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    Home » Recipes » Kitchen Table

    Homemade Fries

    Jun 21, 2023 This post may contain affiliate links.

    Whether you are frying or baking, homemade fries are easy to make and deliciously crunchy! With just a few ingredients you can have tasty fries at home!

    french fries on white platter
    Homemade fries are such a tasty treat!
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Fried vs Baked

    Fried french fries will always taste extra flavorful because they have all those tasty calories from the oil and are easy to get crispy.

    Baked French Fries are less work, you don’t have to deal will lots of hot oil. It's nice to bake and walk away rather than babysitting frying potatoes.

    They get crunchy but in a different way compared to fried french fries.

    baked french fries on platter

    What you need for homemade fries?

    Potatoes- I like to use Russet Potatoes

    Oil – If baking you only need a few tablespoons, if frying you will need 4 cups. I recommend vegetable oil.

    Seasoning- Use any you like but I recommend either just plain salt, or adding other seasonings like pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder

    french fries ingredients
    You only need a few ingredients for tasty fries!

    How to make french fries crispy

    The two biggest factors to crispy potatoes are starch and moisture. Soaking cut potatoes in cold water will remove the starch.

    Double frying the potatoes will remove excess moisture.

    close up of fried french fries
    These fries remind me of Five Guys Fries!

    Why do you soak french fries before cooking?

    It helps remove starch and sugars from the outside of the cut potatoes and helps prevent them from browning via exposure to air.

    adding potatoes to cold water
    You can add ice or just stick the bowl in the fridge!
    potatoes in water after soaking for 12 hrs- water is pink
    The water turns pink after sitting!

    Removing the starch helps keep the fries from sticking together which is extra important for frying but does help when baking too.

    How to make homemade fries?

    • Rinse and peel you potatoes.
    potatoes after being peeled
    You can leave the peels on if you prefer.
    • Cut up potatoes into ½ inch thick pieces, I like to use this cutter to make them uniform! (amazon affiliate link)
    potatoes sliced into fries
    You can cut by hand or use a fry cutter.
    • Place cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water- for 20 minutes at least, but for as long as overnight. The longer the soak the less starch.
    • After they have soaked, rinse thoroughly then pat dry.
    patting cut potatoes dry
    It take a few paper towels to dry them.

    How to bake french fries?

    • Preheat oven and line a baking sheet with parchement paper.
    • Toss cut fries in oil.
    adding vegetable oil to cut potatoes
    You don't need a ton of oil for baking fries.
    • Place fries in a single layer on the prepped baking sheet then bake for 20 minutes, toss, then bake for another 20 minutes or until browned.
    potatoes on making sheet
    Single layer helps them bake more evenly.
    • As soon as you remove fries from the oven sprinkle with seasoning.
    scooping up baked fries
    Love baked fries!

    How to fry homemade fries?

    • In a large/deep cast iron pan or stock pot preheat your oil.
    hot oil at 300°F
    Use a thermometer to check the oil temp.
    • Fry potatoes in batches making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for 5-6 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels.
    french fries after first fry
    The first fry just cooks but doesn't brown the potatoes.
    • Once all are fried, increase oil temp and fry in batches again until golden brown. Another 3-5 minutes.
    golden fries in oil
    Yum!
    • Once golden remove from oil, place on fresh paper towels and immediately sprinkle with seasoning

    What potatoes are best for fries?

    Russet potatoes are best since they have less water in them. Waxy potatoes like fingerling, red, and new potatoes are to be avoided since they have a much higher water content and won’t get crispy.

    potatoes on cutting board
    I love how versatile potatoes are!

    Tools I use:

    Cutting: I love using a french fry cutter from Cuisinart and a sturdy cutting board. (amazon affiliate link)

    using a french fry cutter to cut potatoes
    This is easy to use and makes the fries uniform.

    My WoodForChef Board is amazing high quality cherry wood that will last me a lifetime! I’ve met multiple people from the company and they are some of the most genuine and nice people. (amazon affiliate link)

    They sent me this cutting board and I am so amazed by its quality every time I use it.

    wood for chef logo on cutting board
    Sleek Logo!
    cutting board
    Love the quality!

