MMMMMMMM…..French fries. We all love them, but the health benefits are pretty hard to come by. It’s too bad that something that tastes so good is not also good for you. But isn’t that always the case? It doesn’t matter if you get the fast food kind, or a fancy fry from a more upscale establishment, they’re all at least a little bit bad for you. One of the only ways to enjoy this food without worrying about how bad they are for you is to make them at home. Now this can seem like an impossible task, but it can be really easy to make your own french fries if you have the right tools.
Are French Fries Really Bad For You?
Sometimes yes, and sometimes… not so much. The healthiness of French fries can be a matter of perspective and preparation. There are a variety of ways to prepare them, and some will be more healthy than others. Raw ingredient quality is important when determining how healthy your fries are, but here are some factors to consider:
- Nutrition: French fries are typically made from potatoes, which are a good source of essential nutrients like potassium and vitamin C. However, they are often deep-fried in oil, which adds a significant amount of calories and unhealthy fats to the dish. The preparation method and the type of oil used can affect the nutritional content.
- Calories: French fries are calorie-dense, and consuming them in excess can contribute to weight gain. The size of the serving and the way they are cooked (deep-fried, baked, or air-fried) can significantly impact their calorie content.
- Fats: Deep-fried French fries can be high in trans fats and saturated fats, which are associated with health issues like heart disease when consumed in excess. Healthier cooking methods, such as baking or air frying, can reduce the fat content.
- Salt and Seasonings: Many French fries are seasoned with salt and other flavorings, which can contribute to high sodium intake. Excessive salt consumption is linked to health problems like high blood pressure.
- Acrylamide: When potatoes are cooked at high temperatures, such as frying, they can produce acrylamide, a potentially harmful chemical. While research is ongoing, it’s best to avoid overcooking or burning French fries.
- Portion Control: Enjoying French fries in moderation as an occasional treat is a healthier approach than consuming them regularly in large quantities.
To make French fries healthier, you can consider alternatives like oven-baking or air-frying with minimal oil, using sweet potatoes for added nutrients, and being mindful of portion sizes. Additionally, you can reduce the amount of salt and use various seasonings to enhance flavor without excessive sodium.
Ultimately, whether French fries are considered healthy or not depends on how they are prepared, consumed, and as part of an overall balanced diet.
Fried or Baked?
When you get french fries at a restaurant, they’re almost always fried. We all know how healthy fried food is, so if you can avoid frying your french fries, you’ll cut out most of the bad stuff. Cooking oil is loaded with fat, and when submerged, for cooking, the potatoes will absorb it, and retain much of the fat. Once you take that first delicious bite, you begin ingesting all of that fat, and it’s hard to stop because they taste so darn good. There are also detrimental carcinogens that are created when you cook french fries at such a high temperature.
This being the case, one of the best ways to make french fries healthier is to bake them instead of frying. Many people might think that you can just buy a bag at the store in the frozen food isle, and take them home to bake and you are all set, but frozen vegetables are no where near as flavorful as fresh ones, and almost all of those frozen fries have actually been cooked a little bit prior to going in that bag. And guess what they cook them in? You guessed it. Oil. They are actually fried before being packaged, so the only real way to prevent your fries from being fried is to make them yourself from scratch.
How To Make Homemade French Fries
Read below to learn about the basic steps for prepping and cooking homemade french fries. You can easily modify this recipe to suit your own tastes, needs and ingredients, but you can use it as a basic outline to get started. After the how-to, we’ll go into more detail about cutting the potatoes and cooking the fries. There are tools and techniques you can use as an option to speed up the process, make it easier to accomplish, and help to reduce the amount of fat involved.
Homemade French fries are a delicious treat, and making them from scratch is quite simple. Here’s a basic recipe for making crispy homemade French fries:
Ingredients:
- Potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold are good choices)
- Cooking oil (such as vegetable oil or canola oil)
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions:
- Select and Prepare the Potatoes:
- Choose potatoes that are uniform in size and not too big. You can leave the skins on for added texture and flavor or peel them if you prefer.
- Wash the potatoes thoroughly and dry them with a clean kitchen towel.
