Starch Showdown 2025 Bracket

Photo credit: www.seriouseats.com

Join us as we embark on an exciting culinary adventure—welcome to the sixth edition of our beloved food-themed competition! This year’s theme is all about the delectable world of fried delights, and it promises to be a thrilling showdown among some of the tastiest contenders imaginable.

Starch Madness was born out of the unique challenges posed by the pandemic. As many of us found ourselves confined at home with fewer entertainment options, we created this lively competition to bring some joy and excitement back into our lives. Over the past five years, we’ve celebrated beloved starchy staples—ranging from pasta to potatoes and beyond.

This year, the idea of diving into fried foods resonates deeply with all of us, as we long for a taste of nostalgia and comfort. We yearn to revisit times when greasy snacks filled our mall food courts, and the gaming world was a simpler yet more enjoyable experience. It was an era defined by carefree confidence, symbolized by hairstyles and fashion that were larger than life. Do you remember those moments?

Here’s how it works: We’ve curated a diverse selection of 64 fried recipes from various cultures. As the competition unfolds, your votes will decide which dish rises to the top. Will the champion truly be the best in the world? Not necessarily! Understand that Starch Madness reflects popular opinions and preferences, not an objective measure of quality.

If you feel passionate about an underdog and want to sway the outcome, your vote counts! Although you may feel like just another voice in a crowd, every single vote matters. Engage with the competition, support your favorites, and ensure your preferred dish has a fighting chance—otherwise, we might see French Fries claiming another title!

So gear up, get ready, and let’s kick off this culinary showdown!

How to Vote

Stay connected through our website and check out our Instagram for updates on voting. Voting will commence on Monday, March 17, through our Instagram stories (@seriouseats). Each match-up will be revealed daily at 10 a.m. ET, giving you 23 hours to cast your vote before we tally the results and move to the next round.

We encourage you to print your bracket, snap a photo, and share it on Instagram while tagging us. Engage your friends in spirited discussions, strategize ways to influence the results, and most importantly, have fun!

FRY AND STOP ME

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STAY GOLDEN

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TAKE IT GREASY

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OIL I NEED

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How We Choose the Recipes

To qualify for this competition, a recipe must meet two main criteria. First, it should be starchy, meaning it could consist of a starchy ingredient (like fried potatoes) or feature a starchy coating (such as batter used for frying).

Second, it must be fried. Our definition of fried is any dish cooked in a substantial amount of oil—sufficient enough to visibly displace the oil when the food is added. This process primarily relies on convection through the oil rather than conduction from the cookware. Thus, shallow frying is acceptable, while sautéing and stir-frying are excluded.

With these guidelines established, we raided our extensive recipe library, resurrecting classic favorites while also adding some new creations to keep the competition fresh and exciting.

CHEESE FRENCHEES

Indulging in this ooey-gooey fried cheese sandwich is a must—it stands as a beloved Nebraskan specialty.

Cook time: 35 mins

Serves: 2 to 4

How the Bracket Works

Our tournament mimics the structure of traditional sports brackets. Once we select the 64 participants, they are divided into four distinct regions, each featuring 16 popular fried delicacies, ranked from 1 to 16. This means there are four top seeds, four second seeds, and so forth.

When assigning seeds, we’ve intentionally matched popular heavyweights against each other while placing underdogs strategically to heighten the excitement. Our top seeds are a mix of tried-and-true favorites along with dishes we believe will resonate with a broad audience.

It’s important to recognize that our voting bracket is fundamentally a popularity contest. Many deserving yet less-known fried foods, particularly those from international cuisines, may struggle against recognized champions like French Fries—foods we wholeheartedly enjoy! However, we aim to explore new possibilities this year.

Throughout each voting round, the competitors will be whittled down, one match at a time, until we are left with one champion, crowned for its crispy excellence.

Source
www.seriouseats.com