Would you like some homemade french fries with that? As a kid I had a slight obsession with french fries, in fact, I still do. The salty slightly crisp on the outside, perfect on the inside bit of potato dipped in ketchup is the perfect side to any burger or sandwich.
Homemade french fries can be a bit tricky to get that perfect restaurant quality taste but with this step-by-step recipe guide, you will be making amazing homemade french fries in no time. These fries closely resemble the kind of fries that they serve at Five Guys.
Step 1: Gather the ingredients and tools
In order to make these homemade french fries you need a few ingredients and tools. You will need the following:
- Potatoes (I use Russets, they work really well)
- Oil (I like to use peanut oil, but any high smoke point oil should work, lard works great too)
- Salt
- Cold water – The cold water is going to help remove the starch from the potatoes.
Tools
- Fry Cutter or knife
- Deep fryer or deep pot
- Candy thermometer
- Bowl
- Paper towels
Step 2: How to make homemade french fries
Wash the potatoes really well. After they are washed you can peel them if you like. I don’t peel mine. It’s just a personal preference. I like the rustic homemade look the peels give them.
Step 3: Cut the potatoes for that homemade french fries shape
Now it is time to cut the potatoes into the classic fry shape. I have a handy fry cutter that I really like. It saves a bunch of time, but you can certainly just use a knife.
Step 4: Soak the potatoes
Next place the potatoes slices into a large bowl with really cold water. Make sure to add a couple of teaspoons of table salt as well.
Why do we do this? This process helps to remove the starch from those potatoes, resulting in a much tastier french fry. And it helps to prevent the fries from getting too brown.
The sugar in the starch tends to brown/burn easily in hot oil. Soak them for about 20 minutes.
Step 5: Heat the oil
While the potatoes are soaking get the oil started. For large batches of homemade french fries, I generally use a deep fryer, which I really like, however a pot and candy thermometer will work just fine.
Heat the oil for the “first fry” to 320 degrees F. (160 C) You will wind up frying the potatoes twice.
Step 6: Drain and dry the potatoes
Next, drain the water from the potatoes and place them on a paper towel. Use another paper towel to pat the potatoes dry. We want them fairly dry because water and hot oil do not play nicely together. 🙂
Step 7: First fry (low heat) then freeze them
Now place a small batch of potatoes into the deep fryer or pot and fry them on a lower heat around 320 degrees F (160 C) for 4 to 6 minutes until they are blonde in color.
You will probably need to wait a few minutes after a few batches and let the oil come back up to temperature.
Once they are done place them on a paper towel to dry, then place in freezer bags or Tupperware, to freeze them.
If you don’t have time to freeze them, you can go to the next step. I like to freeze mine so I can make a ton upfront, and then freeze the ones I am not going to eat to fry up later.
Step 8: High temp fry to finish the homemade french fries
Now once we have frozen our fries, let’s turn up our heat to 400 to 425 degrees F. (205 C to 218 C). Or if your deep fryer doesn’t go that high, put it on its highest setting.
Then comes our “Second” fry or “High Heat” fry. Take a batch of fries and place them in the hot oil, this time we will only be frying them for around a minute or so until they turn a nice golden brown.
Take them out and place them on a paper towel to drain the excess oil off and salt those fries up! Enjoy!
***Note about the “Two-Fry Method” This is not a new method, nor my own method, it has been around for ages. The first fry will cook them almost completely without over-browning them, the second fry will cook them the rest of the way and crisp them up.
Can the oil be re-used for future french fries?
Yes! The oil can be used over and over again several times. But don’t use it for something like chicken, only potatoes, chips, and fries. Store the oil after it cools down, back in its container it came in. Place it in a dark pantry, but not in the fridge.
Homemade Restaurant Quality French Fries
Equipment
- Fry Cutter or knife
- Deep fryer or deep pot
- Candy Thermometer
- Bowl
- Paper towels
Ingredients
- 4 Potatoes I use Russets, they work really well
- Oil I like to use peanut oil, but any high smoke point oil should work, lard works great too
- Salt to taste
- Cold water filtered water if possible
Instructions
- Wash then peel (optional) the potatoes.
- Cut the potatoes using a fry cutter or knife to get that classic fry shape.
- Soak the potatoes in a large bowl of cold water with a few tsp. of salt for 20 to 30 minutes. This briny water will remove the starch from the potatoes.
- As the potatoes are soaking heat up the oil to 320 F (160 C). Use a candy thermometer if you are using a pot or just use the setting on your deep fryer.
