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Welcome to your foolproof guide for how to make curly fries! With the help of my secret weapon, a spiralizer, turn regular or sweet potatoes into the crispy homemade French fries just like the fast food menu staple.
Growing up in the Midwest, I had a distinct fast food French fry hierarchy. Coming in third: Wendy’s skin-on fries. Second place goes to the beloved crunchy sticks, McDonald’s fries. And topping them all to earn the first place status in my heart (and stomach)? Arby’s seasoned curly fries.
Delivering maximum surface area to amp up the crunch factor, plus infused with far more flavor than the plain-old-salt-only fries, these homemade curly fries deliver all the cravability I remember from the Arby’s order, just minus the trip to the drive-through or restaurant counter.
You can use a spiralizer for so many tasks; turning zucchini into noodles or cabbage into perfect-for-slaw slices. But my favorite use for the best spiralizer (based on many trials in our test kitchen), this OXO model, is to create a batch of spiralized potatoes or sweet potatoes for fries. Namely, these zesty, crunchy Arby’s copycat curly fries.
If you’re firmly on Team Straight Fries, don’t miss my Homemade French Fries. But chances are the curly fry recipe below is about to convince you to switch sides!
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 and equipment notes
- Russet potatoes: Starchy Russets and Idaho potatoes work well for curly fries. Feel free to leave the skin on, just like Arby’s does (or peel if desired). Either way, give it a good scrub and trim the ends so the potato is stabilized in the spiralizer. Or substitute sweet potatoes.
- Vegetable or canola oil: Opt for a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, vegetable, peanut, or grapeseed for the best frying medium.
- Spiralizer: As I mentioned, I swear by my OXO spiralizer, but any sturdy countertop model will do. For this recipe, look for a 1/4-inch (0.64 cm) blade, sometimes called the “fettuccine” blade.
- Thermometer: Use a digital thermometer to help dial in the oil temperature (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through this link).
Step-by-step instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up, then top with a wire rack. Line a second baking sheet with paper towels. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Fit the spiralizer with a 1/4-inch (0.64 cm) blade. Fit the trimmed potato into the spiralizer, then spiralize the potato completely. Cut any very long spirals into shorter pieces.
- Transfer the spiralized potatoes to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak the potatoes in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes (the longer the better).
- In a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 ½ to 2-inches of oil and heat to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste (I like 1 tablespoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoons pepper). Add 1 cup of water and whisk until a batter forms, adding more water as necessary for a smooth consistency.
- Working in small batches, dry the fries on a kitchen towel to remove excess water. Dredge the fries in the batter, turning until well-coated, then place on wire rack over the rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining fries.
- Fry in batches until the potatoes are golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes (depending on the size of the batch and how consistent the oil temperature is).
- Immediately transfer to baking sheet lined with paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Transfer the cooked curly fries to the oven to keep warm. Return the oil to 375 degrees and repeat with the remaining curly fries.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: My Homemade Curly Fries recipe makes four generous 2-cup side dish servings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The easiest way to reheat curly fries is in an air fryer (an oven works, too).
- Make ahead: The potatoes can be spiralized and stored in water up to 24 hours in advance.
- Frying safety: Use a pot that’s large enough for the oil and potatoes. Be sure to allow space on top of the pot for oil to bubble up. You don’t want it to boil over.
Recipe FAQs
This helps remove excess starch prior to frying so you’re left with crispier results. Soaking the fries also prevents discoloration as well. Allow them to soak for ideally 30 minutes (if you’re short on time, as little as 10 minutes will make a big difference, however). Use a clean kitchen towel to dry them well before coating well in the batter.
The actual frying time depends on how much your oil temperature drops between batches. It might take anywhere from 5 minutes to 10 minutes to fry your potatoes to crisp, lightly browned spirals during the later batches. Aim to keep the temperature around 375 degrees for the most predictable results. At or around that temperature, your curly fries will likely be done in 4 to 5 minutes per batch.
Before you start frying, line a sheet pan with paper towels or a wire rack (this will help oil from pooling below the cooked fries). Once each batch is golden brown, use a stainless steel spider or similar heat-safe tool to remove the fries from the hot oil. Shake off the excess oil over the pan, then transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Season immediately with salt and pop the pan in the oven to keep warm and crispy.
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Curly Fries
Ingredients
- 1 large russet potato about 1 pound, scrubbed, unpeeled, ends trimmed (see note 1)
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups water plus more, for soaking
- 28 ounces vegetable oil or canola oil, plus more, for frying
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up, then top with a wire rack. Line a second baking sheet with paper towels. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Fit the spiralizer with a 1/4-inch (0.64 cm) blade. Fit the trimmed potato into the spiralizer, then spiralize the potato completely. Cut any very long spirals into shorter pieces.
