Depending on who you ask, french fries could be considered the deep fryers gift to hungry people everywhere, or as some describe them (via Harvard Health Publishing), a “weapon of dietary destruction.” And while the jury is out on the nutritional worth of your favorite bar snack or side dish, everyone is in agreement about one thing: frozen french fries are the worst kids on the block. Not because they are nutritionally inferior to their freshly-made counterparts, but because they tend to come out limp, lifeless, and soggy after weve tried to bring them back to life.
Theres a reason why what we think are fresh fries — particularly ones that come from your favorite restaurants — taste so much better than the frozen variety does, and that all has to do with the way you prepare them.
Frozen fries are still fried! Even worse, many brands use trans fats and palm oil which aren’t ideal for heart health. While fries do need a sprinkle of salt, many bagged brands have at least 15% of the daily recommendation of sodium per serving.
Why some french fries are crispier than others
For the ultimate fry, potatoes should be cut in identical slices, or they will come out in an uneven manner. Fries should be made with russet potatoes, so that they have a very high amount of starch. They are deep fried in oil with a high smoke point, like canola or peanut. They are salted straight out of the fryer, and right before they are served. Most importantly, they are fried twice — once in cooler oil and once in hotter oil to give you the texture that is crisp and crunchy on the outside, and soft and pillowy on the inside (via The Daily Meal).
You may not want to hear this, but if you think, “Oh, frozen fries arent good as fresh because theyre only fried or heated once,” think again. Food Network says most frozen fries are in fact, pre-fried using less-than-spectacular fats, like trans fats and palm oil, before they are frozen, and some of these carry high levels of sodium. So if all we home cooks need to do is to take frozen fries to the finish line, where are we failing?
HOW TO FRY FROZEN FRENCH FRIES TO CRISPY GOODNESS!!!
FAQ
Are frozen fries already fried?
Are frozen french fries fried before packaging?
How are frozen french fries processed?
Are frozen food pre fried?
Are frozen french fries better than deep frying?
Not only does this save a lot of time, but, as it turns out, deep frying french fries in their frozen state also gives them the very best flavor and texture. Frozen french fries are blanched, meaning they are heated with boiling water or steam before being frozen.
Are sweet potato fries better than regular fries?
Sweet potato fries are very similar to regular fries. Both are not the healthiest option to choose from. They are fried, and potatoes are high in carbohydrates.
Do frozen fries need to be dry before cooking?
One technique is to dry your frozen fries before cooking. It all boils down to the science of cooking. Any frost or ice clinging to the fries can lower the temperature of the oil ( in the case of deep frying) or cause steam in the air fryer or oven. These factors can hinder the process of achieving that coveted golden-brown color and crisp texture.
Are frozen french fries fried?
Frozen french fries are blanched, meaning they are heated with boiling water or steam before being frozen. This lowers cooking time and results in a twice-fried cooking style, producing fries that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.