is also a result of the Maillard reaction, as well as the dehydration of the surface of the food. The high temperature of the oil causes the water in the food to evaporate, creating a crispy exterior and a juicy interior.

How to keep fries crispy for a party? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

How do you pack food so it stays crispy? ›

Use Paper Towels

Simply place a layer of paper towels in the bottom of the container before adding the food. The paper towels will absorb any excess moisture and help to maintain the crispy texture.

How do you keep leftover fries crispy? ›

Here's what you do. Heat a few tablespoons of the oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat just until it starts to shimmer. Think about covering the entire bottom of the skillet in oil, erring on the side of using more oil than less. The oil helps to “fry” the French fries a second time and get them extra crispy.

How do restaurants keep fries crispy? ›

And generally speaking, restaurants fry their french fries twice: once at a lower temperature to cook the inside of the fry, and then a second time at a higher temperature to brown the exterior.

How do you fry without getting soggy? ›

If you don't give enough space to what you're cooking the water will get trapped under it and steam it. Overcrowding the pan leads to soggy food. Even in a deep fat fryer you shouldn't put too many pieces of whatever in the basket. Dry off food before frying (paper towel to pat down should be enough).

How to make fried food crispy? ›

The perfect temperature for frying foods is 375°F (190°C). This temperature provides the ideal combination of heat and oil saturation to achieve a crispy, golden-brown texture. However, some recipes may require higher or lower temperatures depending on the type of food being fried.

How do you keep fried chicken crispy the next day? ›

If you're storing leftover fried food, it's important to preserve it properly to keep it crispy. Store the fried food in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat it in the oven instead of the microwave. The microwave will make the food soggy and crisp.

Why doesn't my fried chicken stay crispy? ›

If your oil temp is too high, your fried chicken will be scorched on the outside with meat that is undercooked. If the oil is too cool, your chicken will be greasy and will lack the golden-brown crispy exterior you want.

How long does crispy fry last? ›

The product has shelf life of 2 years if stored in a clean, cool and dry area. Product Usage/Dosage: Use 30g of Crispy Fry® Breading Mix to coat 1/2kg of Meat. Use 62g of Crispy Fry® Breading Mix to coat 1kg of Meat.

How do you keep fried food warm for hours? ›

If you are trying to keep batches of pancakes, waffles, fritters, or any deep-fried items warm, place them in a single layer on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to prevent them from getting soggy or soft. You may also want to loosely cover with foil to prevent the outside from browning any further.

How do you increase the shelf life of fried food? ›

To extend the shelf life of fried snacks, small business owners can try to store them in a cool, dry place. Additionally, they can use a food storage container or bag that is airtight to help keep the snacks fresh. Additionally, small business owners can freeze fried snacks to help extend their shelf life.

How do you keep fried food from getting greasy? ›

Getting fried food onto the paper towels quickly pulls the excess fat off the food and leaves a crispy, crunchy treat that isn't greasy and weighty with oil.

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