Description
Crispy golden french fries shine as a beloved side dish perfected through careful potato selection and precise cooking techniques. Salt-seasoned potatoes deliver restaurant-quality results you can easily recreate in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 large russet potatoes (peeled and rinsed)
- 2 quarts / 1.89 liters vegetable oil
- 2 quarts / 1.89 liters canola oil (as substitute for vegetable oil)
- Salt
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Slice potatoes into uniform 1/2-inch sticks using a sharp knife or French fry cutter, ensuring consistent sizing for even cooking.
- Starch Extraction: Immerse potato sticks in cold water for 60 minutes or overnight, thoroughly rinsing twice and patting completely dry to remove excess moisture and enhance crispiness.
- Oil Heating: Fill a deep fryer or Dutch oven with vegetable or peanut oil, heating to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for the initial low-temperature frying stage.
- First Fry Technique: Carefully lower potato sticks in small batches, cooking 4-6 minutes until tender without browning, maintaining consistent oil temperature and preventing overcrowding.
- Crispy Finishing: Raise oil temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, returning potato sticks for a second fry of 3-5 minutes to achieve a golden-brown, crisp exterior.
- Final Seasoning: Extract fries using a slotted spider or mesh strainer, allowing oil drainage on paper towels, then immediately season with kosher or seasoned salt while piping hot for maximum flavor absorption.
Notes
- Potato Selection Matters: Choose starchy potatoes like Russet or Idaho for the crispiest, most authentic french fry texture and best results.
- Water Soak Technique: Extended cold water soaking removes excess starch, guaranteeing crunchier exterior and preventing soggy fries.
- Temperature Control Critical: Two-stage frying at precise temperatures ensures perfectly cooked interior and golden-brown crispy exterior.
- Drying is Essential: Thoroughly drying potato sticks prevents dangerous oil splattering and helps achieve maximum crispiness during frying.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg