Easy French Fries Recipe: How to Make Fries at Home
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Nov 12, 2024 • 3 min read
French fries are ubiquitous across the United States, but the dish has a long history that spans continents. While you can pick up fries at countless restaurants, homemade French fries only require a few ingredients.
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What Are French Fries?
French fries are a dish made of strips of fried potato. They are made by cutting potatoes into the desired shape before deep-frying them. They can also be double-fried by frying them for the first time at a lower temperature and then again at a higher temperature.
French fries can be made with different types of potatoes, such as sweet potatoes. They can also be cut into different shapes, such as wedge-shaped steak fries, grid-structured waffle fries, or curly fries.
French fries are typically eaten with ketchup and are served as a side dish or appetizer at BBQs or at fast food restaurants alongside burgers, fried chicken, chicken wings, and sandwiches. They can also be served with toppings, such as in the dish poutine that serves crispy fries covered with gravy and cheese curds.
A Brief History of French Fries
The origin of French fries isn’t definite, but the beginning of popular use of potatoes in dishes began in Spain.
- Origins in the Andes: Potatoes originated in the Andes, with the Spanish first encountering the tuber during expeditions to South America in the 1500s, though the spuds didn’t look like the potatoes of today. While the Spanish initially struggled to grow the potato, the tuber remains important to the country. Patatas bravas, or spicy potatoes, is a popular Spanish dish today.
- Fried potatoes in Belgium: The potato was introduced to Belgium in the seventeenth century when the Spanish controlled much of the country. Belgians typically fried fish as a main dish, but during the winter months when fish was scarce, they fried thin strips of potato. Many consider this to be the origin of French fries.
- Fried potatoes in France: Many also credit the popularity of French fries to French army officer Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, who championed the benefits of the potato in France and in countries across the world. By 1800, France was cultivating potatoes at a large scale, and it was during this time that they either invented or discovered the French fry recipe.
French Fries Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1
Cut potatoes into thin or thick wedges based on your preference. You can also use a French fry cutter to cut the potatoes, and you can optionally peel them if you prefer french fries without the skin.
- 2
Soak potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove excess starch. Then remove and dry with paper towels.
- 3
Fill a large saucepan, pot, or Dutch oven with the oil so that there is at least 1–2 inches of oil. Preheat until the oil reaches 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Once ready, carefully add the potato wedges to the hot oil and let sit for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and allow them to cool on a baking sheet in a single layer for 10 minutes. You can optionally use an air fryer or a deep fryer for this step.
- 4
Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and repeat step three to double fry your potato wedges to make them even crispier.
- 5
Place your crispy French fries in a large bowl and toss with salt and black pepper. You can optionally toss in garlic powder, grated parmesan cheese, paprika, or cajun powder.
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