6 Delicious Ways to Make Crispy French Fries at Home

Alongside mixed rice paper, french fries are a beloved national snack enjoyed by many. Thanks to their crispy texture and delicious flavor, this dish is often used as an appetizer or paired with main courses. In today's article, Mytour Blog will share detailed information about 6 simple ways to make crispy french fries at home using easily accessible ingredients.

1. Traditional French Fry Recipe

Traditional french fries are a popular and beloved dish worldwide. Thanks to their easy-to-eat flavor and rich, savory aroma, french fries awaken the taste buds and appeal to the palates of many, regardless of age or culinary preference. Making crispy french fries at home is also quite simple, without involving many complex steps. Here's how to do it:

Ingredients for Making French Fries

• 3 - 4 potatoes
• Vegetable oil
• Salt
• Dipping sauce options: mayonnaise, ketchup, BBQ sauce

Steps to Make Traditional French Fries

• Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
  • After thoroughly washing the potatoes with salt water, peel them completely.
  • Cut the potatoes into long pieces, about 1-1.5 cm thick. Try to keep the size of the potato pieces consistent.
• Step 2: Soak the Potatoes
  • To reduce the starch on the surface of the potatoes and make them crispier when frying, you can soak the potatoes in cold water for about 30 minutes and then drain them.
  • Use a clean paper towel to dry the potatoes.
• Step 3: Fry the Potatoes
  • Pour oil into a pan to completely cover the surface of the potatoes and heat the oil. When the oil reaches the right temperature (about 175-180°C), add the potato pieces to the frying pan.
  • Fry until the potatoes are golden and crispy (about 5-6 minutes). Then, remove the potatoes and place them on a paper towel or tray lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Finishing and Enjoying

French fries when cooked have a very attractive turmeric yellow color on the plate. Before the fries cool down, sprinkle some salt on the surface. You can enjoy this dish with chili sauce or BBQ sauce as an appetizer to stimulate your taste buds.

2. Making Crispy French Fries with Crispy Batter

Crispy batter consists of flour and other crispy ingredients, creating a crunchy crust for the dish. Additionally, this type of batter has an appealing color, providing an attractive golden crust for the fries. Making crispy French fries with batter at home is also quite simple, just follow the steps below: 

Ingredients for Crispy French Fries

• 2 potatoes
• 50g cornstarch
• 50g wheat flour
• 20g white sesame seeds
• Seasonings: sugar, cooking oil, salt

Steps to Make Crispy French Fries

• Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
  • After purchasing potatoes, prepare a diluted salt solution to wash off any dirt on the skins. Then, cut the potatoes into medium-sized chunks.
  • Prepare a mixture of wheat flour and salt in a bowl, then soak the potato chunks in the mixture for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the potatoes from the mixture and rinse with clean water.
• Step 2: Coat the Potatoes with Sesame Seeds and Flour
  • Place all the potato chunks in a large bowl, then add sugar and salt and mix well by hand. 
  • Continue by adding the remaining wheat flour and cornstarch. Then, add white sesame seeds and mix the mixture with the potatoes to evenly coat the outer layer of the potatoes with the batter.
• Step 3: Fry the Potatoes
  • Heat about 100ml of cooking oil in a deep pan over high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the potatoes for frying.
  • Fry the potatoes on medium heat until they are evenly cooked and have a beautiful golden color, then turn off the heat and remove the potatoes to drain excess oil.

The above steps are also similar to making sweet potato fries. Therefore, if you don't have potatoes, you can replace them with sweet potatoes.

Completion and Enjoyment

Arrange the golden and crispy battered potatoes on a plate and start enjoying. While eating, you can use ketchup or BBQ sauce to enhance the flavor and make the dish more appetizing. 

3. Making Crispy French Fries with Tempura Batter

Tempura batter typically contains ingredients such as flour, baking powder, cornstarch, etc. This helps create a crispy and fluffy outer layer for the fries, providing a satisfying mouthfeel when chewed. This type of batter also adheres well to the surface of the potatoes, preventing it from falling off during frying. Moreover, tempura batter absorbs oil better, resulting in fries that are more flavorful and delicious. If you're looking for a way to make French fries with flour and tempura batter, then follow these steps: 

Ingredients for Making Tempura French Fries

• 2 eggs 
• 2 large potatoes
• 200g tempura batter
• 230g flour
• 50ml fresh milk
• Seasonings: pepper, cooking oil, salt.

