Jessica ZanderEveryone would love to use the best potatoes for french fries to achieve the yummiest results. However, people often find it hard to pinpoint which gives the best taste.
Let’s dive into analyzing the best potato types for french fries, reviewing the advantages of eating fries, and offering a few cooking tips!
Contents
Best Potatoes for French Fries – Top 3 Varieties
The secret of some of the yummiest fries is the dynamics used to plant and cook them. Therefore, potatoes aren’t equal, with various types better suited for crispy french fries than others.
Check out the list below for the best potato varieties in the market.
- Russet Burbank (Idaho potatoes): These are high-starch potatoes, common for making French fries, and have an edge over most varieties with their fluffy texture. Its characteristics enrich your fries with a crispy exterior and a soft, tender interior.
- Yukon Gold Potatoes: With its buttery flavor and smooth texture, they are another excellent option for French fries. It delivers fries that are slightly creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Maris Piper: They are a versatile British potato variety that is favored by many for their fantastic French fries that are both fluffy and crispy.
Why Is the Russet Potato Best for French Fries?
As mentioned, Russet potatoes are your best choice to get great crispy French fries. They are an excellent way to avoid waxy potatoes and offer ideal characteristics, which play a crucial role in achieving the perfect fry.
Let’s take a closer look at their features:
1. Russet Potatoes Have A Balanced Solid-Water Ratio
Regarding the french fries cooking method, using the Russet potatoes with a balanced solid-water ratio is best. They have enough water content to offer a fluffy interior while maintaining a crispy exterior during frying.
Ensure you avoid fingerling potatoes to get the best out of Russet types.
2. Give the Best Shape and Crispy Fries
As most potato lovers know, the plants’ shape also matters. You should look for Russets with elongated and uniform shapes. This allows for the following:
- Easier slicing;
- Convenient cooking;
- Consistent results.
3. Non-Waxy Potatoes and Have Great Nutritional Value
Apart from their starch and texture, potatoes have great nutritional value being a good source of vitamins and minerals like:
- Vitamin C;
- Potassium;
- Fiber & antioxidants;
- Iron.
4. Have A Floury-Fluffy Texture
Many farmers will tell you to opt for Russet potatoes for their unique texture, which makes them ideal for French fries. Matured varieties have a floury and fluffy consistency that results in fries with a light and airy interior, complementing the crispy exterior.
However, most also argue that Maris piper versions have the best texture. You, therefore, have various options, as Katahdin potatoes are also a great choice in this category.
How to Cut Potatoes for Fresh-Cut Fries?
Perhaps you have questioned the shapes of many restaurant dishes, thus being compelled to cut and cook your version of homemade french fries. Cutting is important when prepping your yummy dish after selecting the best potatoes for French fries.
Follow these steps for perfect fresh-cut fries:
- Wash thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.
- Peel them if desired, although leaving the skin on can add extra flavor and texture.
- Slice the potatoes lengthwise (¼” to ½” thick sticks).
- Ensure you have equipment like a mandoline for uniform cuts.
- Soak your cut varieties in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch and prevent discoloration.
- Drain and pat the potatoes dry with a kitchen towel before cooking.
As observed, cutting involves various dynamics like washing, soaking, drying, and using the right equipment for the best results.
3 Top Secrets to Make the Best Crispier Fries than Others
Using the right type of potatoes results in crispy French fries. But this is also thanks to important factors like potato freshness, cutting, and frying aspects.
Read on to explore details and achieve the perfect crunch from your fries:
1. The Type and Age of the Frying Oil
It is crucial to consider the oil you utilize and its total usage period. This is handy when you want to get crispy air fryer fries.
- When you are cooking french fries opt for oils with a high smoke point, such as peanut or canola oil.
- Also, fresh oil is essential since it tends to break down and produce less crispy output when used multiple times.
Allowable Time of Using Oil
Nonetheless, most brands in the market allow you to reuse oil a maximum of three or four times when making french fries with moderate proportions. This is equivalent to 6 hours of deep cooking, a time you can use if you prepare fries on a large scale.
Used Oil Tips
Interestingly cooking with used oil gives the best results. So, what should you do when reusing oil?
- Before storing it in a well-sealed jar, you can sieve it to eliminate potato fragments.
- Learn how to check if the oil is bad. Some temperatures and storing methods can make the used variety go bad quickly.
2. The Number of Times to French Fry and Get Crispier Fries
If you want excellent crispy fries, consider using the double-deep frying method. The process will generally involve frying the potatoes twice:
- One time at a lower temperature to cook the interior.
- The second time should be with a higher temperature to achieve a crispy and golden brown exterior.
This method ensures your french fry extracts the extra oil even after. The aspect gives you restaurant-quality french fries that you can complement using your favorite chili or tomato sauce.
3. Dried and Frozen Potatoes
Most also make frozen fries, a great way of dealing with excess moisture. The cooking requires precise and easy preparation. You can wash and cut the potatoes or clean and freeze them.
Here are the advantages of this method:
- Frozen fries will help you eliminate the excess moisture, as wet potatoes can lead to soggy results.
- Additionally, freezing the potatoes briefly before frying can help create a crispier texture.
- Frozen french fries have balanced starch amounts by turning the mature seedlings’ sugar levels into starch. This comes in handy for the earliest crop of the season, which contains larger amounts of sugar.
FAQ
What Kind of Potatoes Grow Best for Fries?
Potatoes best for fries are mainly Russet potatoes due to their higher yields. They also offer significant amounts of starch content, having a fluffy texture.
What Kind of Potatoes are French Fries?
French fries are best made from high starch content potatoes such as Russet. Others, like Maris Piper, can also have an excellent texture and flavor when fried.
What are the Best Potatoes for French Fries in France?
French Fries in France are commonly made from Bintje, Russet, and la Charlotte potatoes. These potatoes have a creamy texture and a rich flavor, resulting in the famous French delicious and crispy fries.
What is the Tastiest Potato to Grow?
The potato to grow and get the tastiest fries includes the Yukon Gold potatoes. However, taste varies with preferences; thus, many also go for Russet and Maris.
Are French fries 100% potato?
French fries are primarily made from potatoes but often undergo additional processing. Some restaurants may add seasonings, coatings, or preservatives to enhance flavor or prolong shelf life.
Conclusion
There you have it on everything regarding the perfect potatoes for crispy fries. The best varieties for french fries, such as Russet Burbank, Yukon Gold, and Maris Piper, offer a balance of starch, moisture, and flavor.
You should follow the proper preparation measures like storing, cutting the potatoes properly, and cleaning to get the yummiest results. For perfect homemade french fries, avoid olive oil, maintain the correct number of frying cycles, and use the right preparation method.
So, what’s your favorite potatoes for French fries? Leave a comment below with your answer, and tell us and our readers about your frying techniques for the best results.
I've been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
- How to Get Potatoes to Sprout Eyes: Detailed Growing Guide with 3 Options - July 31, 2023
- Weight of a Medium Potato: Revealed in Detailed Guide - July 29, 2023
- Maris Piper Potatoes: 9 Substitutes You Should Know About - July 27, 2023
Hello! I’m Jessica Zander, a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b), offering virtual consultations across the country and Canada.
I’ve been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
Add comment