These Homemade French Fries are SO much better than what you can get at a restaurant! The secret is to make double fried french fries cooked at two temperatures, which gives you perfect crispy edges and a fluffy interior.
Even though you can get french fries anywhere and everywhere, I only eat them when they’ve been made at home. Once I started learning about how unhealthy the frying oils used by restaurants and fast food places are (listen to episodes 12 and 13 of my podcast if you want to learn more), I began making them myself, and have experimented quite a bit with french fries.
This method and recipe never fails to give me crispy french fries that aren’t greasy. Plus, they taste far superior to your average fry. Oven fries will never compare to the real thing.
Remove potatoes from water and dry thoroughly on paper towels. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Cook potatoes in hot oil until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
Why This Recipe Is the Best
Double Fry Method = Crisp exterior, fluffy interior – If you want the best homemade french fries, you really need to cook them twice. First at a lower temperature to make the interior soft like a baked potato, then a second time at a higher temperature to crisp the edges.
Not greasy – Most fries are greasy because of the oil that’s used. It’s far superior to use a stable fat like beef tallow that can tolerate high heat frying, over oils like soybean oil and canola oil. We’ll also cook at the proper temperatures to avoid greasy fries.
Simple – We’ll only work with 3 ingredients here: potatoes, beef tallow, and salt, and we’ll fry them in one pan.
More delicious and healthier than the restaurant – The oils that restaurants use are typically highly oxidized and rancid, and they use cheap inflammatory, tasteless oils like vegetable oil. Beef tallow, duck fat, and lard are much better suited to high heat frying. Plus, they have incredible flavor!
Should you peel the skin or not?
I have made these crispy fries both with the skin on and the skin off, and it honestly makes no difference in terms of carrying out the recipe successfully. It really just comes down to preference.
If you leave the skin on: make sure to scrub the surface of the potatoes well, and I also suggest peeling a tiny bit of skin back from each potato just to check that they are not green underneath. That green color can be a sign of solanine, which is a type of glycoalkaloid toxin.
How to Cook French Fries in a Deep Fryer
FAQ
How long to fry frozen French fries at 375?
How long to deep fry steak fries at 375?
What temperature do you fry fries?
How long to fry frozen fries at 350?
How long does it take to fry fries at 375 degrees?
The amount of time that it takes to fry fries at 375 degrees Fahrenheit depends on the thickness of the fries and the amount of oil that is used. As a general rule, thicker fries will take longer to cook than thinner fries. The amount of oil that is used will also affect the cooking time. If more oil is used, the fries will cook faster.
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.
How long does it take to deep fry french fries?
So, whether you prefer your fries crispy or soft, keep reading to learn the perfect time to deep fry your frites! Typically, it takes about 3-5 minutes to deep fry French fries at a temperature of 350-375°F. The exact time may vary depending on the thickness of the fries and the type of oil used for frying.
How do you cook French fries in a frying pan?
Add one-third of fries to oil; oil temperature should drop to around 360°F (182°C). Cook for 50 seconds, agitating occasionally with a wire mesh spider, then remove to a second paper towel–lined rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining potatoes (working in 2 more batches), allowing oil to return to 400°F after each addition.