Are you tired of the same old French fries? Why not switch things up and try making crinkle cut fries at home? Not only are they delicious, but they’re also fun to make. In this article, we’ll show you how to make crinkle cut fries in a few easy steps.

First, you’ll need some potatoes. Russet potatoes work best for making fries. Cut the potatoes into thin slices, about 1/4 inch thick, and then use a crinkle cutter to cut each slice. This will create the classic crinkle cut shape. Once you’ve cut all your potatoes, soak them in cold water for about 30 minutes. This will remove any excess starch and make the fries crispier when cooked. After soaking, drain the water and dry the potatoes thoroughly with a paper towel.

Tools and Ingredients for Making Crinkle Cut Fries

Are you ready to start making some delicious crinkle cut fries? First, gather all of the necessary tools and ingredients to make this process as smooth as possible.

Tools:

  • A crinkle cutter
  • A sharp knife
  • A large bowl
  • A vegetable peeler
  • A deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot
  • A spatula or tongs for handling hot food
  • A slotted spoon for removing the fries from the oil

Ingredients:

  • Potatoes
  • Oil for frying (canola, vegetable, or peanut oil)
  • Salt

Preparing the Potatoes for Crinkle Cut Fries

Choosing Your Potatoes

When making crinkle cut fries, it’s essential to pick the right type of potato. Russet potatoes are an excellent choice because they have a high starch content, resulting in a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Keeping your potatoes cold until you are ready to start cutting is important because it prevents them from becoming discolored.

Washing and Peeling the Potatoes

Before you start cutting the potatoes, it’s crucial to wash and peel them thoroughly. A vegetable peeler will help you remove the skin without wasting any of the potato. Once peeled, rinse the potatoes with cold water to remove any dirt or debris.

Cutting the Potatoes

Now it’s time to get the potatoes into that classic crinkle cut shape. Using a crinkle cutter or a sharp knife, slice the potatoes into even-sized pieces. Cutting the fries too thick will result in a center that is not cooked, and cutting them too thin can cause the fries to become overcooked and crispy.

Soaking the Potatoes

Rinsing the potatoes with cold water removes excess starch, resulting in a crispier end product. Afterward, soak the sliced potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours in the fridge. Soaking the potatoes helps remove excess starch, resulting in a crispier fry.

Frying Crinkle Cut Fries

Heating the Oil

Once your fries are ready to be cooked, heat your oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 375°F. It’s essential not to overcrowd the pot, and to maintain a consistent temperature when frying.

Frying the Potatoes

Using a slotted spoon, add the sliced potatoes to the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the fryer. Fry the potatoes until they are golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Remove the fries from the fryer and let the excess oil drip back into the pot.

Seasoning the Fries

Finally, season your crinkle cut fries with salt to taste. Serve hot and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.

Cleaning Up After Making Crinkle Cut Fries

After you’ve enjoyed your delicious crinkle cut fries, it’s time to clean up. Be sure to properly discard of your used oil or save it for future use. Clean your tools, cutting board, and countertops thoroughly to prevent any cross-contamination.

Choosing the Right Potatoes

One of the most important elements of making perfect crinkle cut fries is the type of potatoes that you choose. Not all potatoes are created equal when it comes to making fries. You want to choose a potato variety that is high in starch content such as russet potatoes.

The starch helps the fries to achieve that perfect crispy texture on the outside while still remaining tender and fluffy in the middle. You can also use Yukon Gold potatoes or Kennebec potatoes, both of which are great options for making crinkle cut fries.

When selecting your potatoes, be sure to choose ones that are firm, free of bruises and blemishes, and have a consistent size. Smaller potatoes tend to be easier to cut into crinkle shapes, but if you choose larger ones, you can adjust the shape of the fries by simultaneously pressing and pulling along the length of the cut potato with a crinkle cutter.

Once you have your potatoes, it’s time to get started on the cutting process. Keep reading to learn how to create those iconic crinkle cut shapes that we all know and love.

