Frying Mediums — Why Butter Works for Crisping Potato Cakes
For browning and crispness, clarified butter achieves the best results. This may be because residual proteins in the butter caramelize on foods, or it may simply be the high temperatures that clarified butter can reach without burning. When sautéing, I often start off with a neutral oil, such as peanut oil, and add a nugget of whole butter to get a better brown.

