Best Potatoes for French Fries: Top 3 Options for Making Delicious Fries

Everyone 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!

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.  

[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#00cf77″]

• 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.

[/su_list]

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:

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-circle-right” icon_color=”#00cf77″] 

• Easier slicing;
• Convenient cooking;
• Consistent results. [/su_list]

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:

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-circle-right” icon_color=”#00cf77″] 

• Vitamin C;
• Potassium;
• Fiber & antioxidants;
• Iron. [/su_list]

[su_note note_color=”#9ee7b3″] Note: It would be best to preserve your peels for more beneficial properties. [/su_note]

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:

[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#00cf77″]

• 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.

[/su_list]

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.

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-circle-right” icon_color=”#00cf77″] 

• 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. [/su_list]

[su_note note_color=”#FFBFBF”] Important! Avoid using olive oil, as it leaves a strong flavor on your fries. [/su_note]

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?

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-circle-right” icon_color=”#00cf77″] 

• 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. [/su_list]

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: 

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-circle-right” icon_color=”#00cf77″] 

• 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. [/su_list]

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:

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-circle-right” icon_color=”#00cf77″] 

• 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. [/su_list]

FAQ

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.