Cookin’ Up a Healthier French Fry

Baking is a healthier way to prepare your fries. But if you’re going to fry up a batch, give the potatoes a good soak in water first. Washing and soaking potatoes 30 minutes to two hours before cooking can lower the level of acrylamide in your fries. Acrylamide is a carcinogen that forms in foods during baking and frying. Scientists believe it can be harmful to people. But washing and soaking potatoes before frying can cut acrylamide levels almost in half, according to new research.

Cooking foods to taste, rather than color, also can help. Fries that were soaked and cooked until tender had lower levels of acrylamide than those that were soaked and cooked until brown. The researchers examined only potatoes. So more studies are needed to know whether washing and soaking other foods also can cut harmful carcinogens.

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Vol. 88, Issue 6