Well – I was talking to my good friend yesterday and he said “Zesty…. why don’t you create a simple step by step way to create french fries – healthy style”. So I thought to myself and said “self lets do it”. If you’re anything like me – you love french fries. Below you will find a simple step by step set of instructions on how to create delicious homemade french fries that everyone in the family will enjoy and are not that bad for your waistline.
Zesty tip: Use a Mandoline for perfectly cut fries.
Ingredients
- 5 Large Roasting Potatoes
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Method
- Begin with some nice roasting potatoes as shown here. While you’re doing that – lets preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Then Peel and Wash the potatoes to prepare for slicing.
- Here is my tool I use for slicing – If you don’t have this or a mandoline just use your knife and be sure to cut the french fries even in size to ensure even cooking.
- Once sliced, place the potatoes in a bowl and cover with water.
- I like to have the potatoes soak in salted water for about 30 minutes to release some of the starch and allow the fries to crisp up in the oven.
- After the 30 minutes elapsed – it is time we dry the potatoes. This is a crucial step. If the potatoes are not completely dry, they will not crisp up as nicely and the moisture will cause them to steam in the oven.
- Lets go ahead and lay the potatoes on some parchment paper, season them with salt and pepper and brush some olive oil on the tops of them. Once in the oven, ensure that you turn them periodically to ensure even browning. Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Here is the final product…. crispy and yummy! Get you favorite dipping sauce out and ENJOY!
Be sure to let me know your favorite french fries whether it be a favorite fast food chain or a special way you make them at home… Can’t wait to hear from you.
Zesty
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Whether it is about recipes, food techniques, food tips, or meal suggestions in a rush - this is your one stop food shop. When I was sitting at home - I always wanted to write a blog and help people in everyday life come up with innovative and different approaches to food. So here it is - released for all to see - I hope you enjoy!
I love homemade fries. I usually fry them though which can be messy sometime. So I’ll have to try baking them. Thanks for the great idea.
Great recipe, really helpful! Thanks!
very yummy! I cut the potatoes a little to thin, its hard to cut evenly without a special tool, so some were a little crispier then others, but i thin it made them a nice blend of crispy and a little less crispy! very tasty!!
this looks like a really good recipe i will try it!
Okay this may seem like a silly question but my fries ended up sticking to the parchment paper. It was impossible to turn them. I ended up scrapping them off about halfway through the cooking time. Now they look bad. I am sure they will taste great, but how do I keep this from happening? The fries had oil all the way around them so I am not sure why this happened.
These were really good! Instead of going by the recipe, though, I made potato wedges and baked for about 50 minutes. I put oil on the bottom of the pan as well as the top, and used salt and chili powder. Also, definitely leave the skin on. They’re a lot better that way : D
was excited to try them only to find out i have no parchment paper….would it ruin the result? Can a foil be used instead? Sorry, silly question but I am not really a good cook so i had to follow what is asked. Thanks
@Jen – I would be concerned that the french fries would stick to the tin foil. You could use a cooking spray or an olive oil toss to help prevent the sticking
no i will not ruin the result because i didnt have no parchment paper but it still came out great..
These fries look really good. I have wanted to try homemade french fries for awhile instead of the nasty ones you get at a fast food resturant. I would really like to try it with sweet potato but i am wondering if they would turn out the same way or if i would have to find a completely different recipe.
@Victroria – You can try this recipe – http://zestycook.com/baked-sweet-potato-fries-anyone/ for the sweet potato version.
Zest
1) Choose an Idaho Russet potato. Russet Burbanks if you can get them.
2) Condition the potato by storing in a 70 degree environment for a couple of weeks (potatoes coming out of cold storage need time to convert sugars back to starch).
3) Cut the potatoes into the desired fry size, similar size the fast food places you prefer..
4) Soak the cut potato strips in room temperature water for at least 8 hours, overnight is good (this soaking plumps up the cells within the potatoes to result in an improved texture). DO NOT USE ICE WATER OR REFRIGERATE!
5) Dry the potato strips and fry in 300 degree oil until just cooked inside and limp, fry time is dependent on the thickness of the fry strip. Let cool.
6) Bring oil to 375 degrees and fry until golden brown and crispy.
7) Of course, use beef fat, properly twice fried fries will not soak up fat.
What’s the point of endeavoring to produce the very best french fry and then compromising the taste with a neutral tasting fry oil.
Maintain the fry temp or the fries will absorb fat.
9) Rice Bran Oil is the best alternative to those that have a aversion to beef fat.
In & Out restaurants are noted for excellent fries, they fry in Rice Bran Oil.
How long does is typically required for the potatoes to be “completely dry?”
@Megan – I like to soak them and then pat them dry in a tea towel or paper towel. Letting them dry for about 10-15 minutes should be fine
yup Im going to try this right now. =)
The only change I would make, don’t peel them first. The skins are GREAT!
We tried your fry recipe and they were really, really great. They were the best that we have ever made at home! Thank you so much for sharing them with us. The best homemade fries that we have ever, ever eaten anywhere in this world were at a little island themed restaurant over in NC, near Asheville, the place was called “kutcharitaville Cafe”. There we ordered their world’s greatest cheese burgers. “Oh” They were really the best burgers that we have ever sunk our teeth into, and we even had them MR, How Cool Is That? Anyway back to the topic. That place serves those awesome homemade fries with those killer burgers! They should also put up a sign that says, “The world’s greatest homemade fries too.” Cause they really were!
Another thing that they serve is “The World’s Greatest Key Lime Pie”. That pie is the best thing that I have ever put in my mouth!
The whole family agrees with that. Lets see, the world’s greatest cheese burgers, the world’s greatest homemade fries and the world’s greatest key lime pie. You might as well say too, the world’s greatest bar-with all those tall cool island drinks. All that together, in one place, I guess that you could call, “Kutcharitaville Cafe” of Kutchie’s Key West, “The World’s Greatest Restaurant”. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that crocodile there, watching us eat. That sort of gave me the willies. Kutcharitaville Cafe is a must go-to place before you die! And That’s A Fact. If I’m lien, I’m dieing. And like the VP said just today, “This is a Big F—ing Deal”.
The Best too you, enjoy…..Anthony Bourdain
@ lisa….. try a silicone mat
Ohhhh – so THAT is what that attachment is for….who knew
Thanks Z!
loved this recipe and all the pics!
Thanks Dana
Okay, I used a Progressive French Fry Cutter which I used to cut the potatoes, skin attached. I let the cut potatoes soak (but without salt) for about 15 minutes, then patted them dry with paper towels. I sprinkled Tony Chachere’s Cajun Seasoning (a staple in this family) and cooked it at 375º for about 30 minutes, then pulled the tray out to coat with olive oil. I did increase the temp to 400º and put the tray back inside the oven. I turned the fries over a couple of times during the next hour. The result is a nice batch of spicy fries. Love it! Love it! Love it! Thank you!
I’m just baking my Healthy Homeade French Fries right know, i just put them in! I can’t wait til i taste the final product!
Thanks, this look simple and yummy!
I make fries by coating them in oil and bake them in the oven. They taste delicious with just salt.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. My wife and I LOVE FRENCH FRIES. We are actually working on our first batch of these right now. We can’t wait to taste them!
We were looking for french fry instructions and your method looks good. We also want to freeze the fries. After soaking, is it Ok to freeze the fries for later cooking?
@Keith – I have never tried that Keith….. not 100% on that one but I do not see why not.
I did not read this first, So I did not soak or rinse my potatoes, wonder if they will just be sogged out?