Tools Needed to Make Crinkle Cut Fries

If you want crinkle cut fries to come out perfectly, you’ll need the right tools. There are a few tools that will make the process of making crinkle cut fries easier. These tools include:

  1. A Potato Peeler
  2. A potato peeler is needed to peel the skin off of the potatoes. Leaving the skin on will not give the desired results for crinkle cut fries.

  3. A Crinkle Cutter
  4. A crinkle cutter is specifically designed to cut the crinkled shape into the potatoes.

  5. A Cutting Board
  6. Having a cutting board is essential for ensuring that your knife or cutter doesn’t damage your countertops. Use a large, sturdy cutting board with a non-slip surface that won’t move around when you’re chopping your vegetables.

  7. A Large Bowl
  8. You’ll need a large bowl to soak the potatoes in cold water. This process helps to remove any excess starch and will help your fries to come out nice and crispy.

  9. A Deep Fryer or Pot
  10. A deep fryer or pot with high sides is needed to fry the potatoes. The high sides help prevent oil from splashing around while frying, and keep you safe from hot oil.

Preparing the Potatoes for Crinkle Cut Fries

Now that you have everything you need to make crinkle cut fries, you need the potatoes.

You will need about 2-3 potatoes per person, depending on how big you cut your fries. Be sure to choose potatoes that are fresh and firm, with no soft spots or sprouts. You can use any type of potato that you like, but Russet or Idaho potatoes are a good choice as they are high in starch, and will give you a crispy fry.

Start by peeling the potatoes with the potato peeler, then rinse them under cold water. Once rinsed, pat the potatoes dry with a clean towel.

Next, slice the potatoes with the crinkle cutter. Make sure to cut them into even sized pieces so that they cook evenly. You can also use a knife to cut the potatoes if you don’t have a crinkle cutter.

Once the potatoes are cut, place them in a large bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes. This soaking process removes excess starch and makes the fries crispy. Be sure to change the water every 10-15 minutes to keep it cold and to remove any excess starch.

Cooking Process for Crinkle Cut Fries

Now that you have your potatoes cut and clean, it’s time to start cooking.

Fill your deep fryer or pot with oil and preheat it to 350°F. You want enough oil to cover the fries completely, so make sure you have enough oil in your pot. You can use any type of oil for frying, but vegetable oil, peanut oil, and canola oil are good choices.

Drain the water from the bowl of potatoes and dry them completely with a clean towel. Once dry, add the potatoes to the hot oil, one handful at a time. Make sure not to overcrowd the pot, as this will cause the temperature of the oil to drop, and the fries will be greasy and soggy.

Fry the potatoes for about 5-7 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. Once cooked, remove the fries from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

Season the fries with salt, pepper, and any other seasoning of your choice. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips for Making Perfect Crinkle Cut Fries

Making perfect crinkle cut fries can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re new to frying.

Here are some tips to help you make the perfect crinkle cut fries:

  1. Make sure the potatoes are completely dry before adding them to the oil to prevent splatters.
  2. Don’t overcrowd the pot when frying, as this can cause the temperature of the oil to drop and result in greasy fries.
  3. Don’t forget to season the fries as soon as they come out of the fryer, so the salt will stick to the fries.
  4. Try to use a crinkle cutter for a more consistent crinkle pattern.
  5. Soak the potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove excess starch and make the fries crispy.

Final Thoughts

Crinkle cut fries may take a bit of effort to make, but the results are worth it. These fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, making them the perfect snack or side dish.

With the right tools and a little bit of patience, you can make delicious crinkle cut fries that are sure to impress. So grab your potatoes, your crinkle cutter, and start cooking!

Time to Enjoy Your Tasty Fries!

Congratulations! You now know how to make delicious crinkle cut fries at home. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices and seasonings to make them even tastier. Thanks for reading this article, and we hope you’ll come back for more recipes and tips in the future. Now, go and enjoy your lifelike, crispy fries!