Home fries are a simple and delicious side dish that everyone loves. They are also a great way to add some healthy flavor to a meal!
A few ingredients are all you need to make restaurant quality home fries. Learn how to make crispy skillet home fries that are tender on the inside and golden brown on the outside!
Par-Boil
The par-boiling process is a great way to reduce cooking time for starchy foods such as potatoes, rice and vegetables. This method is also helpful for preparing food in advance to freeze and to finish cooking quickly at a later time.
When a recipe calls for par-boiling, it means that the food is put into boiling water for a short amount of time to help preserve color and nutrients. It can also be used to speed up the cooking time for certain ingredients, such as rice or green beans, and to firm up softer ones, like zucchini and carrots.
Par-boiling is a simple process that involves placing the food in boiling water for the exact amount of time specified in the recipe. Once the food is done, it should be drained and rinsed well to remove excess water. Then, it can be stored in a refrigerator until it is time to use it.
Depending on the size of the ingredients, the cooking time for par-boiling can vary from 5-10 minutes for diced or sliced potatoes and longer if whole potatoes are used. Be sure to test the potatoes for doneness by inserting a fork or knife into one, and checking that it pierces easily.
If the potatoes are too mushy or are not crisp enough, you can try boiling them again for another 10 minutes. This will help ensure that the home fries are cooked through and crispy on the outside and soft inside.
Fry
Home fries are a breakfast staple, and are perfect served alongside eggs and bacon or sausage. They can also be paired with a side of baked beans for a hearty brunch dish.
They are made by slicing or cubing potatoes and pan-frying them in oil until crisp and golden brown, similar to French fries. They are often paired with sauteed onions or bell peppers to add more flavor and color.
Soaking your potatoes ahead of time helps to make them more crispy and will prevent you from burning the onions when you cook them in the pan. It is also helpful to use a non-stick pan when you fry these.
The best potatoes to use are Yukon gold or Russet. Both work well when making these home fries, but the Yukon gold will hold their shape better and have a higher starch content.
To prepare the potatoes, peel them and slice them into 1/4-inch sticks. Place the potato sticks on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Drizzle with a little vegetable oil and toss to coat evenly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bake
Baked home fries are a healthier way to enjoy french fries. They use far less oil and they are also lower in calories and fat.
The best oven baked home fries have a crunchy crust with soft, fluffy centers. This is due to high heat and a longer baking time. These crispy oven potatoes are easy to make and are perfect for a weeknight meal.
Soaking the potatoes before you bake them helps the fries to absorb extra water, which prevents them from getting too dry. It also makes them a lot more tender. Soak the potatoes for at least 30 minutes, but you can leave them soaking as long as they take to soak up water.
After soaking, cut the potatoes into steak fry sized wedges. You should get about 6 – 8 wedges from one good size russet potato.
Transfer the fries to a baking sheet. Try to space them out so that there is plenty of room for air to circulate. Overcrowding the fries may cause them to steam instead of roasting.
Next, toss the wedges in a small amount of oil and seasonings. Be sure to salt and pepper them well, so they taste delicious!
Add more seasonings if desired. For example, you could sprinkle in red pepper flakes or add chopped red bell peppers to the mixture!
Once the fries are coated with the oil and spices, place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. You can spritz the fries with non-stick cooking spray for easier clean up.
When baking, you should turn the fries once half way through the baking time to crisp them up. It is also a good idea to flip them once at the end of the baking time so they are evenly browned on both sides.
Freeze
Freezing homemade home fries is a great way to make sure you always have a supply of delicious and satisfying homemade fries on hand. Whether you want them for breakfast or dinner, these frozen fries will be ready to go in minutes!
Before you freeze the home fries, you need to prepare them by making sure they are as crisp as possible. This is achieved by blanching the potatoes. It takes less time than frying them, and it also results in the most crispy fries.
First, you need to wash and cut the potatoes. This will ensure that your home fries are free of any bacteria or molds.
Next, you need to decide on the size of your fries. You can either make them skinny or thick, and this will affect the cooking time later on.
For thin fries, like shoestrings, cut them about a 1/8 to 1/4-inch wide. For a thicker fry, cut them about a 1/2-inch wide.
Once you have decided on the size of your fries, rinse them well to remove excess starch and any skins. Then, dry them thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel.
Then, place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with a little oil and any desired seasonings. Once they are coated, bake them until golden and crisp.
If you are storing the fries in the freezer, be sure to use an airtight container to keep them from drying out. Alternatively, you can freeze them in a zip-top bag, and then transfer them to an airtight container in the refrigerator when you are ready to cook them.
Before you thaw your frozen fries, be sure to let them cool. You can do this by placing the fries on a cookie sheet and freezing them for a few hours, or you can reheat them in the microwave.
You can also use them as a topping for chili, cheeseburgers, or anything else that requires a good amount of French fries. This is a great way to save money on fries, and you won’t regret it when you have a big batch of these delicious frozen fries in your freezer!