Table of Contents
- Do I need to defrost frozen french fries before frying?
- Avoid thawing and ensure Preheated Oven
- Using Oil & Cold Water Method
- Using Oil & Butter Method
- Use Acidic ingredients
- Breading
- Baked Frozen French Fries on an open rack
- The Slow Way? Placing Frozen Fries into boiling water
- Deep Frying Frozen French Fries
- Air Fryer for extra crispiness
- Salt your french fries before freezing them
- A single batch of Fries
- Use Herbs and Spices
- Avoid Overcooking
- Do not use too much oil
- Load the French fries with Toppings
- Frozen French Fries Hack
Do I need to defrost frozen french fries before frying?
French fries are so popular and loved that many people keep them in their freezers at all times. So that they could easily use them at any place or time. But often, many people have complained about the fogginess after frying them frozen. This has raised a common question, ‘Do I need to defrost frozen french fries before frying?’
There is absolutely no need to defrost frozen french fries before frying. Thawing the french fries before frying can make them soggy. The ice will melt into the fry and turn it into a kind of mushy substance that is very much undesirable for eating.
So to enjoy crispy and crunchy french fries straight away, but those frozen fries into hot sizzling oil. This would ensure that the fries do not stick together, and each one of them will be fried separately, giving it a proper shape and crunchy texture.
Here in this article, we will give you the ten best professional tips to make crispier and tastier french fries.
Avoid thawing and ensure Preheated Oven
It is most important that the oven is preheated before adding frozen fries to ensure they are cooked through. The best way to do this is by following the instructions on the pack of your freezer fries. Some require you to heat them in a conventional or convection oven for 10 minutes at 200°C/400°F whilst others state that you should heat your oven grill for 5 minutes.
Using Oil & Cold Water Method
This method works well if you have many potatoes and not much time. However, if you prefer tender results, we recommend taking extra time to use our first option! Begin by placing a pan full of cold water on medium heat and adding a drizzle of oil to the water. Once the pan is boiling, add your peeled and sliced potatoes.
Boil for around 4 minutes before removing from the water using a slotted spoon and draining off any excess water. Spread them out onto kitchen paper so they are completely dry. This will help give them a crispy finish after they are cooked. Place the potatoes in the preheated oven for around 12 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden brown (but not dark).
Using Oil & Butter Method
Begin by placing a large pan on medium heat and adding some oil, followed by the butter. Once the butter has melted, add your peeled and sliced potatoes. Stir often for 5-7 minutes to ensure that all sides of the chips are lightly covered with the oil/butter mix, then use either tongs or a slotted spoon to turn them over so that all sides have been coated in the mixture.
Continue stirring every minute or so for around 10 minutes, but be careful not to let them catch on the bottom of the pan as this will make them burn. Once they are crispy and golden brown (but not dark), remove them from the heat and place them on a kitchen towel to absorb any excess oil.
Use Acidic ingredients
When coupled with frozen fries, Acidic ingredients can increase the natural flavor of the potato. Use toppings like lemon juice, vinegar, tomatoes, citrus-based marinades, or salad dressings.
Breading
The best option is breading if you are looking for that extra crispy outside coating on your french fries after being frozen. Corn starch can be sifted onto the cut french fries before freezing them to give it a light batter after thawing and frying. This gives it an additional crunch. Breaded frozen fries are not only good when they are fried but also when baked in an oven. Some healthy options for breading include oatmeal, wheat germ, cornmeal, etc.
Baked Frozen French Fries on an open rack
One of the best ways to cook frozen French fries is baking them in an oven. It’s a healthier option compared to frying, and the additional crunchy texture makes it a good satisfying snack.
There are different ways you can bake frozen french fries. When placing them in the oven, you can either put them on open racks or use cookie sheets, aluminum foil, parchment paper, etc. The oil from your fingers after touching french fries will not get onto other food items while cooking like this, and you will end up with nice, even-tasting chips every time. It allows for easy and quick cleaning up too!
The Slow Way? Placing Frozen Fries into boiling water
Placing French fries into boiling water allows for even cooking, and the texture after frying is extremely soft. It exudes a rich potato flavor that all age groups can enjoy. However, this method does not provide crunchiness from oven baking or deep frying.
Deep Frying Frozen French Fries
The best way to cook frozen french fries is by deep-frying them in oil. Cooking french fries using hot oil gives it an excellent extra crispy texture outside with a nice fluffy inside. The calorie content goes up compared to baking, but they are totally worth it.
Air Fryer for extra crispiness
One of the best things about an air fryer is that it reduces oil content to a great extent by “air frying” the food. This method of cooking frozen French fries can be enjoyed by people trying to live an oil-free lifestyle or those who want to reduce their calorie intake by cooking food items in lesser oil.
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees and place french fries for about 5-6 minutes. This process gives you a nice crispy french fry that has some crunch. The outside coating is delicious, and the inside is soft and juicy.
Salt your french fries before freezing them
A lot of people like to salt their french fries before freezing them. The main reason for doing this is that it draws out some of the potatoes’ moisture, preventing the french fries from sticking together in a big clump when they are frozen.
A single batch of Fries
When you are ready to cook your french fries, the best way to go about it is to take out a single batch of frozen french fries from the freezer. There are several reasons why this is the best way to do it when frying french fries.
If you try and fry too many at once, they will not get done in the middle before the outside starts burning. By taking them out one at a time, you can ensure that every fry gets cooked just enough for it to be perfect without being underdone or overcooked.
Use Herbs and Spices
Adding herbs and spices to the mixture gives your french fries a little more flavor. You can experiment with different herbs or spices when you make them next time.
If you don’t want to do a lot of measuring, sprinkle a few on top. You can try garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, or Italian seasoning. Once your potatoes are cut into sticks and partially cooked, coat them with spices. This will give them a special flavor.
Avoid Overcooking
When making your french fries, make sure that you don’t over-cook them to the point where they become crispier than regular chips. This means that if you fry them for too long, they can become starchy and tough instead of soft on the inside with a nice crunchy coating outside.
Do not use too much oil
Using too much oil is one of the people’s biggest mistakes while cooking frozen French fries. If there is excess oil in the mixture, it can cause negative consequences when frying. The first thing is that it causes splattering, resulting in burns. Over time, this could damage your air fryer, so it’s best to avoid using too much oil.
Load the French fries with Toppings
The possibilities for loaded fries are endless. Start by selecting some quality fries. Next, grab your favorite toppings for fries and get creative. Some gourmet topping ideas include:
- Liven up ketchup with some chipotle pepper sauce or a little bit of wasabi for Asian flavored fries
- Spice up mayonnaise with a little sriracha
- Add meat to the fry with bacon bits or grilled chicken
- Dust on powdered sugar for a sweet treat
Frozen French Fries Hack
After these tips, here is a simple hack to make your work easier and your fries delicious.
Freeze your french fries in layers separated by wax paper to get that homemade taste. Thaw it out before frying it. It will be fresh even if you’ve kept it frozen for a long time since there are no ingredients that will spoil easily.
All of these tips and tricks are part and parcels of various famous kitchens worldwide. All top chefs use these methods to cook the most delicious fries. You can now try them in your very own kitchen using this article as a guide.
