These easy homemade french fries need three ingredients: potatoes, frying oil, and salt. They take 15 minutes from start to finish and go well with burgers, kabobs, and sandwiches.
If you like potatoes as a side dish, check out these fried garlic and cilantro cubed potatoes (batata harra) or these oven-roasted baby gold butter potatoes.
What You'll Love
Homemade french fries are a great side dish to make. The best fries are the ones that taste great and require little effort. I have been making this side dish for decades and share all my tips and tricks to get the best homemade french fries.
Also, if you want alternative methods for making french fries without deep frying, check out the air fryer and oven options below.
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh potatoes: I prefer golden, Yukon gold, Russet potatoes, or any white potatoes. Sweet potatoes and red potatoes are also an option.
- Oil for frying: I recommend an oil meant for frying foods (like vegetable oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil) because it has a high smoke point.
- Salt: I prefer flaked salt or sea salt.
- Optional: Add some freshly grated parmesan, rosemary, or truffle oil to take these up a notch.
How To Make Homemade French Fries
Peel the potato.
Cut potatoes into finger-sized fries with a sharp knife. Try to keep the french fries the same size so they cook evenly.
Heat oil in a high rimmed pot. Test that the oil is hot enough by dipping a fry in it. If the oil bubbles, it's ready for the cut fries. Delicately lower the fries into the hot oil, enough to form a single layer.
Don't mix the french fries. Once the french fries stop bubbling, mix one time.
Once the fries have floated to the top and turned golden brown, remove with a frying spatula or slotted spoon. The cooking time varies based on several factors, but the fries should take about 5 minutes to fry.
Place the fried potatoes on a plate lined with paper towels. Salt as desired.
Serve immediately with beef shish kabobs, chicken tawook, toum garlic sauce, homemade burgers, or kafta kabobs.
Tips and Tricks
- Cut the fries into the right thickness. Peel and cut into semi-thin fries. You don't want them to be too thin that they overcook, and you don't want them to be too thick where they are soggy.
- Use a high-rimmed pot. Once upon a time, I made the mistake of trying to fry potatoes in a small pot. The oil boiled over once I added the potatoes (because they have moisture), and I set my stove on fire. If you ever encounter something similar, do not add water! Just smother the fire with a large pot lid.
- Fill the pot no more than a quarter with oil. This gives you ¾ of the pot empty, which is a safe amount for frying. Do not leave the oil unattended. Never fry any food without being present. The oil can catch on fire.
- Add the fries when the oil is ready. You can test the oil by dipping part of the fry in the oil. If the oil starts to bubble, then the oil is ready.
- Use a frying spatula. When removing the french fries from the oil, a frying spatula helps drain them before placing them on the plate.
- Don't add too many sliced potatoes into the oil all at once. It's better to cook the potatoes in small batches. The fries are done when golden brown and float to the top.
- Don't mix the french fries frequently while they are frying. This tends to cause the fries to break apart. I mix my fries once halfway through the frying process.
- Salt the fries immediately after they are removed from the oil. This helps the salt stick to the fries.
Variations
- Make sweet potato fries. Substitute sweet potatoes for white potatoes. It's hard to make crispy fries if using sweet potatoes.
- Add parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, cajun seasoning, cheddar cheese, or truffle oil.
- Use a French fry cutter to cut the fries into equal shapes.
Which Oil is Best for French Fries?
My general answer is the best oil is the one you normally like for frying. I've tried different oils and compared them below:
- Vegetable Oil / Canola Oil - These oils make similar-tasting french fries. The french fry is heavier in taste and less crispy.
- Sunflower Oil - This makes a lighter-tasting french fry, like the way Inn-N-Out fries taste. Sunflower oil makes crispier fries.
- Coconut Oil - This is a "healthier-ish" option, however, you need to be careful not to exceed the smoke point of the oil. So, you must cook the fries on a lower heat and for a more extended period. These fries have an aftertaste that some people love. The downside is coconut oil makes soggy fries.
- Fractionated Coconut Oil - There is no heavy aftertaste like with regular coconut oil. These are heavier in taste as well.
- Peanut oil is what Chic-Fil-A uses, and the cooked fries have a nice flavor.
How To Make Fries Healthier
If you are concerned about the effects of deep-frying on your health, then choose one of the alternatives below. I especially love the baking option!
- Air fryer fries: Place cut fries into the air fryer basket. Spray preferred oil on fries. Cook. Salt and enjoy it!
- Oven fries: Mix potatoes in melted butter, coconut oil, or olive oil. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet (or large baking sheet) without overcrowding. Cook at 425℉ (220℃) on the top rack until starting to brown. Flip the fries carefully. Continue to cook until the desired doneness (about 40 minutes).
Other Things To Consider
If you find that the potatoes start to turn a different color while they are waiting to be fried, you can rest the potatoes in water. However, before careful right before they go into the hot oil. I strain them for a few minutes prior to cooking them. The water and hot oil do not mix!
Yes, french fries are gluten-free if they are made with potatoes, oil, and salt like this recipe. Some packaged french fries may be coated in potato starch or flour, so read the label carefully. However, when making french fries at home, it's easy to ensure the recipe is only using the required ingredients.
Yes, french fries are vegan if they are made from potatoes and fried in an oil that's not made from an animal.
The French call french fries pommes frites, meaning fried potatoes. If the fries are cut thinly, they are called allumettes.
What To Serve With French Fries
Classically, french fries go with hotdogs, hamburgers, or fried chicken. Another great way to eat french fries is in a chicken shawarma wrap.
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📋 Recipe
Easy Homemade French Fries
Ingredients
- 3 cups frying oil
- 3 large potatoes
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel potatoes. Slice into fries. Make sure the fries aren't cut too thick. Also, make sure the fries are cut similarly so that they will cook evenly.
Frying Option
- Fill a high rimmed pot with ¼ full of frying oil. Heat oil on medium-high heat. Dip a fry in the oil and see if it bubbles. Once it bubbles, the fries are ready to be added. Monitor at all times.
- Place fries into hot oil very carefully using a frying spatula. Do not overfill the pot. Do not mix fries until they are starting to float to the top. Mix fries one time. Once all fries have risen to the top, remove onto a paper towel lined plate.
- Salt fries immediately after being removed from the oil.
Baking Option
- Heat oven to 425℉ (220℃). In a bowl, put cut fries and fat of choice: avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or butter. Mix fries until all sides are coated.
- Put a parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Put fries on parchment paper. Try not to overcrowd the cookie sheet.
- Bake until the top of fries are turning golden (about 35 minutes). Remove from oven and very gently turn fries over. If potatoes are breaking, then the potatoes are not cooked enough to be flipped.
- Once fries are golden and cooked (about 40 to 45 minutes), remove from oven. Salt to taste.
Mona
Mine were not that crispy. What should I do to make them crispier?
Lilian B.
Hi Mona, how did you fry/bake the fries?
Mona
I fried them in vegetable oil.
Lilian B.
My recommendation if you would like super crispy fries is to try frying them in sunflower oil. Or if you want to fry in vegetable oil, just make sure you don't add too many fries at once. Don't remove the fries until they are golden brown and float to the top.
Anna T
I am no longer buying frozen fries. Thank you for the different options for health. So easy to make!
Lilian B.
Thanks Anna!