Check out how to make french fries that are perfectly crisp and golden brown! You can make fries just as good as your favorite restaurant!
I have made my fair share of French fries from scratch. And you know what? I've spent a lot of time doing it wrong. If you have scoured the internet hoping to learn how to make French fries from scratch chances are you will come across a lot of websites preaching the traditional double fry method that requires one long fry at a lower temperature and a second long fry at a higher temperature. This is the long-established accepted method, but it isn't the best way.
The problem with the double fry method is it results in dark brown fries that quickly turn limp after a few minutes out of the fryer. If given the choice, most people would rather have a nice crispy pale fry, more reminiscent of McDonald's. Right?
Well, fear not. I have a better method to make French Fries perfectly crisp and flavorful.
So gather your spuds and let’s make some fries!
Tools Needed to Make French Fries
- Thermometer – I wouldn’t even try deep-frying anything without a thermometer. Without it, you will have no idea what the temperature of the oil is and your results will vary wildly.
- Mandoline – Though a knife will suffice, a mandolin will help ensure perfect cuts and a uniform shape for consistent cooking. (affiliate links)
Best Cooking Oil for French Fries
What is the best oil for making French fries? Peanut oil, hands down. It has a very high smoke point and it imparts a desirable flavor to the fries at the same time. However if you don’t have peanut oil, any other high smoke point oil such as canola or even plain ol’ vegetable oil will suffice.
Best Potato for French Fries
You will want to use russet potatoes, aka baking potatoes, when making homemade french fries. Russets not only will give you that classic french-fried flavor, but they also cook up considerably more quickly than Yukons or red potatoes.
How to Make French Fries
You can peel your potatoes if desired. This is optional, and I personally prefer the more rustic look.
Cut your potatoes into ¼” strips. However, I also had success with slightly larger cuts if you enjoy thicker potatoes. Using a mandolin makes this easy otherwise it can also be done with a good chef knife. If using a knife pay extra attention to ensure strips are uniform so they cook evenly.
Place all cut potatoes in water while you are working.
- Why? Placing potatoes in water will prevent the oxidation that causes exposed potato surfaces to quickly turn an undesirable black color.
Add vinegar, water and potato strips to a pot, cover, and heat to boiling. Boil for 10 minutes.
- Why vinegar? The acidity of the vinegar holds the potatoes together so they don’t get mushy and fall apart while boiling.
- Why boil? Boiling is the secret step in my opinion. Boiling not only pre-cooks the interior of the fry so it will be nice and soft when you eat it but more importantly this step is the secret to prevent fries from turning dark brown later in the frying process.
Remove the potatoes from the water after 10 minutes and let them dry on paper towels for 5 minutes.
- Why? You don’t want to set wet potatoes in oil unless you are trying to meet a handsome fireman.
While the potatoes are boiling heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan (or deep fryer) to ~400 degrees.
- Why? You want to fry the potatoes at a temperature of 360 degrees, so by heating up the oil hotter the temperature should drop into the proper range when the fries are added.
Once the potatoes are done drying add them to the oil in small batches and fry for 50 seconds, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain 360 degrees.
- Why? You are trying to blister the exterior of the fry and firm it up after it has been boiled. This will result in a crispier fry later.
Place fries in the freezer till frozen. If you want your French fries to be perfectly straight when you are done be sure to freeze them lying straight like matchsticks. Otherwise, they will retain whatever twisted position you freeze them in such as you see in my photos.
- Why? Freezing damages the internal structure of the potatoes so they cook up fluffier on the inside. This step can be optional if you are in a hurry. Though, if you want to continue straight to the next step, you need to at least let them cool first.
Heat oil back up to 400 degrees.
- Why? We are aiming to fry the potatoes at 360 degrees again, so by heating it hotter the temperature should drop in the proper range once fries are added.
Working in batches fry the French fries for 3 ½ minutes. Remove from oil earlier if they are turning noticeably brown. Adjust the heat as necessary to maintain 360 degrees. Remove from oil and set on paper towels to soak up oil and salt immediately with a generous dusting of table salt, or use my French fry seasoning blend.
