A plateful of perfectly made French fries -soft in the middle and crispy on the surface- is not as easy to make as it sounds. There is a lot that you need to take care of for the perfect plate of fries. Starting from the types of potatoes you use, the shape in which you cut them to the way you fry them, there is a lot that you need to keep in mind. So, if you too tried making French Fries at home but were not satisfied with the results, this blog is for you.
How To Make Homemade French Fries
There’s nothing quite like the mouth-watering taste of homemade french fries. To achieve the perfect golden crunch on the outside and fluffy potato goodness on the inside, the best fries are double-fried. The first fry cooks the fries through at a lower temperature, and the second fry in hotter oil crisps them up to perfection. This recipe is very flexible, so you can make as many or as few fries as you like. As a side dish, plan on one large potato’s worth of fries per person.
Homemade French fries are a classic accompaniment to hamburgers, grilled steak, or steamed mussels. To make them, you’ll need a large pot and enough vegetable oil, canola oil, or lard to fill the pot about 2 inches deep. You’ll also need a slotted spoon or spider, plenty of paper towels for draining, and a thermometer (not required but highly recommended). For best results, consider using a cooling rack positioned over a baking sheet as an initial draining spot before transferring the fries to paper towels. And, of course, don’t forget the salt for seasoning. With this recipe, you’ll be able to create perfect, restaurant-quality fries right in your own kitchen.
These are the method to make crispy fries:
1. Soak the Potatoes
The first step is to peel the potatoes and cut them into sticks. Take a large bowl and soak the potatoes in cold water. Make sure that you soak the potatoes for at least 2-3 hours. Soaking the sliced potatoes in cold water is one of the main steps to prepare perfect French Fries. The cold water removes the starch present outside the potatoes so that you get perfectly crispy fries. The minimum time to soak the potatoes is one hour; however, there is no harm in soaking the potatoes for a longer period.
2. Cut the Potatoes Perfectly
The shape of the potatoes also plays a vital role in getting the perfect crispiness and texture. You can get a French Fry cutter to ensure that you get a consistent size of the fries. However, if you don’t have a French Fries cutter, you can cut the peeled potatoes into four. Lay the potatoes on a flat surface and cut them into sticks.
3. Chill the Potatoes
To get the perfect color, add a tablespoon of lemon juice and a few cups of ice to the water in which you have soaked the potatoes. Refrigerate the mixture for approximately 30 minutes. Chilling the potatoes will ensure that the potatoes don’t turn brown too quickly. The process helps in keeping the inside of the potatoes cooking well before it turns brown.
4. Dry the Potatoes
After soaking the potatoes for sufficient time, drain the fries and spread them on paper towels. To remove excess moisture, bloat the top of the potatoes. Removing excess water is extremely important to make crispy fries.
Fry them Using an Air Fryer
If you are health conscious, you can use an Air Fryer to make the fries. This will ensure that you make the fries in less oil as compared to the traditional method. All you need to do is preheat the Air Fryer to 200 ºC. Arrange the slices of potatoes on the bottom of the air fryer basket. Keep the potato slices separately to make the fries crispy. Add ½ tablespoon of oil and cook the fries for 15 minutes. Use the spatula to remove crisp fries from the air fryer and serve with dipping sauce.
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FAQs
For a French fry that's soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside, you have to fry them twice. The first round in the fryer is done at a lower temperature of 260°F to 280°F. This will make sure the potato is cooked through, but not so much that it's falling apart.
What is the secret to homemade french fries? ›
The Double-Fry Method
When it comes to the actual cooking, you want to fry the french fries twice. The first round is at a lower temperature to cook the inside of the potato and the second time you'll use a higher temperature to make the fries golden brown and crispy.
Why do you soak potatoes in water before making french fries? ›
The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.
Should I boil my homemade fries before frying? ›
A properly made fry must hit the oil twice--once at a lower temperature, and then again at 350 degrees Fahrenheit--to get the perfect creamy interior and crunchy exterior. Before all that, though, the secret is to briefly poach them in boiling water (or "blanch" them) before they go into the hot oil.
What happens if you don't soak potatoes before frying? ›
Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.
Why add vinegar in water for french fries? ›
When a small amount of vinegar is added to the soaking water before frying, it can help impart a tangy flavor to the fries without making them taste overly vinegary. The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying.
How do you know when homemade fries are done? ›
Once the oil is at temp, put the french fries in the oil, again by handfuls, and again only about half of them. Give them a stir, and cook until they are golden brown, crispy and delicious—about 3 minutes. Transfer to clean brown paper or paper towels. Salt immediately and enjoy!
How many minutes to boil potatoes for french fries? ›
Step 1: Boil the potatoes
While it's heating, peel the potatoes and cut them into fries approximately 1/4 inch thick. Once the water is boiling, add two large pinches of salt, some vinegar, and the cut potatoes. Boil until the potatoes are completely cooked but still firm, which should take about 10 minutes.
Do you soak homemade fries in hot or cold water? ›
Make sure that you soak the potatoes for at least 2-3 hours. Soaking the sliced potatoes in cold water is one of the main steps to prepare perfect French Fries. The cold water removes the starch present outside the potatoes so that you get perfectly crispy fries.
What is the best oil for french fries? ›
Long accepted as a standard deep frying oil because of its neutrality, high smoke point, and ready availability (on the bottom oil shelf of most grocery stores), peanut oil is the choice of home fryers as well as chains such as Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
How long can peeled and cut potatoes sit in water before cooking, before they begin taking on too much water? A: We usually recommend no more than 24 hours. You can keep the potatoes from absorbing the water by making sure the water is not salted, and is chilled (you can even add ice to the water).
Why start potatoes in cold water? ›
For most potato dishes it's important to add the potatoes to cold water and allow the water to come to a boil with the potatoes in the water. The potato starch can react as soon as it comes in contact with hot water, which will promote uneven cooking and mealy potatoes.
Why do you boil potatoes before frying them? ›
There are lots of recipes that call for par-boiling the potatoes first to reduce the amount of cooking time, but it's an extra step and an extra pan to wash. If you cook the potatoes over medium heat and keep them covered for most of the cooking time, the lid traps in steam, which helps cook the potatoes through.
What does cornstarch do to french fries? ›
russet potatoes – These have less moisture, yielding a crispier fry. cornstarch – Aids in crisping the fries when baking. kosher salt – Enhances the flavors of the fries. garlic powder – Adds flavor that's sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.
