The Crispiest Homemade French Fries
Time consuming? Yes. Finicky? A bit. 1000% worth the effort? YES. If you love homemade, crispy fries, this is the recipe for you. The key is simmering in vinegar water before frying. This is the only method I've found that actually does remove enough starch to keep the potatoes crispy!
Equipment
- 1 large, heavy-bottomed pot
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes peeled and cut into ¼" fries
- 6 cups water
- 2.5 teaspoon white vinegar
- 6 cups vegetable oil see notes
Instructions
- Peel and cut potatoes. Heat water to a roiling boil, then add vinegar. Turn heat down to a very low simmer. Add potatoes, and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove the fries to a cooling rack over a baking sheet.
- Start heating your oil in a large pot to 400℉. Be sure to leave a good amount of space in the pot over the oil. When you add the fries, the oil will bubble because of the added moisture. If there isn't enough room at the top of the pot, then the oil will over flow. I recommend a good six inches at least. The oil doesn't need to be super deep for the fries! Err on the side of caution.
- When the oil comes to temperature, add the fries in two batches, letting the bubbling with the moisture to finish before adding the second batch. Cook for one minute, then remove to the cooling rack. Let the fries cool completely (about 12-15 minutes).
- Add the fries for a second time, until golden brown (3-4 minutes). Remove to a paper towel lined bowl, and season immediately. Serve hot, but they will remain crispy for at least an hour!
Notes
SUPER IMPORTANT:
Be sure to leave a good amount of space in the pot over the oil. When you add the fries, the oil will bubble because of the added moisture. If there isn't enough room at the top of the pot, then the oil will over flow. I recommend a good six inches at least. The oil doesn't need to be super deep for the fries! Err on the side of caution.
Other notes:
Get creative with the seasonings! You can use what ever flavor you want. It's also great with a side of homemade aioli :)
The nutrition calculation is likely slightly low here in terms of calories - I had to exclude the oil because it was including all 6 cups of it (as in, you would be ingesting it).
Nutrition
Serving: 150gCalories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 8gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 54mgPotassium: 1539mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!