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? Ive 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 isnt 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 McDonalds. Right?
Well, fear not. I have a better method to make French Fries perfectly crisp and flavorful. Even my kids agree. After cooking these to photograph for this blog post, I invited the family to devour them and upon seeing the dining room table my son exclaimed, “You got us McDonalds fries!”
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.
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.
French Fry Battle – Should We Boil Our Fries Before Frying?
FAQ
Is it better to boil potatoes before frying?
Do I need to boil fries before frying?
How long should I boil fries before frying reddit?
How long to blanch fries before frying?
Should you boil french fries before frying?
It is helpful to boil your French fries before frying them. It is beneficial to add vinegar to the potato water because it keeps the potato together throughout the cooking process. Potatoes usually get mushy when boiled, so adding vinegar binds them and helps them keep their integrity.
Is frying with olive oil ok?
Yes, olive oil and extra virgin olive oil have a smoke point of 190-207 degrees Celsius. This higher smoke point makes olive oil safe for frying without potentially creating harmful smoke and carcinogens.
Do you have to boil Fries before air frying?
You do not have to boil fries before air frying them. Blanching potatoes is best for homemade French fries but not necessary for store bought or frozen fries. The purpose of soaking potatoes in water before air frying them is because they lose some of their starch when they soak in cold water. Potatoes should sit in water before frying.
Should you double fry Fries before or after frying?
It also rinses off excess sugars to prevent over-browning. Employing the double-fry method gives the fries a perfectly crisp exterior. Freezing the fries before the second fry gives them a distinctly fluffy interior.