It’s important to soak the potatoes in water before frying them to get rid of all the excess starch. You can either soak in cold water for 30 mins, or first soak in cold water for 5 minutes, followed by soaking in boiling hot water for 10 mins. I prefer the texture of the fries that have been soaked in cold as well as hot water better. But it’s the soaking that is important, the temperature of water is not that critical. Either way, just ensure to pat the fries dry, and let them cool to room temperature before frying them.