What is the common practice for shaking a fry basket during cooking?

Shaking a fry basket every 30 seconds during cooking is a common practice in the food industry, particularly when frying items like French fries. This technique serves several important purposes.

Firstly, it promotes even cooking by preventing the fries from clumping together, which can lead to uneven browning and inconsistent texture. When fries stick together, the exterior may cook too quickly while the interior remains soggy or undercooked. Shaking the basket redistributes the fries, allowing hot oil to circulate evenly around each piece.

Secondly, shaking helps to remove excess oil from the fries as they cook. This is especially crucial for achieving the desired crispiness, as overly oily fries can result in an undesirable texture.

Additionally, frequent agitation can enhance the development of a golden brown color, leading to a visually appealing final product that is more likely to satisfy customers.

In summary, the practice of shaking the fry basket every 30 seconds is a well-established method to ensure that fried items come out perfectly cooked, crispy, and evenly browned, which is essential for maintaining quality in food preparation.