How to Cut Potatoes Into French Fries

French fries are potatoes cut into strips and fried in oil until they are golden brown. French fries are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and typically feature a finishing of salt. You can bake french fries in the oven or an air fryer, or deep-fry french fries in batches using a neutral oil, such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, or canola oil.

French fries are a popular side dish, particularly for steaks and burgers. Popular dips for french fries include ketchup, mustard, and garlic aioli, and common seasonings include malt vinegar and garlic powder.

When making homemade french fries, it is best to use starchy potatoes, which yield crispy fries. Starchy potatoes, also called mealy, are high in solids and amylose starch and low in moisture. When cooked, the cells in starchy potatoes separate from each other, creating a fluffy, floury, falling-apart texture that can become gluey if overworked. The most famous starchy potatoes are Russet potatoes, which are perfect for french fries. Other starchy potatoes include Idaho, Yukon gold, Goldrush potatoes, and sweet potatoes.

There are various ways to cut french fries. Follow these steps to learn different ways to cut potatoes into french fries:

1. 1. Peel the potatoes. Using a peeler or a paring knife, peel the potatoes.
2. 2. Cut the potatoes. To make hand-cut french fries, use a chef’s knife and cutting board. Cut the potatoes into slices, then cut the slices into strips for a classic french fry shape. Professional restaurants use a french fry cutter to cut the potato in one smooth motion—home cooks can also buy small french fry cutters for home use.
3. 3. Make potato wedges. You can also cut the potatoes into wedges by cutting the potatoes into quarters lengthwise then slicing the quarters into wedges.
4. 4. Slice potatoes into chips. If you want to make circular fries, or chips, you can use a mandolin slicer to cut your potatoes into thin slices.
5. 5. Soak the potatoes. After you cut the potatoes, soak the french fries in cold water for at least twenty minutes to remove excess starch. This will prevent the french fries from sticking to each other and will make the french fries extra crispy. Dry the french fries with paper towels before frying.

Whichever tool you use for cutting french fries, make sure you cut fries to the same size so they cook evenly.

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