We’ve all done it. We grab a bag of fries from the freezer section of the store. Homemade versions just never seem to get the same texture, am I right? I’m here to show you how to use real potatoes to make Crispy Frozen French Fries to stock your freezer.
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Convenience Foods
We are a seriously fast-paced society. No one seems to think that they have time to come home and make a homemade dinner for their family. According to Business Insider, the average American eats out 5.9 times per week. The article also has the average spent per year by state. Not only is eating out not as healthy for us, but it can get expensive also.
Not only are processed foods more expensive, but they also lack a lot of nutritional value. They also have a higher content of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar. In all reality, eating non-homemade foods not only costs your wallet but your health also.
Stocking the Freezer with Crispy Frozen French Fries
Where I live, a 5 lb. bag of potatoes is $2.27 currently. Break that down, and it’s $0.45 per pound. A 32-ounce bag of frozen french fries (store-brand) is around $2. So those are $1/lb. We are already saving money here. Now, think of all the things that food companies add to their products to extend their shelf life. None of those will be in your homemade version. We are not only saving money by making these at home but saving our health also.
Customizing your french fries is easy. We are partial to steak fries in our home. So most of the time when I make these, I make them. You can just as easily purchase a french fry cutter to make this an even more streamlined process.
The first step obviously is to wash your potatoes thoroughly. Peeling them is a personal preference. Typically I do not peel them. I was raised to believe that most of the nutritional value of a potato is in the skin, so I just go with it. (Just to clarify, the nutrition value of the flesh vs. the skin is pretty much even.)
Next, cut your potatoes to your desired size and/or shape. I’m cutting mine into steak fries, but feel free to cut yours however you so choose.
Next, rinse your potatoes well in the sink while bringing a large pot of salted water to boil. Once the water is at a rolling boil, blanch your potatoes for 2 minutes. Drain and immediately put into a bowl of cold water.
Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
Drain again.
Now here is where it gets a little fun….
We are going to “pre-fry” the french fries. Using either a traditional oil deep fryer or an air fryer if you have one, preheat to 350F. Then you are going to fry the potatoes for 2 minutes. Allow to cool, and then bag, label, and freeze.
I like to use my Foodsaver to vacuum seal the bags. It seems to help keep them fresher for longer.
I would recommend using these within 6 months, but hey, do what you want here. I typically make these and stock the freezer once a month, but your family’s habits will dictate how often you make and eat french fries at home.
Cooking Frozen French Fries
Preheat a deep fryer or air fryer to 350F. Fry for 5-7 minutes or until heated through and desired crispiness is attained.
Make sure you check out more of our Food Preserving posts here.
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