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Home » Side Dishes » Homemade French Fries

Published: May 6, 2020 Last Modified: May 6, 2020 By Sara 25 Comments

Homemade French Fries

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Homemade French Fries Recipe #potatoes #fries #dinner #dinneratthezoo

These homemade french fries are potatoes that are cut into sticks and deep fried until golden brown, then sprinkled with seasonings. Homemade fries are WAY better than anything you’d get at a restaurant, and are fun and easy to make.

You can never go wrong with potatoes as a side dish, whether it’s baked potato wedges, garlic mashed potatoes or these classic french fries. Pair your fries with a burger, or serve them with steak, and watch the rave reviews come in!

Homemade French Fries Recipe #potatoes #fries #dinner #dinneratthezoo Homemade French Fries Recipe #potatoes #fries #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A plate of homemade french fries served with a bowl of ketchup.

There’s nothing better than homemade french fries – they’re light, crispy, and full of flavor. Many restaurants use frozen fries, and I think my version is so much better because there’s a freshness factor that the frozen fries just can’t touch!

How do you make homemade french fries?

This recipe starts with Russet potatoes, which are cut into strips, then soaked in water. The water helps to remove any excess starch to make the fries crispy. The potatoes go into a pot of oil and are fried two times, first at a lower temperature, then at a higher temperature. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper, then serve and enjoy.

Sliced potato sticks in a bowl of water.

Tips for the perfect homemade french fries

  • This recipe works best with Russet potatoes. Other types of potatoes will not give you that classic french fry taste and texture.
  • You can peel your potatoes, or leave them unpeeled. I tend to leave mine unpeeled for a little extra color and texture.
  • It’s imperative that you use a frying thermometer to make sure that your oil is at the proper temperature.
  • Make sure to cut your fries into similar sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate.
  • Be sure to thoroughly dry your potatoes after they come out of the water. Any water left on the potatoes can react with the hot oil and cause it to spatter.
  • French fries are best served immediately as they can soften a bit as they cool. If you need to reheat your fries, you can crisp them up in a 400 degrees F oven.

How to cut french fries

The absolute easiest way to cut french fries is to use a designated french fry cutter. These come in all different sizes and prices, but you can get a small fry cutting blade for not much money. The other option is to cut each potato horizontally into even slices, then cut horizontally down those slices to make potato matchsticks. You can cut your potatoes into thick or thin fries, whatever you like best. Just be aware that thicker fries may take longer to cook.

Potatoes cut into fry shapes on a paper towel lined pan.

What is the best oil for french fries?

There are a variety of oil choices that can be used for french fries. You want to look for an oil with a neutral flavor and a high smoke point. Some great options include vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil or safflower oil. I typically use either vegetable oil or peanut oil.

Par-fried potatoes on a plate.

Flavor variations

You can add all different types of seasonings to your fries to customize this recipe to your tastes.

  • Garlic Butter: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 teaspoon fresh minced garlic, salt, pepper and 2 teaspoons chopped parsley.
  • Mexican Fries: Mix together one teaspoon each of chili powder, paprika, salt and cumin and a half a teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder and oregano. If you don’t want to make your own seasoning, you can use a store bought taco seasoning.
  • Cajun Fries: You can season the fries with a Cajun spice blend, or make your own by combining one teaspoon each of garlic powder, paprika and salt and a half teaspoon each of black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, dried oregano and dried thyme.
  • Jerk Fries: For a Caribbean flavor, mix together 1 teaspoon each of dried thyme, salt and pepper with 1/2 teaspoon each of sugar, allspice, paprika and cayenne pepper and a 1/8 teaspoon each of cumin, cinnamon and garlic powder.

Homemade french fries on a sheet pan.

Baked french fries

If you don’t want to fry your potatoes, you can also bake them in the oven. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with foil and coat the sheet pan with cooking spray. Soak the fries as directed in the recipe below, then pat dry. Drizzle 1/4 cup of vegetable oil over the fries and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Toss to coat the potatoes in the oil and seasonings. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fries are golden brown.

Once you try these homemade french fries, you’ll find yourself making them regularly! They’re just that good, and are always a big hit.

MORE FABULOUS SIDE DISHES

  • Bacon Mac and Cheese
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Crock Pot Baked Beans
  • Green Beans with Bacon
  • Cheesy Pull Apart Bread

Homemade French Fries Video

A plate of homemade french fries served with a bowl of ketchup.
Print Pin
5 from 23 votes

Homemade French Fries

These homemade french fries are potatoes that are cut into sticks and deep fried until golden brown, then sprinkled with seasonings. Homemade fries are WAY better than anything you'd get at a restaurant, and are fun and easy to make.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Soaking Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4
Calories 224kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 pounds Russet potatoes
  • oil for frying I use vegetable or peanut oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley optional