- Transfer the spiralized potatoes to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak the potatoes in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes (the longer the better).
- In a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 ½ to 2-inches of oil and heat to 375 degrees.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste (I like 1 tablespoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoons pepper). Add 1 cup of water and whisk until a batter forms, adding more water as necessary for a smooth consistency.
- Working in small batches, dry the fries on a kitchen towel to remove excess water. Dredge the fries in the batter, turning until well-coated, then place on wire rack over the rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining fries.
- Fry in batches until the potatoes are golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes (depending on the size of the batch and how consistent the oil temperature is). Immediately transfer to baking sheet lined with paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
- Transfer the cooked curly fries to the oven to keep warm. Return the oil to 375 degrees and repeat with the remaining curly fries.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Russet potatoes: Starchy Russets and Idaho potatoes work well for curly fries. Feel free to leave the skin on, just like Arby’s does (or peel if desired). Either way, give it a good scrub and trim the ends so the potato is stabilized in the spiralizer. Or substitute sweet potatoes.
- Vegetable or canola oil: Opt for a neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, vegetable, peanut, or grapeseed for the best frying medium.
- Spiralizer: As I mentioned, I swear by my OXO spiralizer, but any sturdy countertop model will do. For this recipe, look for a 1/4-inch (0.64 cm) blade, sometimes called the “fettuccine” blade.
- Thermometer: Use a digital thermometer to help dial in the oil temperature (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through this link).
- Yield: My Homemade Curly Fries recipe makes four generous 2-cup side dish servings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The easiest way to reheat curly fries is in an air fryer (an oven works, too).
- Make ahead: The potatoes can be spiralized and stored in water up to 24 hours in advance.
Nutrition
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Meggan Hill is the Executive Chef and CEO of Culinary Hill, a popular digital publication in the food space. She loves to combine her Midwestern food memories with her culinary school education to create her own delicious take on modern family fare. Millions of readers visit Culinary Hill each month for meticulously-tested recipes as well as skills and tricks for ingredient prep, cooking ahead, menu planning, and entertaining. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the iCUE Culinary Arts program at College of the Canyons.
Can I make these curly fries without a spiralizer?
Hi Chanel, yes! You can cut the peeled potatoes into spirals by hand, or use a handheld sprializer (I’ve seen them at Walmart and Target). Hope this helps! – Meggan
How do you safely hand cut the potato into spirals?
I’m sorry but not frying them a second time is a crime. Say that to any Belgian guy/gal and you’ll get a slap across the face 🤣
Sounds good, but step 3 is confusing, “Preheat oven to 200ºF. Heat vegetable or canola oil to 350ºF. Working in small batches, dry some of the curly potatoes on kitchen towel to remove excess water, then immediately drop in heated oil.” There’s no further mention of a preheated oven… Is it just for warming as you make the small batches?
Hi, yes the warm oven is just for keeping them warm as you make the batches. Step 4 has “place in oven to keep warm.” But I can see how that might be confusing. These are deep-fried fries, not baked. Thanks! -Meggan
Can I bake curly fries in a hot oven? I do regular French fries all the time
Yes I don’t see why not! Care to share your specs on how you bake the regular fries? If not I’ll add this to my list of recipes to test so I can advise. Thanks Nadine!
When I fry my sprial cut fries they don’t spread out they stay in a clump, what am I doing wrong? Should I soak them in water first?
Do i soak sprial cut potatoes before i fry them?
Hi Sandra, I don’t think soaking them in water will prevent them from clumping. What you need to do is pull them apart before you drop them in the oil (so they aren’t in a clump) and then not overcrowd the fryer (so they don’t clump together). Does that make sense? There are other reasons to soak potatoes in water, but it has to do with removing starch/changing the texture, not preventing clumping. Please let me know if you have any other questions or need more info! Thanks and take care.
Thanks for showing the Chef Works thermometer. I needed a clip for mine (a different brand-pairs with my phone) so I ordered a clip. I somehow missed this post last year. My Mrs loves seasoned, curly fries. Thanks.
That’s sound great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My daughter will love it most :) she love french fired and now I will do curly fired for her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re a good mother, Helen. :)
I’ve yet to use my spiralizer for curly fries (mostly because I’m still a little afraid of frying) but the picture of those loaded fries is making my mouth water so I’m going to have to try this.
My boss loves curly fries. You’ve posted another winner kid. Thanks. :-)
Good morning Dave! It’s important to keep The Boss happy. :) Yeah these fries are just outstanding. The kind of thing that requires lots of “recipe testing” if you know what I mean.
I want. I want it ALL :P Looks so good ..Love what you did with the fries there…the loaded one is killer.
Thanks lady! Yes the loaded fries are totally O.O.C. – Out of Control. ;)