McDonald’s-Style French Fries: Homemade Crispy and Golden Deliciousness

To make French fries like McDonald’s, follow these steps:

Ingredients:

  • 4 large Russet potatoes (uniformly sized for consistency)
  • 2 quarts of water
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
  • Peanut oil or vegetable oil (for frying)
  • Salt

Instructions:

  1. Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut them into uniform 1/4-inch thick sticks, trying to maintain consistency in size for even cooking.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the water, sugar, and vinegar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Soak the potato sticks in the water mixture for 30 minutes to remove excess starch and improve their texture.
  3. While the potatoes are soaking, preheat the oil in a deep fryer or a heavy-duty deep pot to 300°F (150°C). Ensure there is enough oil to fully submerge the fries, but do not fill more than halfway to avoid overflow.
  4. After 30 minutes, drain the potatoes and pat them completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  5. Fry the potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding. Maintain the oil temperature at 300°F (150°C) and blanch the fries for 2-3 minutes. They should be slightly cooked but not yet golden. Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the fries from the oil and transfer them to a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil. Let them cool for about 10 minutes.
  6. While the fries cool, increase the oil temperature to 375°F (190°C). Once the oil is heated, fry the potatoes again in batches for 3-4 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy. Be sure to maintain the oil temperature during frying.
  7. Remove the fries from the oil using a slotted spoon or spider strainer and place them on a clean wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil.
  8. Season the fries with salt while they’re still hot. Toss them gently to distribute the salt evenly.

Serve your McDonald’s-style French fries immediately for the best taste and texture. Enjoy with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.