How To Fry Frozen French Fries: 4 Easy Methods
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French fries are one of the most favorite side dishes, snacks in movies, or just a perfect pairing with anything because its just SO GOOD! No wonder we all go loco with french fries especially when served fresh and hot.
These crispy french fries are readily available in most grocery markets and even farmers markets. You can have them as fresh potatoes and cut them into wedges or get the frozen ones from the grocery store and cook into perfection. But, how do you fry frozen french fries?
How To Make French Fries At Home
Frying potatoes is a very common way to enjoy potato chips. However, if you want to make homemade french fries, you need to know how to make french fries at house. Here are some tips to help you make perfect french fries at home. 1. Wash the potatoes thoroughly. Cut off any bad spots and cut into uniform pieces.2. Put the potatoes in cold water and bring to a boil. Boil until tender but not mushy. Drain well.
Do My Potatoes Need To Be Frozen
You can start them rock solid frozen on the grill, just as with cooking frozen fries indoors. As well, you can pack a bag of frozen fries to take with you to a remote or park cookout or even camping. Just keep those chilled in the cooler. They will grill up thawed in almost the same amount of time as the frozen ones. Give or take a minute or two.
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Smoked French Fries
Smoked french fries! While it requires a little time and effort before actually frying them, smoking fries takes them to a whole new level !
Smoked French Fries: Because sometimes, laziness is the mother of invention.
A couple weeks ago, I was deep frying something for Hedonistic Hops wings, if I recall correctly.
The recipe shoot was doubling as supper, and we hadnt really planned on a side, outside of a couple artistically placed celery sticks.
We did have some leftover smoked potatoes in the fridge, however. I didnt feel like pan frying them as hashbrowns how I normally serve smoked potatoes so I sliced them up into makeshift fries and deep fried them.
Deep Fried Version
Holy. Mother. Of. God.
Im not even as much into smoked foods as my husband is, and these were AMAZING. Definitely some of the best fries Ive ever had!
The smoke flavour was retained even after deep frying without being overpowering and they had an amazing texture. Tons of character!
So, we HAD to actually do up a recipe for them.
Air Fryer Version
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Can You Fry Thawed Fries
Try to avoid thawing frozen French fries prior to pan-frying. When they are left out to melt, they become soggy due to the additional moisture. Despite the decline in flavor and quality, it is safe to cook and eat thawed fries.
Be sure to keep an eye on them while frying since they will cook a lot faster than those fresh out of the freezer.
Letting The Fries Thaw Before You Cook Them
There’s some conflicting information out there regarding whether frozen fries should be thawed before you cook them. A lot of fry enthusiasts let those frozen delicacies start softening up on the counter for a while before they hit any sort of heat source.
In general, when it comes to frozen french fry cooking methods, we prefer to trust the potato country’s unofficial potato experts. According to The Idaho Potato Commission, while you technically can let a frozen french fry thaw out before cooking it, it’s not the ideal scenario. The potatoes cook faster when thawed but if they’re still in a completely frozen state when they hit the heat, the fry’s surface remains sealed as it cooks, which yields a crispier, this-is-what-a-french-fry-should-always-taste-like final product.
The same goes for baking or air frying the fries. Get everything heated, prepped, and ready, before you put that cold bag on the counter, so there isn’t too long of a lag between when you remove the fries from the freezer and when they start the cooking process.
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What Is The Best Way To Bake Frozen French Fries
Any method listed above will work however, baking at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes will yield a crispy exterior with a soft interior using this cooking time/temperature combination. Just remember not to exceed 450 degrees, or else your fries will burn or brown too quickly and come out being undercooked instead of well done.
How To Fry Frozen French Fries In A Pan
Frozen French fries are a staple in pretty much any freezer. These tempting potato snacks come in a plethora of shapes and sizes, from crinkle-cut and shoestring to wedges and waffle fries.
While there are quite a few ways to prepare them, pan-frying is the fastest and most straightforward method to cook them to attain crispy golden-brown results in less than 10 minutes.
Although, some varieties like wedges, curly, or waffle fries may take longer due to their unique shape.
So, let look at some tips and tricks for frying frozen French fries in a pan.
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What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Convection Ovens
What are the advantages and disadvantages of convection ovens?
- # 2 Cooking time is shorter. An oven fan allows food to be cooked at lower temperatures.
- # 4 You can put the dishes anywhere.