    I love supporting companies like theirs because they are family owned and produce such beautiful high quality pieces that are quite affordable.

    Baking: Large Baking Sheet and a good spatula. Widgeteer sent me their new 3 piece gadget set from the Jeanne Fitz collection and it included this awesome spatula. I love that it’s not only sturdy but is safe for nonstick pans, and has a thin profile.

    spatula in baking sheet
    This spatula can cut and zest too!

    Frying: Cast Iron Pot- For larger batches I use my CrockPot Cast Iron Pot (same I used for my pot roast recipe), and for smaller frying batches I use my de Buyer Cast Iron Wok (use this for frying things like scallops too! Yum!), and lastly a slotted spoon to get the fries out of the hot oil.

    I also use my thermoworks thermometer for all temps readings whenever I cook and bake!

    thermometer showing oil at 400°F
    Love de Buyer pans!

    I make homemade french fries at least once a week because we love them so much! Typically, I make the baked version since I don’t want to babysit hot oil and heat up the house, but the fried version is so tasty that I love making it at least once a month!

    fried french fry dipped in ketchup
    These fries are so good!

    What to serve with French fries?

    Dip: Dip fries in homemade mayo, queso, chick fila sauce, buffalo sauce, or the classic ketchup!

    Serve alongside: Burgers (sliders, wagyu, or green chile!), chicken strips, shake-n-bake chicken, tri tip, or grilled chicken nuggets!

    homemade french fries pinterest image
    Don't forget to pin this recipe!

    Watch how to make this recipe!

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    homemade french fries featured image

    Homemade Fries

    Author: Lisa
    Whether you are frying or baking, homemade fries are easy to make and deliciously crunchy! With just a few ingredients you can have tasty fries at home!
    4 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Frying Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 8 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 large russet potatoes
    • Salt Also add: Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika
    • 4 tbs Vegetable Oil if baking
    • 4 cups Vegetable Oil if frying

    Instructions
     

    How to make baked homemade fries?

    • Rinse and peel potatoes. *
      4 large russet potatoes
    • Cut up into French fry strips.
    • Soak fries in cold water for at least 20 minutes but up to 12 hrs.*
    • Rinse potatoes thoroughly to remove starchy water, then pat dry.
    • Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Toss potatoes in oil. Then place on baking sheet.
      4 tbs Vegetable Oil if baking
    • Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the fries and bake for another 20 minutes or until browned to your desire.
    • As soon as you remove the fries from the oven sprinkle with salt and any other seasonings.
      Salt

    How to fry homemade fries?

    • Rinse and peel potatoes. *
      4 large russet potatoes
    • Cut up into French fry strips.
    • Soak fries in cold water for at least 20 minutes but up to 12 hrs.*
    • Rise potatoes thoroughly then pat dry.
    • Pour oil into a large cast iron pot. Heat over medium high until it reaches 300°-325°F.
      4 cups Vegetable Oil if frying
    • Fry potatoes, in batches, for 5-6 minutes, this first fry is to heat and partially cook the potatoes. Use a slotted spoon to add and remove the potatoes being careful to not splash the hot oil.
    • Once fries are cooked place on a paper towel and continue frying the remaining potatoes.
    • Increase heat to high, until oil reaches a temperature of 400°F. While oil is heat, get seasoning ready- whether it’s just salt or mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika and set aside.
    • When oil is at 400°F fry the potatoes a second time until golden brown, another 3-5 minutes. Once golden remove from oil, place on a paper tow, and immediately sprinkle with seasoning.
    • Continue frying remaining batches of potatoes. Then enjoy!
      Salt

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    • You can leave the peels on, the fries just might not get quite as crispy. The peels have a lot of nutrients in them though so I tend to leave them on most times!
    • If you don't have time to soak the fries it's ok! They will still be tasty!
    • Nutrition info calculated from baking.
    • Total time varies depending on how long you decide to let the potatoes soak and if you are frying vs baking. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 888mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword crispy oven baked french fries, Homemade Baked French Fries, homemade french fries, homemade fries, how to make french fries in the oven
    Did you make this recipe?Tag me on Instagram at @atablefullofjoy

    Post Images, Info, and Recipe Updated 6/6/2023

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