Steps to Make Tempura Potato Wedges

• Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
  • After purchasing potatoes, remove the outer layer of dirt by soaking them in diluted saltwater. Then, peel the potatoes.
  • Peel the potatoes and place them in a pot of boiling water with a little salt. When the potatoes are cooked, remove them and mash them finely with a fork.
• Step 2: Mix and Shape the Potato Mixture
  • In a bowl, add 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of flour, unsweetened fresh milk, a little salt, ground pepper, and finely mashed potatoes, then mix well by hand.
  • Use clean hands to mold the mixture into long potato wedges.
  • Prepare three separate bowls. Pour flour, beaten egg yolks, and tempura batter into each bowl, respectively. Then, roll each potato wedge in each bowl to evenly coat them with egg and flour.
• Step 3: Fry the Potatoes
  • Heat oil in a deep pan over high heat until it starts to boil. Then, fry each potato wedge until golden and crispy on all sides.
  • Remove the potatoes and place them on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Finishing and Enjoying

The crispy potato wedges with tempura batter are arranged on a plate alongside a bit of tomato ketchup to serve as an appetizer for the family meal. The potatoes have a rich and savory flavor, combined with the crispy tempura coating that keeps them deliciously crunchy on the inside, creating a unique taste experience.

4. How to Make Butter Fried Potatoes

Butter has a distinctive rich and creamy flavor. When using butter to fry potatoes, they absorb and carry the buttery taste, creating a unique and enticing flavor. Butter is a common and widely available ingredient in the kitchen, easily found in most stores and supermarkets, so you don't have to worry during the process of making simple butter-fried potatoes as follows:

Ingredients for Butter Fried Potatoes

• 500g potatoes
• 1 box of 400g butter
• 1 packet of crispy frying flour
• Seasonings: salt, sugar, pepper, cooking oil

Steps to Make Butter Fried Potatoes

• Step 1: Prepare Potatoes
  • After purchasing potatoes, they still have dirt on the outside, so you need to clean them by soaking them in diluted salt water. Then, peel off the entire potato skin and cut them into evenly sized long pieces.
  • Prepare a large bowl of diluted salt water. Then, soak the sliced potatoes in it for about 5 minutes and then drain.
• Step 2: Partially Boil Potatoes
  • Bring 200ml of water to a boil in a pot on the stove. Once the water boils, add the potatoes to partially boil them. You can add a little sugar and salt to make the potatoes easier to fry.
  • After partially boiling the potatoes, remove them from the pot and soak them in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain.
• Step 3: Fry Potatoes
  • Dip the fried potato pieces into a layer of crispy frying flour to evenly coat them with flour on all sides.
  • Add oil to a deep pan and heat it over high heat. Once the oil is hot and bubbling, add the potatoes and fry them until crispy and golden brown on all sides. Then, remove the potatoes and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
• Step 4: Fry Potatoes with Butter
  • Melt the butter completely in the hot oil in a pan. Then, add the fried potatoes and toss them evenly to coat the crispy fried potato skins with butter.

Completion and Enjoyment

Butter-fried potatoes not only create a beautiful golden crust but also bring a rich and slightly nutty flavor when eaten. When frying potatoes with butter, the butter will melt and penetrate deeply into the surface of the potatoes, carrying the distinctive and delicious flavor of butter. You can pair this dish with sour cream sauce to enhance its flavor.

5. How to Make Crispy Thinly Sliced Fried Potatoes

When potatoes are thinly sliced, the surface area exposed to frying oil increases, allowing the potatoes to achieve a desired crispiness. Additionally, uniformly thin potato slices ensure even cooking, preventing uneven browning or undercooking common with thicker slices. Making crispy thinly sliced fried potatoes doesn't involve many steps, as follows: 

Ingredients for Making Crispy Thinly Sliced Fried Potatoes

• 500g fresh potatoes
• 3 tablespoons of cheese powder
• Seasonings: cooking oil, salt, chili sauce, mayonnaise

Steps to Make Thinly Sliced Fried Potatoes

• Step 1: Prepare and Slice the Potatoes
  • After cleaning the potatoes with diluted salt water, peel off the outer layer of dirt. Then, use a potato peeler to slice the potatoes into thin pieces.
  • While peeling the potatoes, remember to prepare another bowl of diluted salt water for soaking the potatoes simultaneously.
  • After slicing the potatoes, soak them for an additional 5 minutes before draining.
• Step 2: Fry the Potatoes
  • Pour oil into a deep frying pan and wait until it reaches boiling point before adding the potatoes to fry.
  • When the potato slices curl up and turn evenly golden, remove them from the oil and drain.
• Step 3: Sprinkle with Cheese Powder
  • Sprinkle a little cheese powder over the fried potato slices.

Completion and Enjoyment

Thinly sliced crispy fried potatoes paired with the rich taste of cheese create an intriguing combination. The crunchiness of the potatoes and the creaminess of the cheese blend together to achieve a harmonious balance.

