Twice Baked French Fries Food

TWICE-COOKED FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Line large baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Cut 1 potato lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack 2 to 3 potato slices at a time and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide sticks. Cook potato sticks in boiling water just until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon or tongs, transfer potato sticks to paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat cutting, blanching, and draining remaining potatoes. Pat potato sticks dry with additional paper towels. DO AHEAD: Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand uncovered at room temperature.
• Pour enough canola oil into heavy large pot to reach depth of 4 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pot; heat oil to 350°F. Working in batches, add potato sticks to oil and fry until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer to clean paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

DOUBLE-FRIED FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes on the sides, leaving the ends with the skin on. Cut the potatoes into 1/3-inch slices and then slice into 1/3-inch sticks.
• Fill a large bowl with water and soak potatoes, submerged, for at least 30 minutes up to 24 hours. This will help remove the excess starch from the potatoes and keep them from oxidizing.
• Heat a heavy stock pot fitted with a deep-fry thermometer with oil to 325 degrees F.
• Remove potatoes from the water, and pat dry to remove excess water. Add 2 handfuls of potatoes to hot oil. There should be at least 1-inch of oil above the potatoes. Par cook until potatoes are light brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove potatoes, gently shaking off excess oil and let drain on rack. Repeat until all of the potatoes are par cooked.
• Raise heat of oil to 350 degrees F.
• Cook potatoes again, 2 handfuls at a time, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove from oil, shake off excess oil, and season lightly in a bowl with salt and pepper. Repeat until all potatoes are cooked.

FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and square off sides and ends. Cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices, then cut into 4-inch x 1/3-inch x 1/3-inch sticks. Place in a large bowl and add cold water to cover by 1 inch; let soak in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. Drain potatoes and spread on a clean kitchen towel and dry completely, patting off as much water as possible.
• Line 2 baking sheets with a double thickness of paper towels and put a cooling rack on top of each. Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy stockpot over medium heat to 300 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches and using a spider (a long-handled, fine-mesh skimmer), lower potatoes into oil (the temperature will drop significantly, to about 270 degrees, and slowly climb up again) and stir to separate. Cook just until softened (test one by breaking in half; it should be almost completely cooked through), but not brown, about 3 minutes. Use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer fries to one of the prepared baking sheets to drain, spreading in a single layer. Allow oil to return to 300 degrees between each batch. (The potatoes can be blanched and left to drain on prepared baking sheets for 4 hours in the refrigerator before finishing, replacing the paper towels as necessary.)
• Heat oil to 350 degrees. Again, working in batches, add blanched potatoes to oil (the temperature will drop to about 340 degrees) and stir to separate. Cook until golden brown, 4 to 4 1/2 minutes. Use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer to prepared baking sheets to drain (replace paper towels if you are using the same baking sheets as above). Allow oil to return to 350 degrees between each batch. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.

BEST BAKED FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; spray with cooking spray.
• Place sliced potatoes in a colander; sprinkle sugar over potatoes. Set aside until liquid is released from potatoes, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain liquid and dry potatoes well.
• Mix potato slices, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a resealable bag until evenly coated. Spread coated potato slices in a single layer, leaving space around each potato, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes; flip fries and continue baking until crisp and browned, about 20 more minutes.

DOUBLE RANCH FRIES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
• Cut potatoes into wedges or fries, and soak in a bowl with milk. Stir together the ranch dressing mix and garlic salt; place on a plate or in a bag. Drain potatoes, and roll in the seasonings to coat.
• Place potatoes into the deep-fryer in batches so they are not too crowded. Fry for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and season with leftover seasoning mixture.

TRIPLE-COOKED FRIES

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into strips approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide and 1/2 inch thick. As you cut them, submerge them in a bowl filled with cold water to prevent oxidizing (turning color).
• Fill a stockpot with cold water, add a little salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lift the potatoes from the cold water with a slotted spoon and cook in the boiling water until fork-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Lift the potatoes from the water and spread out on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Pat the potatoes dry, replace the original layer of paper towels with dry paper towels, and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a deep, heavy pot or deep-fat fryer, bring the fat to a temperature of 275°F over medium-high heat.
• Working in batches, fry the chilled potatoes for 3 to 5 minutes before lifting them from the hot oil with a slotted metal spoon and spreading on the baking sheet (no paper towels this time!). Let the oil regain its heat between batches. Chill the potatoes again for about 15 minutes.
• While the potatoes chill, raise the heat under the fat or adjust the thermostat on the fryer and heat the fat to 375°F.
• Fry the chilled potatoes again until golden brown and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes, working in batches and letting the fat regain its heat between each one. Use tongs or extra-long chopsticks to break the potatoes apart, if necessary, and turn them in the fat so that they brown evenly.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer the fries to a shallow bowl. Add the parsley and toss to mix. Season with salt and serve warm.