Deliciously Simple Homemade Fries!

Fries are a snack or side dish loved by many, but frozen store bought or fast food fries can be expensive and often come with additives. Making your own fries is not only a cheaper option, but also a sure way to know what is added to your food. This post will guide you through how to make homemade fries that are quick, easy, and budget-friendly!

Choosing the Right Potatoes

The first step to great homemade fries is picking the right potatoes. Russet potatoes are the best choice because of their high starch content and low moisture. This combination helps fries become crispier.

I'm not too particular about whether the potatoes are extremely firm, unblemished, or a specific size (though, if you are feeding a family, I tend to find medium to large ones). Let's face it, the baby is crying, I haven't had time for any food preparation, and it's already past 6pm. I choose 3-5 potatoes that appear decent, wash them thoroughly, and proceed from there.

Preparing Potatoes for Frying

Preparation is simple but important. Here’s how to get your potatoes ready:

1. Wash and peel the potatoes if you prefer skinless fries. I personally leave the skin on for a little bit of added nutrients. Make sure to pat off water from fries.

2. Cut into sticks or slices. Most recipes will tell you to cut the fries into a certain size. You absolutely can; however, I tend to cut however my heart desires. This cuts down on some time because you just cut and go. They will all taste yummy, uniform or not.

3. While soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes helps to remove excess starch, more often than not, I do not have the time. Guess what, the fries turn out delicious and crispy. Do what you can with the time you have; no need to stress out over fries.

4. Put them in the oven! Not only does it cut down on oil consumption, but it also gets rid of the hassle of heating up a ton of oil, splatters, and disposing of said oil.

   
   

Cooking Methods for Homemade Fries

As mentioned above, you can fry up those fries in a pot full of oil. However, I am going to tell you about my favorite way... the oven!

Oven-Baked Fries

• Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

• Toss fries with a tablespoon or two of oil and season with your favorite seasonings (on the baking sheet. This will cut down on dishes). I like to use salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, maybe adding in red pepper flakes or chili powder for added flavor. However, this part is very unique to each person as each person has their own favorite seasonings.

• Spread fries in a single layer on a baking sheet.

• Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

• Oven fries tend to be healthier due to being able to control the seasoning and oil put on the fries.

Saving Money with Homemade Fries

Making fries at home saves money in several ways:

• A bag of potatoes costs significantly less than pre-cut frozen fries. Typically, I can get a 10 lb bag of russet potatoes at Aldi for around $4.09.

• Using only 4-5 potatoes, depending on how they're cut, can feed 4+ people easily. They can also be refrigerated and thrown back into the oven for crisping. Or you can incorporate them into breakfast and mix chopped-up fries with scrambled eggs!

Tips for Perfect Fries Every Time

• Make sure to pat the fries dry.

• Only use a tablespoon or two of oil.

• Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. Fries need space to crisp and evenly cook.

• You can cut the fries into wedges, shoestring or just random slices. Either way, it will be delicious.