A method for reducing oil uptake of a potato chip while in a fryer, said method comprising the steps of: a) introducing an unwashed potato slice into a body of cooking oil, wherein the body of cooking oil has an initial temperature of about 160°C (320 °F); b) decreasing the temperature of the oil from an initial temperature of about 160°C (320°F) to a reduced temperature between 104°C (220°F) and 127°C (260 °F) within no more than 3 minutes to 5 minutes; c) maintaining the temperature of the oil, at least in the vicinity of the potato slice, below 127°C (260°F) for a residence time of at least 3 minutes; d) increasing the temperature of said potato slice to between 110°C (230°F) to 204°C (400°F); and e) frying said potato slice, wherein said potato slice comprises an oil content of less than about 30% by weight. wherein said cooking-oil fryer is a continuous fryer and has a plurality of oil inlets and outlets distributed throughout the length of the continuous fryer; wherein said continuous fryer has a plurality of heat-exchanging oil-recirculation pathways connected to said plurality of oil inlets and outlets; wherein said continuous fryer has a plurality of oil temperature monitor-and-control loops for regulating the heat-exchanging oil-recirculation pathways; and wherein said oil temperature monitor-and-control loops are assigned a plurality of temperature setpoints according to the following relationship: y = Ax ∧ 5 + Bx ∧ 4 + Cx ∧ 3 + Dx ∧ 2 + Ex + F; where each temperature setpoint, y, is a function of residence time, x; where A, B, C, D, and E are coefficients, and F is a constant; and where: coefficient A is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-11; coefficient B is a positive number having an order of magnitude of E-07 or E-08; coefficient C is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-05; coefficient D is a positive number having an order of magnitude of E-02 or E-03; coefficient E is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-01 (1 when the y-axis represents temperature measured using the Fahrenheit scale); and constant F is a positive number between 149-177 (300-350 when the y-axis represents temperature measured using the Farenheight scale). a) introducing an unwashed potato slice into a body of cooking oil, wherein the body of cooking oil has an initial temperature of about 160°C (320 °F); b) decreasing the temperature of the oil from an initial temperature of about 160°C (320°F) to a reduced temperature between 104°C (220°F) and 127°C (260 °F) within no more than 3 minutes to 5 minutes; c) maintaining the temperature of the oil, at least in the vicinity of the potato slice, below 127°C (260°F) for a residence time of at least 3 minutes; d) increasing the temperature of said potato slice to between 110°C (230°F) to 204°C (400°F); and e) frying said potato slice, wherein said potato slice comprises an oil content of less than about 30% by weight. where each temperature setpoint, y, is a function of residence time, x; where A, B, C, D, and E are coefficients, and F is a constant; and where: coefficient A is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-11; coefficient B is a positive number having an order of magnitude of E-07 or E-08; coefficient C is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-05; coefficient D is a positive number having an order of magnitude of E-02 or E-03; coefficient E is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-01 (1 when the y-axis represents temperature measured using the Fahrenheit scale); and constant F is a positive number between 149-177 (300-350 when the y-axis represents temperature measured using the Farenheight scale). coefficient A is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-11; coefficient B is a positive number having an order of magnitude of E-07 or E-08; coefficient C is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-05; coefficient D is a positive number having an order of magnitude of E-02 or E-03; coefficient E is a negative number having an order of magnitude of E-01 (1 when the y-axis represents temperature measured using the Fahrenheit scale); and constant F is a positive number between 149-177 (300-350 when the y-axis represents temperature measured using the Farenheight scale).