- Drain and dry the potatoes on paper towel. It is important to get them as dry as possible. The water will react rather violently with the oil.
- Place the fries in small batches in the oil and cook for 4 to 6 minutes until they are lightly blonde in color. Then set aside until the rest are done or place in a bag or Tupperware to freeze for later once they have cooled.
- Next we heat the oil to 400 to 425 F (205 to 218 C.) If your deep fryer doesn't go that high just set it to its highest setting. This will be the second fry. Again cook the potatoes we just fried except this time only cook them for 1 minute or so. The "first fry" cooked them all the way through this "second fry" will crisp them up. Place on a plate with paper towel. Then enjoy!
Video
Notes
Do you like this recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
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These came out great! My family and I have made this recipe about 8 times in the last month.
That is so awesome!! So glad you like it and keep making it! 🙂
Do you cool the fries completely before the 2nd fry if you don’t have time to freeze them?
I find they actually work a little better when you cool them completely, but you don’t have to! As long as you do both the low heat fry and then the high heat. But if you make a bunch of them, it is really nice to freeze the leftovers after the low heat fry. Then when you want some in the future all you need to do is pop the frozen ones for one last high heat fry. Great question!
I love 5 Guys fries and can’t wait to try this recipe. After the first fry you said you freeze some to have another day. Do you thaw them before the second fry at the higher temperature?
Hello, Donna!! 🙂 For the frozen ones, you can just drop those right in for the second fry, no need to thaw them out. 🙂 🙂 Let me know how they turn out! 🙂 Also while you have the oil going, you may want to try these as well, my favorite potato chips! https://inthekitchenwithmatt.com/thin-crispy-potato-chips
How would you convert the two fry method with an air fryer?
Hi Angela, you can just try this recipe I have for air fryer french fries. https://inthekitchenwithmatt.com/easy-crispy-air-fryer-french-fries they still don’t turn out as great as deep-frying them. But you can always attempt to put them in the air fryer for 10 minutes or so on like 300F and then 10 minutes on like 375 or 400. But only try a small batch. When I used my air fryer I only do it like I do in that link I shared. I haven’t experimented with the two fry method with the air fryer. Since it doesn’t really fry it is more like a small mini convection oven, I am not sure it will have the same effect. But experimentation is fun, so go for it! 🙂 Let me know how it turns out.
I really should consider getting that fries cutter! Love making fries at home for the kids, it’s one of their favorite snacks!
Yes! I use it all the time! haha
Homemade fries are so delicious and thanks for sharing step by step guide to make them at home.
You are welcome, Sarah! 🙂
Who doesn’t love French Fries? I like it as a side or as snack. I love your Homemade French Fries recipe. It seems so yummy.
Agreed!! 🙂
French fries is I guess everyone’s favorite. Mine too. Thanks for the recipe. It’s really cold here and would love to indulge.
You are welcome! 🙂
We make homemade fries for the boys often. We love trying different dips with them.
That is awesome, Dana! 🙂 🙂
Oh wow! I need to make these! Headed over to buy the Fry cutter, never knew that existed!
You definitely should make them! 🙂 :), yeah that fry cutter is awesome.
There is nothing I love more than homemade french fries! We try to make them often in our home!
Agreed! 🙂
We make French fries and potato wedges too with the air fryer. Love our air fryer. These are such a hit here.
Awesome!
I especially love that these resemble Five Guys fries! The perfect party snack.
Yeah!! I love Five Guys fries, that is why I like these homemade ones so much. 🙂
Yummo! Nothing beats homemade fries. I haven’t made them in years, but this reminds me that I need to do it again.
For sure you need to make them again! 🙂 🙂
Russets are definitely the best potato to use! Love the tip about using the cold water!
Thank you, Beth!!
Homemade fries…YES! I just love it. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. 🙂
You are welcome, Stephanie! 🙂
You had me at Home Made… Delicious!!!!
Nice, Jessica!! 🙂 🙂
I can’t wait to make these with my kids. They are fry obsessed so I know they’ll be a hit!
Awesome! 🙂 🙂
This is one my families favorite treats, homemade fries! I didn’t know that you could reuse the fries, that’s awesome!
Awesome, Danyelle! Homemade fries are amazing. 🙂
I’ve made fries a few times but have never done the two-fry method. This is a game changer! Delicious!
Awesome, Betsy! Yeah, give the two-fry method a shot and let me know how you like it. 🙂
Yuuum! They came out suuper delicious! Thanks Matt!
Thank you, Stephanie! I am happy you tried them out and liked them. 🙂 Homemade fries are the best! 🙂