- Cut the Potatoes:
- Slice the potatoes into even-sized strips, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. You can also cut them into traditional fry shapes or thicker steak fries, depending on your preference.
- Rinse and Soak:
- Place the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove excess starch and ensures a crispier texture.
- Preheat the Oil:
- In a large, deep saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the cooking oil to 325-350°F (165-175°C). You’ll need enough oil to submerge the fries.
- Blot Dry:
- Drain the soaked potatoes and pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Fry the Potatoes:
- Carefully add a batch of the potato strips to the hot oil. Don’t overcrowd the pot; work in batches for even cooking.
- Fry for about 2-3 minutes, or until the potatoes are lightly golden but not yet crispy.
- Remove the fries with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate or tray to drain any excess oil.
- Increase the Heat:
- Increase the oil temperature to 375-380°F (190-195°C).
- Fry Again:
- Return the partially cooked fries to the hot oil in batches and fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Drain and Season:
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the fries from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain.
- Season the hot fries with salt or any other preferred seasonings.
- Serve Immediately:
- Homemade French fries are best when served immediately while they’re still hot and crispy. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces.
Feel free to experiment with seasonings and dipping sauces to create your own unique twist on classic French fries.
What About Baking?
Baking French fries in the oven is a healthier alternative to deep-frying and can still result in delicious, crispy fries. Here’s how to make oven-baked French fries:
Ingredients:
- Potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold)
- Cooking oil (olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Optional seasonings like paprika, garlic powder, or rosemary
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Use the convection setting if available for more even cooking.
- Prepare the Potatoes:
- Wash and peel the potatoes if desired, or leave the skins on for a more rustic texture. Cut the potatoes into even-sized strips, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.
- Rinse and Dry:
- Rinse the cut potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch. Pat them dry with a kitchen towel to minimize moisture.
- Coat with Oil:
- In a large bowl, toss the potato strips with a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil to lightly coat them. This helps achieve crispiness.
- Seasoning:
- Season the potatoes with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add other seasonings like paprika, garlic powder, or rosemary for added flavor.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet:
- Place the seasoned potato strips in a single layer on a baking sheet. Be sure not to overcrowd the fries; use multiple baking sheets if necessary for even cooking.
- Bake in the Oven:
- Bake the fries in the preheated oven for about 25-35 minutes. Check and turn them over after the first 15 minutes to ensure even browning.
- Crisping Up:
- If you want extra crispiness, you can broil the fries for the last 2-3 minutes, but keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
- Serve Hot:
- Remove the baked French fries from the oven when they’re golden brown and crispy. Serve them immediately while they’re hot and enjoy with your favorite condiments or dipping sauces.
Oven-baked French fries are a healthier option and can be just as tasty as their deep-fried counterparts. You can also adjust the seasonings to your liking to create various flavor profiles.
Cutting Is The Hard Part
Although many people do it, and think that it’s fun, we would not advise cutting your homemade french fries by hand. For most of us, it would take forever, and we would never get the uniform results that we want without spending a ridiculous amount of time on it. If you cut french fries with a knife, you would probably do it once, and then wonder what you were thinking afterward. You may even drive yourself crazy before you’re able to complete the task at all. In order to come up with a pan full of perfectly sliced potatoes, you could literally spend hours, which is not fun, and really takes all of the joy out of this salty and delicious treat.
Cutting By Hand With a Knife
Although it’s not the most fun, it is the technique that pretty much everyone can try right away. All you need is a sharp knife to get started, so if you want some fries right now, and you don’t have a better tool to use, cutting by hand will be your only option. Make sure to use care because similar sized pieces are key to proper cooking. If you follow the guide below you should be able to cut french fries into uniform strips for the crispiest and most even results:
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Choose the Right Potatoes:
- Select potatoes suitable for making French fries. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are often preferred due to their starch content, which results in a crispier exterior and a fluffy interior.
- Peel (Optional):
- You can peel the potatoes if you prefer, but leaving the skins on can provide a rustic texture and extra nutrients.
- Cut Off the Ends:
- Trim a small slice off both ends of the potato to create flat surfaces. This makes it easier to stabilize the potato while cutting.
