Leave the potato chip making to the experts
To the editor:
It began as an experiment. Could I demonstrate how to make potato chips and french fries in my class? The easy answer is “yes.” How complicated is it to fry a potato. You slice the blighter up, rinse it, and drop it in hot oil. Wait until it turns a yellow brown and then put on a rack to dry. Salt and flavor as taste requires. You’re done. Easy! What could be easier.
As the Fox family can tell you, after chortling over their vats of oil, this is no easy task. The first thing you learn is that the oil must be hot. I had assigned my students to bring in various elements of the process. They brought in an electric hot plate that reached a temp of 270 degrees Celsius. One small problem, the safety features of the hot plate shut it off after the temperature on the plate reaches 270 degrees. The oil needs to be much hotter. Still we tried.
Next, the potatoes need to be sliced. I demonstrated how chips could be sliced and how you had to be safety conscious. There is a reason why knives in the shop are kept so sharp. A few strokes and I would have put many a barber and surgeon out of business. Still I did manage to slice a few thin slices to fry. My students rinsed the slices and we started to put them into the oil. At first there was the lovely sizzle sound of hot oil boiling off the water. One small problem. as you add potatoes to the oil the temperature goes down. If your heat source is not up to the task then the slices begin to sink and soak. They sink to the bottom and soak up the oil. Cold, soggy, chips. UGH!
It was then I decided that the chipping business was finished and it was time for french fries. Since they are chunkier than potato chips it was possible that they would not soak up as much oil and the added weight would help to keep the heat in. No such luck. At the end of the exercise I can honestly say that Aroostook County’s chip and fry department has no competition from my classroom. Still, the kids loved it.
The idea of a teacher demonstrating how to make something is a rarity. Most students only read what is in their books. Everyone is focused on their tests. We had fun. I wonder if I can make it snow.
Orpheus Allison
Guangzhou, China
orpheusallison@mac.com