- # 1 You need to customize recipes.
- # 2 Your dough will not rise.
- # 3 They are more fragile.
- # 4 Too many dishes can reduce performance.
Refrigerator And Freezer Storage Tips
- To Refrigerate. Place leftover fries in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat using the method for How to Make Your Fries Crispy Again above.
- To Freeze. Spread the fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and place them in the freezer until solid. Transfer the frozen fries to an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen as directed above, adding about 3 or so extra minutes to the cooking time. How long you bake frozen French fries can vary, so keep an eye on them.
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How Long To Fry Frozen French Fries
When youre standing there looking at your package of frozen French fries, its hard to imagine that the results could ever come close to a fast-food giant like McDonalds. Its okay because you can get there, or at least pretty darn close.
The history of French fries is traced back to Belgium, which makes us question if there is anything authentically French about them, but nevertheless, they have become a staple alongside American burgers, steaks, fish n chips, and much more. For a lot of us, French fries are a delicious treat that we allow ourselves on cheat days.
So, how long should you fry frozen French fries? Frozen French fries should be fried for around 4 minutes for baskets that are ¼ full of fries. Frying time can vary depending on how large of a batch and what youre using.
Well give you a closer estimate below and other methods to cook frozen French fries that can come out pretty good as well if we do say so ourselves.
When Possible Cook The Entire Bag Of Frozen Fries In One Sitting
Need an excuse to cook up a feast of frozen french fries? Here’s a good one.
“If you leave leftover fries in an opened bag, they might develop ice crystals or freezer burn, and then they won’t taste good at all,” Koeppe said. “I’d recommend cooking the entire bag to make sure they are as fresh as possible.”
If you’re not looking to eat an entire bag of fries in one sitting, you can also transfer the uncooked fries to a freezer-safe, resealable container or use a secure bag clip.
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How Do You Cook Frozen French Fries Step By Step
Frozen french fries are great for making quick meals. However, if you want to get the best results from your frozen french fries, you need to know how to cook them properly. To achieve the perfect texture, you need to thaw the frozen french fries completely before cooking them. Then, you need to cook them until they reach the desired degree of doneness. For instance, if you want to cook frozen french fries until they are crispy, you should cook them for about 10 minutes. On the other hand, if you want to bake them until they are soft, you should cook them longer, usually around 20 minutes. Finally, if you want to grill them, you should cook them only for 5 minutes.
What Is The Best Way To Cook Frozen French Fries In The Oven
DIRECTIONS
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Always Salt Your Fries While They’re Still Hot From The Oven
If the salt seems to fall right off your fries, you may be seasoning them at the wrong time.
“Add salt immediately after cooking, while they’re still piping hot,” Koeppe said. “This helps you get the best flavor.”
Using finely milled salt rather than coarse, flaky salt may also help the salt crystals stick to the fries.
How To Bake Frozen French Fries In The Oven
How to Bake Frozen French Fries in the Oven Baking frozen french fries in the microwave or oven is a great way to save time and energy. This method also helps retain nutrients and flavor.Frozen french fries are convenient because they dont require thawing before cooking. They can be cooked straight from the freezer, saving you time and energy.To bake frozen french fries in a conventional oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit 200 degrees Celsius. Place the frozen french fries in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them for 15 minutes. Turn the fries over and continue baking for another 15 minutes. Remove the fries from the oven and let them cool completely
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What Are The Best Frozen French Fries
The best frozen french fries in the freezer
- 1 Ore-Ida Fast Food Extra crispy french fries. Amazon. Prai-Ida amazon.com.
- 2 McCain extra crispy crispy french fries. McCain valmart.com. $ 2.48.
- 3 french fries cut into waffles spiced with Alexia. Alekia amazon.com.
- 4 french fries with golden steak Ore-Ida. Prai-Ida valmart.com.
- 5 sweet potato fries. Vholefoodsmarket.com.
How To Deep Fry Frozen Chips With A Skillet On The Stove
What you need: skillet, frozen fries, and oil.
Guide.
