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.

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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.

How do caterers keep fried chicken crispy? ›

The way to keep the crispy fried chicken crispy, was to put the pieces on the outer edges of the grill, so it gets quite a bit of dry heat, but not too much to dry it out or burn it. A little oil can be added to help stop it drying out if necessary.

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.

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 fried food crispy in a lunch box? ›

Use Paper Towels

If you're unable to find containers with ventilation holes, you can use paper towels to help keep your fried food crispy. Simply place a layer of paper towels in the bottom of the container before adding the food.

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 you crisp fried chicken the next day? ›

To reheat fried chicken in the oven, the best method is to turn the oven on high and bake it fast. Preheat the oven to 400°F, and place room-temperature leftovers on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. The wire rack helps hot air circulate to crisp up the underside of the chicken.

How do you keep fried chicken crispy for a party? ›

Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

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.

How do you keep fries crispy on a buffet? ›

Wrapping fries in dishcloth: You can also wrap your fries in a dishcloth to keep them warm for a little longer without compromising the crisp. A dishcloth helps trap the heat to keep them warm and absorb moisture to prevent sogginess. Ensure that the dishcloth is clean before wrapping your fries in it.

How to keep deep fried food crispy? ›

Monitor Oil Temperature: Maintaining a consistent temperature when deep-frying is key to achieving a perfect crunch. Drain and Cool Properly: After frying, be sure to place your food on a wire rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet. This will help remove excess oil and keep them crisp for longer.

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 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 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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