How do you fry homemade or store bought french fries without a deep fryer? How do make homemade french fries and keep them from being soggy when you cook them? These were all questions I had and after years of failure and thankfully I have the answer below. There is one trick to frying fries and it is a game changer! Great news is that you can make the recipe below with store bought french fries or with homemade via the instructions below as well.
I was always failing at trying to make my own fries and it took one tip to go from making soggy or meh french fries to the best homemade french fries ever! What is the trick for the best homemade french fries? Well, it is to fry them twice! Double fried french fries are the only way you should be making your french fries as they come out incredibly crispy and just like you got them from your favorite restaurant.
Another great tip for making the best french fries is to soak your cut-up french fries in cold water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Try to do it for 2-3 hours or as long as 24 hours prior to cooking. While this definitely is not necessary, if you have the time, it can help make them even better as it removes the starch from the potatoes. 30 minutes of this can really help if you can make it happen.
If you want to go steps further let’s get to making poutine or Lolo’s Chicken & Waffles Copycat Stupid Fries! I always thought poutine was the love of my life but wow… stupid fries are next level! These loaded fries take poutine and life to the next level!
How To Cook French Fries Without a Deep Fryer
Ingredients
- 4-5 large russet potatoes Or your favorite bag of frozen fries from the store.
- 2 quarts vegetable oil Canola oil works as well.
- Salt to taste Sea salt is great if you have it
Optional
- Seasoning salt or Cajun seasoning to taste... or mix both! I love a mixture of seasoning salt and cajun seasoning on my fries! Give it a try.
Instructions
- Peel, rinse potatoes and then cut into standard thicker french fry sizes. If you just have store bought french fries then even easier!
- Not necessary but if you have time then cover them in water for at least 30 minutes or ideally 2-3 hours and place in fridge.
- Drain french fries and pat them to dry. Water isn't good when frying things as it will splatter.
- Pending # of potatoes & size of pan you will separate the fries into 2-3 smaller batches to put in the oil separately.
- Heat up oil in deep pan to 300 degrees. Add first batch of fries into oil for 5 minutes. There should be at least half to one inch of oil above the fries.
- Remove fries from oil and set aside on paper towel, then cook the other batches. Make sure all fries have cooled before the second round of cooking.
- Once all batches are pre-cooked, turn up heat to 350 degrees. Cook fries for around 5 minutes until you see they are golden brown and crispy.
- Add your salts & seasonings.