The French fries can be kept warm in a 200 degree oven while the other batches cook.
How to Make French Fries
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 quart water
- Peanut oil
- Table salt
Instructions
- Skin the potato if desired and cut into ¼” strips.
- Add potato slices, vinegar and water to pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes.
- While potatoes are boiling heat oil around 400 degrees. The ideal frying temperature is 360 so by heating it hotter the oil should drop into the proper range when frying.
- Once potatoes are done boiling let them sit out and dry on paper towels for 5 minutes to prevent a reaction with the oil.
- Once dry add the potatoes to the oil and fry for 50 seconds. Try to maintain a temperature near 360 degrees.
- Remove fries from oil and let cool.
- (Optional) For a fluffier interior, place fries in a container and set in the freezer overnight, or longer.
- Heat oil to 400 degrees.
- Working in small batches, place frozen fries in hot oil and try to maintain a frying temperature of 360. Fry for 3 ½ minutes or until they are colored to your liking.
- Place fries on paper towels to soak up grease and salt immediately and generously with table salt. Fries can be kept warm in 200 degree oven while remaining fries cook.
Notes
Nutritional Information
This recipe was originally published on FoxValleyFoodie.com February 3, 2015.
Patty
I have never been able to cook a good french fry with potatoes I sprinkled the fries with corn starch right before frying but didn't fry twice. Sprinkled fries with creole seasoning, oh my goodness, so good. I will never have to buy store bought fries again. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Harry H.
This is the only recipe that mentions what my Grandma taught me many years ago for Great Fries! What it is to always do is "Blanch" the potatoes for 5-10 min. and let dry before frying!
This has been a tried and true method for the very best fries!
Glad to see you mentioned this step! Keep up the Excellent work!
Charlene
Best fries ever! Thank you!
Bett
Absolutely hands down BEST fries ever! The hint of sprinkling with corn starch s/b included in the recipe. Also wondering if you can freeze the potato sticks (fries) for as long as a week before using?
Brittany Koehn
Literally the best recipe ever. Don’t skip one step. Directly before the second fry, sprinkle cornstarch generously on the potatoes and shake to coat evenly and remove the excess. You will never need another fry recipe. These are perfectection and worth the work.
Shanon Caldwell
Quick question, if I'm going to freeze the fries, should I sprinkle the cornstarch on them before or after freezing?
Jennifer
You mentioned that freezing them is optional but how much of a difference will it make? If it’s a big difference, I’d like to make them a day ahead as you suggested.
EFries
Perfect Fries. Thank you
Brian
Question: Why boil the potatoes? Soaking in cold water will remove the starch and not cook the fries. Then proceed to the double fry.
Fox Valley Foodie
Boiling not only pre-cooks the interior of the fry so it will be nice and soft when you eat it but more importantly this step is the secret to prevent fries from turning dark brown later in the frying process.
Anna
Hi Ben, can I follow these exact steps although using an air fryer? If so, what settings would you recommend on the fryer?
Fox Valley Foodie
I don't cook with an air fryer so I cannot say for sure, however, I suspect there are enough differences to warrant using an air fryer specific recipe.
Mike A Grawvunder
Hey Ben, i have a challenge for you. How about a healthier no oil or grease crispy oven baked fries. Can you fo it?
Fox Valley Foodie
They won't get as crispy without oil, since oil is what 'fries' the exterior. But you could just cut the potatoes into fries and then bake at a high temperature until cooked through. You could even par-boil them prior to baking.
Shawn
Intro: "Double frying is wrong"
Instructions: "Fry the potatoes twice"
¯_(ツ)_/¯
Fox Valley Foodie
Perhaps I should have expanded on what the traditional double fry method is to prevent confusion. You will notice the instructions don't call for a long double fry, as mentioned with the traditional method, just a 30-second initial fry while also containing significant additional steps such and boiling and freezing.
Carmen
Loved!!! Your Recipes they were great!! Keep it up
Mohammad
I made it! it was great but some of them had a bit uncooked inside .