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Enhancing The Flavor Of Your Oven
The natural potato flavor will be enhanced by pairing your fries with acidic ingredients. Some suggested toppings are citrus juice, vinegar, hot sauce, and pickles. These will all contrast nicely with the richness of the crispy fries.However, too much liquid acid topping can make the fries soft. Just add a light spray after taking the fries out of the oven.Its best to add the seasoning salt after the fries come out of the oven, as the salt will attach to the fries better immediately after removing them from the oven when they are still piping hot. This will help in achieving the best flavor.Finely milled salt will stick better to fries than coarse, flaky salt.Your fries may also be tastier if you sprinkle them with garlic powder, fresh rosemary, or other seasonings such as peri-peri or paprika.
Extra Crispy Oven Baked French Fries
Crispy edges, soft centers extra-crispy French fries baked not fried so you can feel good about eating them!
When it comes to French fries, the single most important thing is the crispiness factor. We all know what typically makes the fries so crispy is the fact that they take a nice long, deep swim in a huge vat of oil. However, I am not a fan of that method. Why? Because.
1. Our version, which uses the oven is super simple and these fries outshine all the others. They have the crispy outside and soft inside of their deep fried pals, without the oozing grease. And, since they arent deep fried, they dont start to get soft and soggy as they cool off. They stay nice and crunchy, even when they are totally cooled.
2. Oven-baked fries are a bit healthier than deep-fried.
How to Make Extra-Crispy French Fries
The secrets to these incredible fries include a few of things, the main one being soaking the raw potatoes before you bake them to remove some of the excess starch. Less starch = more crispiness.
When it comes to slicing, I like to cut the fries to be a little thin but not shoestring-style and not too thick. About 1/4 inch wide. To slice the potatoes, I slice the whole potato lengthwise and then slice each piece of the potato again into fries.
After slicing, the potatoes get coated in olive oil, which helps the fries crisp up in the oven
The second most important thing is the seasoning. Whether it be plain sea salt or our spice blend, youve gotta have seasoning!
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Bake Fries On An Open Rack For Optimum Air Flow
Though cooking frozen fries on a baking sheet is common, Harvey told Insider, it’s worth taking the time to arrange fries on an open oven rack instead.
“Baking frozen fries on an oven rack ensures even cooking and allows air to flow all around the fries, which increases your chances of getting golden-brown fries from the oven,” Harvey said.
If you’re cooking fries with toppings or ingredients that could drip, be sure to line the bottom of your oven first for easy cleanup.
Best Oils For Frying Frozen French Fries
Neutral cooking oils that can handle high temperatures are optimal for pan-frying. Some excellent options to use for this cooking method include:
- Canola Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Vegetable Oil
Check out the complete list of best deep-frying oils and cooking temperatures here: Best Frying Oils, Temperatures, And Cooking Times.
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How Do You Cook Gourmet Frozen French Fries At Home
Ive found that the directions on the back of most freezer fries arent quite right. The cook time usually is a little offwe cook them a bit longer to get them nice and crispy. And they can be kind of bland straight out of the bag. We jazz them up in the style of our fave Mediterranean restauranttons of garlic, a sprinkle of sumac, fresh parsley, and a drizzle of olive oil. They are so good that sometimes we can hardly get them on our plates. We just stand around the sheet pan, straight out of the oven, snacking away!
Do I Need To Defrost Frozen French Fries Before Frying
When frying French fries, do not let them thaw before using. This guarantees that the surface of the potato is sealed during the frying process, resulting in a crispy, high quality fry. Some operations do thaw potatoes before cooking. This results in an excess absorption of fat and an undesirable greasy flavor.
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Dont Skimp On The Oil
- To make crispy French fries from scratch you need oil to help the potatoes crisp up in the oven and give them a hint of that familiar French fry flavor. For this recipe, I use a basic, extra-virgin olive oil.
- I dont have a recommended method for making French fries in the oven without oil, but you can use grapeseed oil or canola oil instead of olive oil.
How To Bake French Fries
To achieve maximum crispiness in your homemade French fries, I do a 2 temperature cook:
How Long to Bake French Fries: Remember, thicker fries will take longer and if your fries are too thin, theyll just burn without crisping.
The length of time for baked French fries will vary, depending on how thick you cut them and of course personal preference. My family likes them more tender crisp, I like them extra crispy!
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How Do You Cook Frozen Food In A Convection Oven
Frozen french fries are great for making quick meals but if you want to enjoy them properly, you need to thaw them first. To thaw frozen french fries, place them in a colander and run cold water over them until they are completely thawed. Once thawed, drain the french fries thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. Place the french fries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes. This process helps to crisp up the french fries while keeping them tender.