Article: A potato with high starch and lower water content will always be best for french fries. Try using russet potatoes that are slightly older, if possible. To help maintain uniform shape, pick larger, evenly shaped potatoes. Soaking your fries in water removes excess starch and prevents the fries from getting stuck together. Soak your fries for five minutes and strain. Place them on a plate in a single layer then pat them with paper towels. Let them lay out for a few minutes to air dry.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Start with the correct potato. Soak your fries in a bowl of cold water.

Problem: Article: This can provide useful information for what caused the stain. Certain stains will need special cleaning procedures to be removed from the stone. Note the color, size, shape, and pattern of the stain, along with anything in the area that might have caused it. Some common examples of oil based stains include grease, tar, or cosmetics. These will cause your tile to darken. To dissolve oil based stains, clean the area by gently wiping it with a soft cloth and a household detergent, like dish soap, or ammonia. Afterwards, dry the area with a soft towel. If detergent and ammonia fail to remove the stain, try mineral spirits or acetone. Use these sparingly and as a last resort. Flush these cleaners with water after applying, then dry the area. Mix a diluted cleaning solution containing a half cup (237 ml) of ammonia, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide with a gallon (3.8 L) of water. Clean the surface with the solution with a soft cloth, rinse the area well, then dry it with a soft cloth or towel. Never mix bleach and ammonia. Doing so will create toxic fumes that can result in serious harm or death. The most common kinds of organic stains come from bodily fluids, like urine or feces, tobacco, paper, and food. These may create a brown-pink stain. Clean these areas as you would normally with 12% hydrogen peroxide and a couple of drops of ammonia. In some cases, you may be able to get rid of an organic stain just by removing its source. After removal, wait a few days to see if the stain disappears. Hydrogen peroxide may fade or lighten the color of your stone. Test it on an out of sight location before you use it. Only use this technique occasionally to prevent color loss. Mix the poultice according to its directions. Usually this will result in a paste that is the consistency of peanut butter. Wet the stain with distilled water. Apply the paste to the stain so it is roughly to in (.64 to 1.3 cm) thick. The paste should extend beyond the stain by roughly an inch (2.5 cm). Tape plastic over the poultice, wait the time indicated on the label, then remove it according to its directions. For severe stains, you may have to reapply the poultice a few times before it is fully removed. Some stains may take five applications or more. Stain removing poultices can be purchased from your local hardware store or home center. Look for it among stone care products. Some kinds of poultice are sold as pre-made strips of treated paper. These are generally applied to stains similarly to paste poultices. Hard water can leave rings, a white film, or scale on your stone. When the stone is dry, buff the surface in a circular motion with a dry piece of 0000 rated steel wool. Wipe the surface with a clean, dry, soft cloth or rag after. Use light to moderate pressure when buffing your countertop. Too much pressure may harm the appearance of your stone.
Summary: Investigate the location of the stain. Cleanse oil based stains with a household detergent or ammonia. Eliminate mildew and algae with a heavy-duty cleaner. Erase organic stains with hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Use a stone poultice for metal stains. Buff out water spots and rings with 0000 steel wool as necessary.

If you live in a cold weather area and you are leaving during a time when inclement weather is a possibility, you want to make sure your pipes are well insulated. Frozen pipes can cause significant damage to your home, and if no one is there to check them after cold weather it may go unnoticed until you return. Go into areas where pipes are at a greater risk of freezing, like the attic and the basement, and check their insulation. Consider hiring a plumber to inspect your pipes if you are worried about their insulation. A neighbor that is checking up on your house should test the faucets while you're away. If there is no water coming from the faucets, your pipes may be frozen. Ask them to contact you immediately if this happens while you're away. Before you leave, unplug the appliances in your home that are non-essential, like your microwave, a stereo, a coffeemaker, and lamps you won't leave on. This protects your home in the event of a power surge or an electrical fire. This is also an energy efficient way to reduce your electrical consumption while you're away. Before you leave, check that each door and window are securely locked. Having locks installed will do you no good if they are not locked while you are gone! Go through every room of your home and apartment and check that each window and entry door is secure. It is also helpful do a perimeter of your house from the outside. Look for any window screens that look loose or unsecured. This is a good way to keep your electricity and natural gas costs low while you're away. Adjust the temperature on the thermostat and turn down the temperature on your water heater. You don't want to turn your thermostat completely off. Depending on your area's climate, 55 degrees is a good limit for the winter and 80 degrees for the summer. You can also consider monitoring your heat from afar. The most cost-effective way to monitor your heat while you are away is to install a wireless thermostat that you can monitor and program from your mobile phone or device while you are on vacation. Garage doors are an easy way for intruders to enter your home. Manual garage doors can be secured with a clamp or padlock to prevent them from being opened. Turn off your automatic garage door opener if you have one. This will prevent someone with a universal remote from opening the door while you're away.
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One-sentence summary --
Check your pipes. Unplug non-essential appliances. Check all locks. Turn down the temperature. Secure your garage door.