Techniques
Cooking Method
Tip
Beginner
1 min

Pat meat dry before frying to get a better brown crust

Remove surface moisture from meat before frying so it browns instead of steaming.

Use paper towels to dry the exterior of meat before it hits the pan. This helps you build a deeper crust.

The short version

  • Dry surface moisture for better browning

What goes wrong

Putting wet meat into the pan

Pat dry thoroughly before frying

Why it works

Surface water must evaporate before browning can begin; drying speeds browning and improves crust formation.

Learn next