- Slice into Planks:
- Lay the potato on one of its flat ends and slice it lengthwise into planks or slabs. The thickness of these planks will determine the width of your fries. Aim for 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick planks.
- Stack and Slice into Strips:
- Take a few planks and stack them on top of each other. Now, cut the stacked planks into strips of the desired width, and try to keep the strips as uniform as possible for even cooking.
- Check for Consistency:
- It’s important to ensure that all your strips are of a similar size. You can use a ruler or simply compare them visually to maintain consistency.
- Rinse and Dry:
- Rinse the cut potato strips in cold water to remove excess starch. After rinsing, pat them dry with a kitchen towel to remove any moisture because dry fries will become crispier when cooked.
Now that you’ve successfully cut your potatoes into French fry strips, you can proceed to cook them using your preferred method, whether that’s deep-frying, oven-baking, or air-frying. The consistent size and shape of the fries will help ensure that they cook evenly and turn out golden and delicious.
Other Ways To Cut French Fries
Cutting French fries can be made more efficient and consistent with the use of specialized tools. Some popular tools for cutting French fries include:
- French Fry Cutter: This tool is designed specifically for cutting potatoes into uniform fry shapes. It typically has a grid of sharp blades that you can push a potato through to create even strips. There are various types, from manual to commercial-grade.
- Mandoline Slicer: A mandoline slicer with a julienne attachment can be used to cut potatoes into thin, even strips. You can adjust the thickness to get the desired size for your fries.
- Food Processor: Some food processors come with slicing or shredding attachments that can be used to cut potatoes into fry shapes quickly. These attachments can save time and provide consistency.
- Knife and Cutting Guide: If you prefer to use a regular knife, a cutting guide or a French fry cutter accessory can help you make uniform slices. Place the guide over the potato and cut along its slots.
- Clever Cutter: This is a two-in-one knife and cutting board tool that can be used to cut potatoes into fries. It’s handy for small-scale slicing.
- Box Grater: Some box graters come with a julienne blade on one side, and it might not be as efficient as a dedicated French fry cutter, but it gets the job done. You can use this side to julienne the potatoes into French fry shapes.
- DIY Template: If you’re feeling crafty, you can create a template by cutting a piece of cardboard into the desired French fry size. Place it on top of the potato and use a knife to cut along the edges of the template, and help you achieve uniform fries.
The choice of tool depends on your preferences and the quantity of French fries you plan to make. Specialized tools like French fry cutters and mandoline slicers are great for making large batches quickly and with uniformity. If you’re making fries occasionally or in smaller quantities, a knife and cutting guide may be sufficient. Always exercise caution and follow safety guidelines when using sharp tools.
How To Use A French Fry Cutter
If you have a grid-style cutter designed for cutting several fries at once, it can really speed up this job. You won’t be able to use it for anything else, but for this job, it will help you to cut potatoes into a uniform size and shape with ease.
There are several tools you can use to make the process of cutting French fries easier and more consistent. One of the most popular tools for this purpose is a French fry cutter. Here’s how to use a French fry cutter:
Instructions:
- Prepare the Potatoes:
- Wash and peel (if desired) the potatoes. You can leave the skin on for a rustic texture.
- Cut the Ends:
- Slice a small portion off both ends of the potato to create flat surfaces for stability.
- Attach the French Fry Cutter:
- Secure the French fry cutter to a clean, flat surface. Many models come with a suction base to keep them in place.
- Load the Potato:
- Place one of the flat ends of the potato onto the cutter’s platform, ensuring it’s centered.
- Push Down:
- Firmly press down on the lever or handle to force the potato through the blades. The result will be uniform French fry strips.
- Repeat:
- Continue the process with the remaining potatoes, pushing them through the cutter to create the desired quantity of French fries.
Using a French fry cutter is a convenient and efficient way to cut your potatoes into uniform strips. It not only saves time but also ensures that your fries will cook evenly, resulting in a crispy and delicious final product. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific French fry cutter for the best results.
