Perfect French Fries With A Turkey Fryer

French fries are a popular snack and side dish, but making them at home can be a challenge. One of the best ways to cook French fries is to use a turkey fryer, which can produce deliciously crispy results. Here's a step-by-step guide to making French fries using a turkey fryer. First, prepare your potatoes by washing, peeling, and cutting them into thin strips. Next, soak the potato strips in cold water for around 30 minutes to an hour to remove excess starch and prevent premature browning. After soaking, thoroughly dry the potatoes. Heat your turkey fryer to between 275–300 °F (135–149 °C) and fill it with your preferred frying oil, such as peanut, canola, or vegetable oil, to about one-third of the way full. Place the dried potato strips into a fry basket, if available, or use a metal skimmer or tongs, and blanch them in the hot oil for 4-5 minutes. Remove the fries and increase the oil temperature to 400 °F (204 °C). Cook the fries for a second time, this time for 3-6 minutes, until they are golden and crispy. Remove the fries from the oil and allow them to cool. Finally, season your fries with salt, pepper, or your choice of spices, and serve with your favorite condiments. Enjoy!

Soak sliced potatoes in water for 30 minutes to an hour

Soaking the sliced potatoes in water is an important step in making french fries. This process helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes, which is key to achieving the desired crispiness of the fries. The recommended soaking time is at least 30 minutes, but you can leave them for up to an hour or even overnight for maximum crispiness.

During this time, the potatoes should be fully submerged in cold water. This will help draw out the starch and ensure that your fries are deliciously crispy when cooked. If you're short on time, 30 minutes will still give you great results, but the longer you can soak them, the better.

Once the potatoes have soaked, be sure to pat them dry thoroughly before moving on to the frying process. This step is important because adding wet potatoes to hot oil can be dangerous and may affect the quality of your fries.

Pat potatoes dry before frying

After rinsing and soaking your potatoes, it is important to pat them dry before frying. This is a crucial step in the french fry-making process as it ensures that there is as little moisture left on the potatoes as possible. Oil and water do not mix, so adding wet potatoes to hot oil can be dangerous and will also prevent your potatoes from cooking evenly.

How to pat potatoes dry

Use paper towels to blot the potatoes and remove any excess water. Make sure to pat all sides of the potatoes and leave them to air dry for about 10 minutes. You can also use a kitchensectioning==

Towel to dry the potatoes, but paper towels are more effective at absorbing moisture.

Frying wet potatoes can be dangerous as the water can react with the hot oil and cause splattering. This can result in burns and is also a fire hazard. Wet potatoes will also not cook evenly and may end up soggy rather than crispy.

Tips for drying potatoes

• Use paper towels to blot the potatoes and remove as much moisture as possible.
• Allow the potatoes to air dry for a few minutes after patting them dry.
• Make sure there is no excess oil on the potatoes after the first round of frying. Use paper towels to blot the potatoes again before the second round of frying.
• Do not overcrowd the pan when frying the potatoes. Fry them in small batches to ensure even cooking.
• If you are using a deep fryer, do not fill the basket more than two-thirds of the way full.

By thoroughly drying your potatoes before frying, you will ensure that your french fries turn out crispy and golden brown.

Fry potatoes in oil at 275-300°F for 4-5 minutes

Now that you've got your potatoes sliced, soaked, and thoroughly dried, it's time to start frying!

First, fill your turkey fryer with oil, making sure the pot is only about one-third of the way full. Peanut, canola, vegetable, and sunflower oil are all good choices due to their high smoke points. Once you've chosen your oil, heat it to between 275°F and 300°F. Grab a deep fry thermometer if your machine doesn't have a built-in temperature gauge—finding and maintaining the right temperature is crucial for successful frying.

When the oil is hot enough, carefully place your potatoes into the fryer. You can use a fry basket, or lower them in carefully with a skimmer or tongs, being sure to avoid splashing. Fry the potatoes for 4-5 minutes. They should still be relatively soft when you take them out. If they start to brown or crisp, that means your oil is too hot, or you've left them in too long.

Once the first frying stage is done, remove the potatoes from the oil and place them on a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil. Let them cool for a few minutes before frying them a second time.

Increase oil temperature to 375-400°F and fry for 3-6 minutes

Now that your potatoes have been soaked, rinsed, dried, and fried for the first time, it's time to increase the oil temperature to 375-400°F and fry for 3-6 minutes. This is the second fry, which will give your French fries a wonderful crunch and golden-brown colour.

If you're using a fry basket, attach it to the edge of the fryer so that the potatoes are completely immersed in the oil. If not, carefully lower the potatoes into the oil with a skimmer or tongs, being careful not to splash. Monitor the fries closely and remove them from the oil when they start to brown around the edges. This should take around 3-6 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your fries.

Once the fries are done, remove them from the oil and place them on a fresh layer of paper towels to absorb the excess oil. They will be very hot, so let them cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Season and serve hot

Now that your French fries are golden brown, it's time to season and serve them. Place the fries on a paper towel to drain off the excess oil. Sprinkle them with salt while they're still hot so that the salt sticks to the potatoes. You can also use other seasonings like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, or black pepper. If you want to get creative, try using seasoning mixes such as Old Bay, Sazon Seasoning, or Cajun Seasoning.

Serve your homemade French fries while they're still hot and crispy. You can pair them with condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, aioli, nacho cheese sauce, or your favourite dip. Enjoy the delicious, crispy, and fluffy French fries you just made!

Frequently asked questions