Food

How To Make French Fries At Home?

November 9, 2023

Are you a fan of French fries? Making them at home can be a fun and tasty project. This guide is all about how to make the best French fries using russet potatoes. We’ll cover everything from start to finish: making, storing, reheating, and especially how to get them super crispy.

Key to Crispy French Fries: Starch and Moisture Control

The secret to crispy fries lies in managing starch and moisture. Soaking sliced potatoes in cold water is a great start; it draws out extra starch. Also, cooking them twice is key – this method helps get rid of moisture. Let’s dive deeper into each step.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making French Fries

Preparing the Potatoes

First, grab some russet potatoes. You’ll want to cut them into 1/2 inch slices. If you have a special cutter, that’s perfect. Next, soak these slices in cold water. Doing this for at least an hour, or overnight, is ideal. After soaking, rinse them twice and make sure they’re dry before cooking.

Cooking Process

When it comes to frying, start by cooking the potato slices at 300 degrees. Do this in small groups for about 5-6 minutes. Remember not to crowd them. Then, crank up the heat to 400 degrees. Continue frying until they’re a lovely golden brown, which should take around 5 minutes. Lastly, drain them on paper towels and don’t forget to sprinkle some salt on them right away.

Choosing the Right Potato

Why russet potatoes? They work best because they don’t have much water in them. Avoid using waxy potatoes like red or fingerling potatoes – they just don’t make good fries.

Quantity Estimation

How many potatoes should you use? A good rule is about two large russet potatoes for each person eating.

Reasons Behind Soaking and Double Frying

Soaking is crucial because it takes away the starch that can make fries soggy. Double frying makes sure the insides are cooked through and the outsides get super crispy.

Optimal Oil Temperature

You should always start with the oil at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature cooks the fries inside without burning them. Later, increase the heat to 400 degrees to make the outside crispy.

Baking as an Alternative

Don’t want to fry? You can bake instead. Just make sure your fries are soaked, rinsed, and dried. Then, bake them with some oil at 400 degrees, flipping them once.

Make-Ahead Technique

For Frying

You can fry your potatoes after they’ve been soaked and dried, then cool them and freeze them. This way, you can fry them up quickly whenever you want.

For Baking

If you prefer baking, boil the soaked and dried potatoes first, then cool and freeze them. Bake them when you’re ready.

Tools Recommended

To make things easier, use these tools: a French fry cutter, a deep fryer or a Dutch oven, an oil thermometer, a slotted spoon, and serving baskets with inserts.