A Fast And Easy Way To Cut Your Own French Fries
In order to realistically make your own french fries at home, you will want to have the proper tool. You could go out and get one of those commercial grade french fry cutters that restaurants use, but it is only good for one task, and lets face it, none of us like french fries enough to justify that. Of course if you are planning on going into the french fry business then by all means go right ahead and look for one of those. Most of us would prefer a great kitchen tool that can do all sorts of cool stuff, one of them being cut shoestring french fries. The Borner V-Slicer is just such a tool. It is a high quality mandolin slicer that can slice, dice, chop, julienne, and yes….cut french fries.
The V-Slicer is incredibly easy to use, and can cut tons of fries in a short amount of time. The super sharp German steel blade makes quick work of the hardest vegetables. It is so sharp that it comes with a safety food holder that allows you to cut every last piece of food without risking a finger. The same technique that will get you french fries, will also allow you to make veggie sticks of all varieties. You can also slice tomatoes, dice onions, and all sorts of other jobs too. Buy it to make fries, and end up using it more for all of the other stuff it does well. This great mandolin works better than similar units with a price tag four times as high.
Step By Step Instructions
- To prepare for cutting your fries using the v-slicer, or a similar mandolin, simply wash your potato and peel if desired.
- Once the potatoes are peeled and/or cleaned, insert one potato into the food holder. It will be held securely in place by the metal prongs that stick into the vegetable you’re cutting.
- In order to turn the potato in to sticks, you’ll need to insert one of the two julienne blade inserts it comes with. The difference in the two blades is the width of the cut, so choose your favorite thickness of fry and insert that blade. Most folks will want the larger blade size, but some of you like them extra thin.
- Once the blade is secure, just set the slicer on the counter so that you’re holding it with one hand, and the bottom feet are resting on the counter. Placing it over a plate, cutting board or in a bowl will help with collection, and you could even slice right out onto your baking sheet for convenience.
- As an option, there is also a slice and serve bowl designed to work with the V-Slicer so it rests securely and everything falls inside.
- To slice, pick up the potato in the safety food holder with your dominant hand, and steady the slicer with your other one. To slice, simply slide the potatoe down the face of the unit, and continue with a back and forth motion until the whole potato has been cut.
- You will notice that the blade insert will cut vertically into the potato to form strips, and at the same time the v-shaped blade will cut horizontally across the spud to complete the cut. Just a single pass will result in several fries, perfectly cut, all at once.
- After you’re done with one potato, reload the holder and follow the same steps until you have the portion size you need. It should only take a matter of seconds to reduce each potato to uniform strips, so a family size portion can be prepared in just minutes.
- With the V-Slicer, you’re able to achieve uniform, professional looking results without any skill, and very little effort. This slicer is so easy to use, that it makes it simple for anyone to make their own french fries right at home.
- The blade is incredibly sharp so even potatoes cut quickly and cleanly with this slicer.
- Once finished, hand wash or place in the dishwasher, and then proceed below for cooking instructions.
Finishing Your Fries
Once cut, it’s time to cook your fries. Now you could certainly deep fry or pan fry them if you wish, but to make a healthier fry you will want to bake them in the oven. Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. You can drizzle with olive oil, and add salt, pepper and any other spices that you like. Once that is done, simply pop them into a preheated oven and cook away. For best results, you will want to cook them at a high temperature in the 400 degree range. Cooking times will vary depending on thickness, but basically you want to cook them until they are a nice golden brown. After they are cooked, take them out and enjoy with a nice side of ketchup.
With the V-slicer from Borner, this and many other intricate tasks are made super easy. It’s an incredibly useful tool that will not only allow you to slice perfect french fries from raw potatoes, but so many other jobs too. Make uniform orange slices, cut onions and tomatoes for cheeseburgers, slice veggie sticks, or even dice an onion. Soft or hard veggies, it doesn’t matter. The V-Slicer will cut them perfectly without squishing, bruising, breaking or anything else.
Don’t stuff your face with unhealthy fast food fries, but do stuff your face with fries. French fries are almost always delicious, and when you make your own at home, you can make them taste perfect, and you can make them as healthy, or unhealthy as you want. It can take time to cut the potatoes into strips if you don’t have the right tool, but otherwise, this is a simple task that anyone can do themselves. Skip the bag in the freezer, and don’t drive to a restaurant. Pull out a bag of fresh spuds and quickly make some homemade french fries instead.
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