Let's Discuss French Fries

[mcurphy]

Give me the little crunchy suckers! I prefer them small (tiny even) and crunchy from just about any fast food place. I'll go out of my way to dig out the smallest crunchiest fries in a bag. Frozen, oven baked fries are almost never good. My wife likes the big fat steak fries or fresh sliced and fried home fries. Too much potato for me. If I'm eating fries, I'm in it only for the fattening crunch of little fast food fries. Too bad there's only a few that meet the qualifying criteria in an average bag. I could eat a whole bag of just those little bastards.

What kind of fries do you prefer? Crinkle cut, steak fries, curly fries, seasoned fries, fast food.....

 

[kt]

Give me the little crunchy suckers! I prefer them small (tiny even) and crunchy from just about any fast food place. I'll go out of my way to dig out the smallest crunchiest fries in a bag. Frozen, oven baked fries are almost never good. My wife likes the big fat steak fries or fresh sliced and fried home fries. Too much potato for me. If I'm eating fries, I'm in it only for the fattening crunch of little fast food fries. Too bad there's only a few that meet the qualifying criteria in an average bag. I could eat a whole bag of just those little bastards.

What kind of fries do you prefer? Crinkle cut, steak fries, curly fries, seasoned fries, fast food.....

Go to In-n-Out and order their well done fries. You'll end up with about 85% of the fries meeting your criteria of small crunchy fries.

 

[Insomniator]

Crinkle are my favorite.

I actually liked Wendys fries the most of the Fast Food joints until they changed them a few years ago... now they are oversalted and soggy 100% of the time (maybe just my location). Hate steak fries, would rather just eat a baked potato!

EDIT In and Out does have amazing fries but the nearest one is 2 thousand miles away

 

[Ns1]

In n out > *

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Both you and your wife are wrong. A proper french fry has the right ratio of crispy outside to fluffy inside. The little crunchy bits have no fluffy center and steak fries have too much innards to too little crunch. Something about double the thickness of McDonalds/BK size is ideal.

 

[Exterous]

In n out > *

I'll give In n out the slight edge in burgers but there is no way they surpass 5 Guys when it comes to fries

 

[TheSlamma]

get a bag of taters then get a fry daddy and make them at home.

I've known too many people who worked at fast food places during their high school days, they used to toss mice they caught in the traps and all kinds of other BS into those fryers, then of course hardly ever change the oil.

 

[krose]

My peeve is bars/restaurants that have an extensive menu of otherwise great food then can't be bothered to have fresh cut fries. That frozen crap is just not worthy.

 

[KeithP]

Has anyone tried fries cooked in duck fat? It seems to be all the rage but I haven't had the opportunity to partake myself.

-KeithP

 

[mcurphy]

Go to In-n-Out and order their well done fries. You'll end up with about 85% of the fries meeting your criteria of small crunchy fries.

Wow, that is seriously so fucking awesome! Sadly, there is not any In-n-Out's around my area, otherwise I would be making a trip ASAP. Last time I was fortunate enough to have In-n-Out was 2007 when I took the fam to Vegas for a few days. I wish I had known about this special at that time.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Tater tots > most fries

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

French fries. There's a coincidence. I got a heavy duty fry cutter for Christmas. YAY!

 

[Harrod]

Has anyone tried fries cooked in duck fat? It seems to be all the rage but I haven't had the opportunity to partake myself.

-KeithP

I've had them, to me they just seem a little crispier and have slightly different taste to them than normal fried fries, they are good, but they were a little over-hyped.

 

[Chaotic42]

In n out > *

I never know on this place, are you serious or is this just some kind of meme? I went to In N' Out once on a trip because of the big stink everyone makes and the burgers are decent, but the fries were just bad.

 

[Markbnj]

Honestly I like just about any sort of real potato cut into whatever shape you like, fried in vegetable oil or lard, and seasoned with salt and pepper. I don't like factory formed fries with their fake crispy coating. I don't like tater tots. It's like rolling old hash browns in a ball. I do like fresh hash browns, though. They fall into the general category outlined above .

 

[lxskllr]

I like bowling alley crinkle cut fries. Dunno what the difference is, but they seem less... commercial, or something. I'm sure they get all their stuff from Sysco like everyone else, but they taste different. It's also one of the only times I'll use ketchup on anything. Ketchup goes well on bowling alley fries.

 

[mcurphy]

Honestly I like just about any sort of real potato cut into whatever shape you like, fried in vegetable oil or lard, and seasoned with salt and pepper. I don't like factory formed fries with their fake crispy coating. I don't like tater tots. It's like rolling old hash browns in a ball. I do like fresh hash browns, though. They fall into the general category outlined above .

Our local bowling alley does this! And my wife freakin loves them! Not for me though. Give me the little slim cut crunchies!

 

[John Connor]

I like the crinkle cut fries myself and used to dip them in vinegar.

Seasoned fries are good too!

 

[Exterous]

I've had them, to me they just seem a little crispier and have slightly different taste to them than normal fried fries, they are good, but they were a little over-hyped.

I just had them for the first time on Tuesday and I would agree with you

 

[Carson Dyle]

I prefer mine on the smaller side, like Mickey D's fries. But only if they're done perfectly.

There's a joint in town, actually a franchised chain Philly cheese samich place. That has the best french damned fries that I've ever had in my life. One of those things that makes no sense, but when you find it you cherish it until the day you die (from obesity and heart disease, no doubt).

 

[DigDog]

i make my own.

cut the potato in thin strips. different kinds of potatoes cook differently, some are much better than others, just try different types.

boil a big pot of water, salted. drop the fries in, and cook until they are almost done - this is the hardest step, you need to learn from experience when to drain them.

once drained, let them cool outside for a while, then freeze them.

once frozen, take your fries and fry them. 1 pass is enough, no need for double fry.


you can also add spices to the boiling water to add flavour.

if in dire need of fries NOW!, you can fry them as soon as you have drained them, just BE CAREFUL because the hot oil will react very violently when you put them in, more so if you dump a whole bunch in all at the same time.


you can make fries so good, you won't want ketchup.

 

[QueBert]

I'll give In n out the slight edge in burgers but there is no way they surpass 5 Guys when it comes to fries

Five Guys tries to cover up the fact they have shitty ass fries by giving you the equivalent of 4 orders of other places. If they gave you the same amount of McDonalds I doubt anyone would like them.

Seasoned Curly Fries are clearly superior, that's why places like Jack In The Box charge you to UPGRADE to them. Just look up the definition of the word, upgrading's always m04r b3tt3r.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

These are my favorite fries on Earth:

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Least favorite are the KFC potato wedges

 

[effowe]

i make my own.

cut the potato in thin strips. different kinds of potatoes cook differently, some are much better than others, just try different types.

boil a big pot of water, salted. drop the fries in, and cook until they are almost done - this is the hardest step, you need to learn from experience when to drain them.

once drained, let them cool outside for a while, then freeze them.

once frozen, take your fries and fry them. 1 pass is enough, no need for double fry.


you can also add spices to the boiling water to add flavour.

if in dire need of fries NOW!, you can fry them as soon as you have drained them, just BE CAREFUL because the hot oil will react very violently when you put them in, more so if you dump a whole bunch in all at the same time.


you can make fries so good, you won't want ketchup.

This is good advice. Kenji over at Serious Eats perfected this method, and I've used it with much success. You need to add vinegar to the water when you first boil it, but it's pretty much the same.

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/perfect-french-fries-recipe.html