Real home-made chips*
It's not easy to make these - the original "French fries" - well at home, that is, to produce golden and crunchy chips from fresh potatoes. Here is a way of doing it in three cooking stages, which gives very good results: melting in the middle, crunchy on the outside, and a nice golden colour. What's more, everything can be prepared in advance.
[Translator's note: I have called these "chips" (the British English term, not to be confused with flat round "crisps", being what Americans understand by the term) rather than "French fries", to distinguish them from the very fine-cut variety often served under that name, and hope that American visitors will understand and forgive me].
[Translator's note: I have called these "chips" (the British English term, not to be confused with flat round "crisps", being what Americans understand by the term) rather than "French fries", to distinguish them from the very fine-cut variety often served under that name, and hope that American visitors will understand and forgive me].
439 K 3.9/5 (101 reviews)
1 hour 50 min.
Easy
6 people
2 IngredientsLast modified on: December 30th 2019
For 6 people, you will need:
1 kg 
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 30 min.
Resting: 1 hour
Cooking: 20 min.
All in all: 1 hour 50 min.
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: 17:45.Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 10 min.
Stage 1: boiling.
Peel and rinse 1 kg potatoes. It's a good idea to use large potatoes. I have a preference for samba but bintje, and no doubt other varieties, are also quite suitable.
Peel and rinse 1 kg potatoes. It's a good idea to use large potatoes. I have a preference for samba but bintje, and no doubt other varieties, are also quite suitable.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Cut the potoatoes into fairly thick slices (about 1 cm or 0.4 inches).
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Cut the slices into sticks of the same thickness. It's important not to make the chips too thin, otherwise they'll not be soft in the middle.
Stage 4 - 5 min.
Put the cut chips in a large bowl under running water for 2 to 3 minutes, swishing them round from time to time until the water runs clear.
Stage 5 - 10 min.
Prepare a large pan of lightly salted water and put the chips on to boil.
It's important that the chips are thoroughly cooked, to the point where the corners or edges begin to crumble, as you can see in the photo lower down, and become irregular.
It's a bit tricky, as the chips become fragile once cooked, but it's worth knowing that the more cooked the chips, the better they'll be. But do take care; a few minutes too long and you'll end up with potato soup.
It's important that the chips are thoroughly cooked, to the point where the corners or edges begin to crumble, as you can see in the photo lower down, and become irregular.
It's a bit tricky, as the chips become fragile once cooked, but it's worth knowing that the more cooked the chips, the better they'll be. But do take care; a few minutes too long and you'll end up with potato soup.
Stage 6 - 30 min.
When they are well cooked, remove the chips gently and drain on a rack.
As soon as they are cool, put the rack in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to dry the chips.
As soon as they are cool, put the rack in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to dry the chips.
Stage 7
You can see on this close-up what I mentioned earlier: the chips are well cooked and their edges (as shown by the arrows) have started to break up. This is important as these little irregularities give a noticable extra crunch to the chips when fried.
Stage 8 - 5 min.
Stage 2: first frying.
Fry the chips for the first time in very hot oil for 5 minutes.
Do this in batches if necessary.
Fry the chips for the first time in very hot oil for 5 minutes.
Do this in batches if necessary.
Stage 9 - 30 min.
The aim is not to cook the chips, just part cook them. They should be barely coloured.
Drain them thoroughly, then tip them onto the rack again, and leave to wait for at least 30 minutes.
Drain them thoroughly, then tip them onto the rack again, and leave to wait for at least 30 minutes.
Stage 10 - 5 min.
Stage 3: second and final frying.
Put the chips back into the hot oil for about 5 minutes, removing them as soon as they have browned to your liking.
Put the chips back into the hot oil for about 5 minutes, removing them as soon as they have browned to your liking.
Stage 11 - 2 min.
Tip into a dish lined with a layer of absorbant paper, salt lightly and serve without delay.
Remarks
If you are used to frozen chips, you'll be amazed by the taste of these. It's a fair bit of work, but the result is worth it.
You can improve on stage 2 by putting the pre-cooked chips in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Stage 1 and stage 2 can be done hours beforehand, even the previous day. You can freeze the chips after stage 1, maybe even after stage 2, but I've not yet tried this.
For me, nothing goes better with these chips than béarnaise sauce. In a good restaurant they are already great, but home made: a pure delight.
You can improve on stage 2 by putting the pre-cooked chips in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Stage 1 and stage 2 can be done hours beforehand, even the previous day. You can freeze the chips after stage 1, maybe even after stage 2, but I've not yet tried this.
For me, nothing goes better with these chips than béarnaise sauce. In a good restaurant they are already great, but home made: a pure delight.
Source: Inspired by Heston Blumenthal.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 20 RDI=8 % | 190 RDI=20 % | 1 RDI=0 % | 850 RDI=40 % | 3,560 RDI: 40 % |
| Per 100 g | 2 RDI=1 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 0 | 90 RDI=4 % | 360 RDI: 4 % |
| Per person | 3 RDI=1 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 0 | 140 RDI=7 % | 590 RDI: 7 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 6 people : 1 €
- Per person : 0.20 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Potatoes
Like these other recipes: Smooth mixed vegetable soup, Hot box cheese , Home-made potato crisps , Alsatian-style salad, Seafood sauerkraut, ... See them all 83
Salt
Like these other recipes: How to cook rice in rice-cooker, Brussels sprout salad, Spinach on toast with bechamel, Pizza dough, How to slow cook meat, ... See them all 652
Other recipes you may also like
Rice pudding (riz au lait)
My personal version of this classic family recipe.December 18th 2018402 K5 40 min.
Paris-Brest
The Paris-Brest is a famous French patisserie: a ring of choux pastry, scattered with flaked almonds and icing sugar and filled with a praline cream. The name comes from a historic cycle race between Paris and Brest (600 km or 372 miles), as the shape is like a bicycle wheel.May 8th 2011195 K4.6 2 hours 20 min.
Endive and walnut salad
This salad has a double dose of walnut flavour: walnut oil in the vinaigrette and crunchy walnut kernels.May 11th 201481 K4.9 25 min.
Ham à la Russe
Ham "à la Russe" is a slice of cooked ham rolled up around a macédoine of vegetables in mayonnaise.September 10th 2014110 K4.3 8 min.
Quick stuffed courgettes
This is a relatively rapid way to prepare stuffed courgettes, using ready-made items that you can take out of the fridge or freezer at the last minute (or nearly).September 17th 201752 K4.4 1 hour 6 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-29)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 8 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.