6. How to Make Air Fryer Potato Chips

One of the key advantages of using an air fryer is that you can fry potatoes with less oil compared to traditional methods while still achieving a delicious crispiness. Making crispy fried potatoes with an air fryer is similar to the traditional method, as follows:

Ingredients for Air Fryer Potato Chips

• 3 – 4 potatoes
• Vegetable oil
• Butter, salt to taste

Steps to Make Air Fryer Potato Chips

• Step 1: Prepare the potatoes
  • After washing and peeling the potatoes, cut them into evenly-sized long pieces.
  • Soak the potatoes in a bowl of diluted saltwater to prevent browning. After 5 - 10 minutes, rinse the potatoes with water.
  • Parboil the potato pieces, then transfer them to a bowl of cold water and drain.
• Step 2: Air fry the potatoes
  • Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the bowl of potatoes and mix well to coat.
  • Prepare the air fryer, place the potatoes inside, and set the temperature to 180°C. Air fry for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the potatoes, add a layer of butter on top, and continue air frying at the same temperature for another 5 minutes.
  • Finally, remove the potatoes from the air fryer when they are evenly cooked.

Finish and Enjoy

Air-fried potatoes with an air fryer have a naturally sweet and buttery flavor, without feeling greasy like traditional frying methods. This makes it a suitable method for those pursuing a low-calorie diet. 

Tip for Making Crispy Potato Chips Last Longer

One of the tricks to ensure that your fried potato chips remain irresistibly crispy is to make them last longer. Maintaining their crispiness prevents the potatoes from becoming soggy, avoiding that greasy feeling when eating. Here are some ways to achieve long-lasting crispiness for this dish that you should consider:

Secrets to Selecting Fresh and Delicious Potatoes

Potatoes contain a relatively high amount of starch. To maintain their crispiness after frying, it's essential to avoid purchasing potatoes that are starting to sprout. Potatoes with black spots on the surface or signs of spoilage are not fresh and should be avoided at all costs.

How to Peel Potatoes Without Darkening

Due to their high starch content, potatoes are prone to oxidation when exposed to air for too long, resulting in darkening on the surface. To prevent this, soak the potatoes in a dilute salt solution when cutting them.

Optimal Oil Level and Heat

Excessive heat or too much oil can make the potatoes greasy, unevenly cooked, and lacking the desired crispiness after frying. Therefore, during cooking, it's important to adjust the oil level and fry the potatoes at the right temperature.

Pre-Boil the Potatoes Before Frying

Pre-boiling the potatoes before frying can help soften the interior of the potatoes and at the same time reduce frying time. This is particularly useful when using potatoes with thick skins or when you want to ensure that the potatoes are fully cooked and crispy inside after frying.

Double-Fry Technique for Potato Fries

Double-frying potato fries is a widely used technique to achieve a crispy outer layer and soft interior of the fries. This method ensures that each piece of potato is evenly fried and has an appealing color.

Commonly Asked Questions about 'French Fries'

1. Nutritional Value of Fried Potatoes

On average, 100g of fried potatoes contains: 18.5g Carbs, 13.1g Fat, 1.6g Fiber, 1.93g Protein, 9.7mg Vitamin C, 0.265mg Vitamin B6, 16.3mcg Vitamin K.

2. How many calories in French fries?

The way potatoes are prepared significantly affects the calorie content. For example, for every 100 grams of French fries:

• Frozen French fries have 224 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 296 milligrams of sodium.
• McDonald’s French fries provide 323 calories, 15.5 grams of fat, and 189 milligrams of sodium.
• Burger King French fries contain 280 calories, 12.5 grams of fat, and 279 milligrams of sodium.
• Fries from restaurants will deliver around 289 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 357 milligrams of sodium.

3. Are French fries fattening?

French fries top the list of fast weight-gaining foods due to their high calorie content, high salt content, and large amount of fat. According to nutrition experts' advice, even those with balanced and firm bodies need to limit consumption of this food too much if they want to maintain weight and control body fat.

4. What are the health benefits of French fries?

If you consume French fries in moderation, you can still reap some benefits, such as:

• Supporting immune system: Potatoes contain vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that can improve immune function by promoting the formation and repair of connective tissues in the body. However, to maximize vitamin C absorption, it's advisable to combine French fries with vitamin C-rich vegetables.
• Supporting brain development: Thanks to the vitamin B6 content, potatoes can be beneficial for brain development. However, to ensure adequate vitamin B6 absorption, it's recommended to pair French fries with other vitamin B6-rich foods such as organ meats, fish, and poultry.
• Antioxidant properties: Potatoes contain various antioxidants such as Chlorogenic Acid, Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, and Caffeic Acid. These compounds help repair cells damaged by oxidative stress, thereby preventing some chronic diseases.

5. Who should avoid eating French fries?

Although delicious, French fries are not entirely beneficial for health. The following groups should limit or avoid consuming this food: pregnant women, hypertensive patients, individuals with diabetes, and those with heart disease.

This article has shared with you how to make french fries easily at home with easy-to-find ingredients. Hopefully, after reading, you will find a suitable recipe and learn some tips to keep the fries crispier for longer. To discover more ways to cook other snacks, don't forget to follow the articles on Mytour's Blog!