Instructions

  • Cut the potatoes into matchsticks, either with a knife or with a french fry cutter. The potato pieces should all be similar in size.
  • Place the potatoes in a bowl of cold water. Soak the potatoes for at least 30 minutes.
  • Drain the water from the potatoes. Place the potatoes on a layer of paper towels and pat thoroughly with additional towels until dry.
  • Pour 3 inches of oil into a large, deep pot. Heat the oil to 300 degrees F.
  • Place about 1/3 of the potatoes in the pot, and cook until tender. This takes about 4-5 minutes. Repeat the process with the remaining potatoes.
  • Increase the heat of the oil to 400 degrees F. Place 1/3 of the potatoes back in the pot and cook for an additional 1-3 minutes or until golden brown. Repeat the process with the remaining potatoes. Place the cooked potatoes on a sheet pan lined with paper towels.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste over the fries. Add parsley if desired, then serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 1182mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Comments

    1. Anna says

      November 13, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      These were yummy! This was my first time ever making homemade FRIED French fries. I seasoned with a blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. I also make my own ketchup from smoked tomatoes and the homemade ketchup with the homemade fries were just incredible.

      Reply
      • Rosemarie says

        February 23, 2022 at 11:48 am

        I’m about to make them but Just curious, why do u have to sail them in cold water?

        Reply
        • Cheyenne says

          April 6, 2022 at 8:22 pm

          Soaking them in cold water pulls the starch out of the potatoes, making for much crispier French fries. A very necessary step!

          Reply
    2. Cheran says

      April 21, 2021 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      These are soooo good! Worth the effort 100%

      Reply
      • Dee Cline says

        August 22, 2021 at 11:22 pm

        5 stars
        I totally agree with Cheran! These fries tasted better then the fries I ate growing up. Ssh! Don’t tell mom though.

        Reply
    3. Casey says

      March 12, 2021 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      These were really good but for me, they took waaayy longer to cook then the recipe called for. Other than that they were excellent homemade fries and I will make again but just cook longer.

      Reply
      • Britt says

        March 21, 2022 at 7:32 pm

        5 stars
        Same as the commenter above–my fries turned out great but I cooked them for so much longer than the recipe directed! First fry was 6 mins per batch and second fry was like 15 min per batch.

        Reply
    4. Mary says

      March 4, 2021 at 4:19 pm

      Can you freeze the cut potatoes after soaking and drying for future frying?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 4, 2021 at 8:10 pm

        Yes that should be fine, you’d want to fry them from frozen.

        Reply
    5. Judith says

      February 21, 2021 at 2:12 pm

      I couldn’t find any safflower oil so I went with peanut oil and they were so crispy. I’ll never use another oil … Unless I find that safflower oil , 😉

      Reply
    6. Cheyenne Richards says

      February 21, 2021 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      First time making homemade fries and they came out amazing

      Reply
    7. Sharon says

      February 1, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      I put the cajun spices on and we inhaled them!

      Reply
    8. Ashley H says

      January 10, 2021 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      These were my first attempt at making homemade fries and they turned out absolutely delicious! My brother ate practically a third of them as soon as they were done (I can’t blame him). I added some extra steps (I rinsed the potatoes off a couple of times after cutting them to remove extra starch+ added salt to the ice water when soaking them), but I guarantee they would have turned out delicious had I omitted those steps. Crunchy, golden, perfect. Thank you for this recipe! Whenever I have extra potatoes, I’m definitely gonna make these for my family again.

      Reply
    9. Rachel says

      July 8, 2020 at 8:14 pm

      5 stars
      Soooo good!!! I’ve never had luck with home made fries but these were easy and so good I can’t wait to try the different flavor seasonings

      Reply
    10. Sue says

      June 15, 2020 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      I find now I’m making these 3 to 4x week with everyone home for lunch. Great easy recipe!

      Reply
    11. Jacque Hastert says

      May 13, 2020 at 9:38 am

      5 stars
      My husband loved these last night! He requested them again later in the week. I can’t wait to bake them up again.

      Reply
    12. Allyson Zea says

      May 13, 2020 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Wow these french fries look awesome! Can’t wait to try this recipe

      Reply
    13. Catalina says

      May 13, 2020 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      These are the best homemade French fries! Must make them!

      Reply
    14. Vikki says

      May 12, 2020 at 10:58 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely LOVE these French Fries! Never getting store-bought again

      Reply
    15. Dorothy Reinhold says

      May 12, 2020 at 6:38 pm

      My crew is going to be so pumped! I want to try all of the variations!

      Reply
    16. Cathy says

      May 12, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      I’m loving the different flavor variations!

      Reply
    17. Haley D. Williams says

      May 12, 2020 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      Couldn’t believe how great these turned out! Thank you!

      Reply
    18. Melissa says

      May 12, 2020 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe – homemade French fries are my favorite!

      Reply
    19. wilhelmina says

      May 12, 2020 at 11:08 am

      5 stars
      These fries are just straight up yummy! It was easier than I thought to get perfect fries at home!

      Reply
    20. Natasha says

      May 12, 2020 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      This homemade french fries is way better than takeout! It’s crispy and tasty just the way we like it!

      Reply

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