Crispy Fun-staurant French Fries at Home
McDonald’s Ex-Employee Chef Ryu Soo-young’s Secret Recipe! ‘Fun-staurant French Fries’
Hello everyone! I’ll share the secret to making french fries at home that are just as delicious as those from a professional establishment, drawing from my experience working at McDonald’s. This is Chef Ryu Soo-young’s special ‘Fun-staurant French Fries’ recipe! Experience the fantastic texture – crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside – right in your own kitchen. It’s made with simple ingredients and is easy for anyone to follow.
Ingredients
- 3 handfuls frozen french fries (approx. 300g)
- 500ml cooking oil (enough to submerge the fries)
- 4 pinches salt (adjust to taste)
- Ketchup, for serving
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First and foremost, the key to making delicious french fries at home is to use ‘frozen french fries.’ If you try to cut and fry fresh potatoes, it’s difficult to achieve that signature taste and texture of fast-food chain fries like McDonald’s. Prepare some store-bought frozen french fries!
Step 2
Pour about 500ml of cooking oil into a deep pot, like one you’d use for ramen. It’s important to use enough oil so that the french fries can be fully submerged. Now, we’re going to heat the oil to a very high temperature over high heat.
Step 3
Here’s a tip for checking if the oil is hot enough. When you start seeing ‘oil trails,’ like fine threads, on the surface of the oil, it’s a sign that the temperature is rising. At that point, gently insert a wooden chopstick into the oil. If small bubbles start to rise around the chopstick, it means the oil has reached the perfect temperature for frying, around 180°C (350°F).
Step 4
Now it’s time to add the french fries. If you dump a large amount of fries into the hot oil all at once, the oil can splash dangerously! Therefore, use a tool like a spatula or a fine-mesh skimmer to hold the fries and carefully lower them into the hot oil. Keep the heat on high and fry for about 8 minutes.
Step 5
Initially, you’ll see a lot of bubbles rise from the oil due to the moisture content in the fries themselves. However, as they cook, you’ll notice the bubbles gradually subside. Be careful not to add too many fries at once, as this can drastically lower the oil temperature, leading to soggy or burnt fries. Stirring gently with chopsticks while frying will prevent the fries from sticking together. When you lift the fries with chopsticks and hear a ‘crispy, crackling’ sound, they are almost done!
Step 6
It’s important to remove the french fries just as their surface starts to turn a delicious golden brown, before they become too dark. Over-frying can make them hard.
Step 7
Remove the fried french fries from the oil. Be cautious as they will still be quite hot.
Step 8
Instead of placing the fried fries directly on a plate, lay them on a plate lined with several layers of paper towels to drain excess oil. This step will help ensure they stay extra crispy.
Step 9
Transfer all the drained french fries into a bowl. Now it’s time for seasoning! Add 4 pinches of salt and mix well. It’s best to add salt while the fries are still hot so that the seasoning adheres properly. You can adjust the amount of salt according to your preference. (For an extra kick, you can also sprinkle a little pepper!)
Step 10
There you have it – delicious french fries that rival those from a restaurant, made right at home! It’s truly not difficult, is it? Enjoy them hot with some ketchup!
