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Steer past the fast food drive-through and whip up three-ingredient Homemade French Fries in a pot, an air fryer, or oven-fry. This two-step technique results in the crispiest DIY French fries.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Potatoes: Starchy Russet and Idaho potatoes are best for homemade fries. Since starches potatoes break down and darken when cooked, the fresher the potato, the better.
- Vegetable oil: Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, peanut, or grapeseed.
Step-by-step instructions
- Soak the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes.
- Drain off the water, spread them out on a few layers of paper towels, and pat dry.
- For the first fry, heat the oil in a Dutch oven or other large pot to 300 degrees. Once the oil is up to temperature, add about a third of the fries (try not to overcrowd the pot) and cook 3 to 4 minutes, until they’re tender. Remove the fries from the oil using a slotted spoon and allow them to drain on paper towels.
- Bring the oil come back to temperature before adding the next batch. Then repeat as you need until all the fries are par-cooked. For the second and final fry, turn the stove up and bring the oil up to 400 degrees. Carefully return a third of the fries to the hot oil and cook until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.
- As they finish, take them out of the pot with a slotted spoon and let them drain on paper towels while you cook the remaining potatoes. Season the hot fries with salt and pepper (or any spice mix or seasoning blend) and serve.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: 2 pounds of potatoes yields roughly 14 ounces of homemade fries; four 3 1/2-ounce servings.
- Storage: Homemade French Fries are best enjoyed hot, as soon as possible after cooking.
- Leftovers: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees.
- Different oil temperatures: This recipe works because the lower temperature (300 degrees) cooks the inside of the potato, and the second, higher temperature (400 degrees) crisps up the outside.
- Freezing: Freeze par-cooked potato shoestrings on a baking sheet that fits in your freezer. Arrange them in a single layer, without touching. When frozen, place them in a zip-top bag, then label with the recipe name and date. Cook within 1 month.
- Make ahead: If desired, par-cook the fries in oil a few hours before you plan to eat, then complete the final fry right before mealtime.
- Frying safety: Use a pot that is large enough for the potatoes and allows and that space on top of the pot for oil to bubble up.
- Thermometer: Safely monitor the oil as you cook with a digital thermometer.
- Thick fries/thin fries: Slice with a knife or a French fry cutters out there. To keep the cooking time short, aim for 1/4-inch thick pieces of potato. Cut thicker if desired, just adjust the cooking time as needed to cook through.
- Oven: Place a wire rack inside a baking sheet and place in the oven set to 200 degrees. This will act as a warm holding area for early batches of fries.
More fried foods to try
Chicken and Turkey Recipes
Fried Chicken
Appetizer Recipes
Fried Cheese Curds
Mardi Gras Recipes
Fried Green Tomatoes with Remoulade
Beef Recipes
Chicken Fried Steak
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Homemade French Fries
Steer past the fast food drive-through and whip up three-ingredient Homemade French Fries in a pot, an air fryer, or oven-fry. This two-step technique results in the crispiest DIY French fries.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes cut lengthwise into evenly sized 1/4- inch matchsticks
- 5 cups vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
To soak the potatoes:
- Place the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water. Allow to soak for 30 minutes.
- Drain potatoes. Place the potatoes on a layer of paper towels and pat dry.
To fry the french fries:
- In a large Dutch oven or deep pot over medium-high heat, bring oil to 300 degrees.
- Place ⅓ of the potatoes in the oil, taking care to not overcrowd, and cook until tender about 3-4 minutes. Remove from oil using a slotted spoon and place on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining potatoes.
- Increase the temperature of the oil to 400 degrees. Place ⅓ of the potatoes back in the pot, frying until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from oil using a slotted spoon and place fries on paper towels. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
To bake the french fries:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil.
- Place potatoes in a single layer on wire rack. Bake until fries begin to crisp, about 20 minutes.
- Toss fries and return to oven. Bake until fries are golden brown and crispy, about 15 minutes more. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.
To fry in air fryer:
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees. Stack potatoes in a double layer in the fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove basket and flip fries. Continue to fry until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
- Place fries into bowl and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Potatoes: Starchy Russet and Idaho potatoes are best for homemade fries. Since starches potatoes break down and darken when cooked, the fresher the potato, the better.
- Vegetable oil: Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, peanut, or grapeseed.
- Yield: 2 pounds of potatoes yields roughly 14 ounces of homemade fries; four 3 1/2-ounce servings.
- Storage: Homemade French Fries are best enjoyed hot, as soon as possible after cooking.
- Leftovers: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees.
- Different oil temperatures: This recipe works because the lower temperature (300 degrees) cooks the inside of the potato, and the second, higher temperature (400 degrees) crisps up the outside.
- Freezing: Freeze par-cooked potato shoestrings on a baking sheet that fits in your freezer. Arrange them in a single layer, without touching. When frozen, place them in a zip-top bag, then label with the recipe name and date. Cook within 1 month.
- Make-ahead: If desired, par-cook the fries in oil a few hours before you plan to eat, then complete the final fry right before mealtime.
- Frying safety: Use a pot that is large enough for the potatoes and allows and that space on top of the pot for oil to bubble up.
- Thermometer: Safely monitor the oil as you cook with a digital thermometer.
- Thick fries/thin fries: Slice with a knife or a French fry cutters out there. To keep the cooking time short, aim for 1/4-inch thick pieces of potato. Cut thicker if desired, just adjust the cooking time as needed to cook through.
- Oven: Place a wire rack inside a baking sheet and place in the oven set to 200 degrees. This will act as a warm holding area for early batches of fries.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 373kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 709mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 2mg
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
Hey I have one for you simple French fries use rustic Idaho potatos do not peel wash potatos with brush next place potato on cutting board long ways cut a small piece of potato off bottom of potato will sit flat on board ( YOU HAVE CONTROL OF POTATO SO IT WON’T TRY AND ROLL ON YOU SAFETY SO YOU DON’T CUT YOUR FINGERS OFF) NEXT cut your fries accordingly steak or shoestring rinse potato cuttings in Callender to get starch off potato transfer to bowl of ice water let sit for about 30 minutes drain water place potatos on dry dish cloth remove as much water as posable now here’s where the MAGIC STARTS place potatos in your pot of cold cooking oil ( I use peanut oil ) turn stove on high and let er go cook until done