Crispy Seasoned Cottage Fries Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are cottage fries made of? ›

Served as a side dish, appetizer, or snack, cottage fries are potatoes (preferably Russet, but more on this below) cut into 1/2-inch rounds, seasoned, and roasted in a hot oven until they're crisp and lightly browned on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Simmering the fries in water washes away the excess sugars that can cause the fries to brown too much before they have a chance to properly crisp up when frying. The water also activates the starches in the potato. Starch, when fried, is what creates that crispy surface we want!

If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

Most often they are round and smooth or crinkle cut. The name "cottage fry" comes from their likeness to shingles on a cottage when arranged in neat rows. They also have country roots, and the term cottage fry is the perfect reminder of this.

plural noun

: raw or cooked potatoes sliced and fried in a heavy skillet. called also home fried potatoes.

Refined peanut oil is the best oil to use for making french fries. You can also use canola or safflower oil. Additionally, restaurant fries are so crispy because, among other things, they use old oil continuously.

Baking powder can be used to achieve a crispy outer texture while keeping the inside of fried foods tender.

“I love using russet potatoes because they are the starchiest,” says Nicole. “They have the least amount of moisture, so when you fry them they'll be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.” Drain the sliced potatoes on paper towels as well as you can before frying to ensure the crispiest texture.

But to give you the Cliff's Notes version, the baking soda alkalizes the water. It breaks down the pectin in the potato and brings the natural starches up to the surface. This, when combined with the pot shaking, contributes to deep browning and ultra crunchines that we're looking for.

A properly made fry must hit the oil twice--once at a lower temperature, and then again at 350 degrees Fahrenheit--to get the perfect creamy interior and crunchy exterior. Before all that, though, the secret is to briefly poach them in boiling water (or "blanch" them) before they go into the hot oil.

Why do restaurants soak fries in water? ›

A: The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

This step is commonly missed in making homemade fries, but it might be one of the most important! Soaking your fries in cold water helps remove excess starch, which allows for crispy, golden fries! The cold water bath also helps the french fries retain their shape and contributes to a fluffy inside.

Corn Starch: Adding a thin coating of corn starch to the potato fries before frying can help create a crispier exterior. When the corn starch comes into contact with the hot oil, it forms a barrier that traps moisture within the potato while also developing a crunchy crust.

And the clear winners are Idaho or russet potatoes.

These potatoes are dense and have less moisture, which is key to avoiding soggy fries. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes, which are an all-purpose potato that can be used for frying. You should avoid waxy potatoes like red-skinned, new, or fingerling potatoes.

WISE COTTAGE FRIES® SOUR CREAM & ONION FLAVOUR

Contains Permitted Food Additives of Plant, Animal (Cow) and Synthetic Origin. May Contains Traces Of Soybean, Gluten, Crustacea, Egg, Fish And Nuts.

Cottage Fries are crispy on the outside and packed with Ore-Ida goodness on the inside. Delicious as a side dish or hot snack Ore-Ida Cottage Fries taste great no matter how you eat them! Gluten-free. Product of USA.

If you don't know, animal-style fries are a special In-N-Out menu item that feature french fries topped with cheese sauce, In-N-Out secret spread, and grilled onions.

By using heart-healthy olive oil and baking your hand-cut fries, you'll be getting all of the nutrients potatoes naturally have to offer, according to the USDA, without all of the unhealthy fats and preservatives so common in fast food fries, per McDonald's.