Pan-fried potatoes
What could be simpler than fried potatoes? No need of a recipe for that! Quite right, but it's also very easy to end up making fried mash instead. Here are the main pitfalls to avoid.
304 K 4.2/5 (57 reviews)
1 hour 40 min.
Easy
4 people
3 IngredientsLast modified on: February 3rd 2011
For 4 people, you will need:
2 lb + 3.2 oz 
3 tablespoons 
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 45 min.
Cooking: 55 min.
All in all: 1 hour 40 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 20 min.
Peel and wash 2 lb + 3.2 oz potatoes.
Cut into medium sized pieces if you have big potatoes, the ideal size is about that of your thumb.
If you cut potatoes, wash again. This is very important because cutting potatoes releases starch, and that starch will make them stick when cooking.
After washing, dry in a cloth. This is another important point, because wet potatoes can make the hot oil spit dangerously.
Cut into medium sized pieces if you have big potatoes, the ideal size is about that of your thumb.
If you cut potatoes, wash again. This is very important because cutting potatoes releases starch, and that starch will make them stick when cooking.
After washing, dry in a cloth. This is another important point, because wet potatoes can make the hot oil spit dangerously.
Stage 2 - 2 min.
Pour 3 tablespoons oil into a non-stick pan on medium heat, and add potatoes. Stir well to coat each potato with oil.
Stage 3 - 40 min.
Turn down heat, cover, do not salt and do not touch for at least 40 minutes.
You must resist all temptation to salt because it makes them stick, and to stir them because it is useless and eventually produces famous fried mash.
You must resist all temptation to salt because it makes them stick, and to stir them because it is useless and eventually produces famous fried mash.
Stage 4 - 5 min.
After this time, uncover, salt, and...
Stage 5 - 15 min.
... stir gently so that fried sides of potatoes are on top.
Leave to cook a further 15 minutes, still covered.
Leave to cook a further 15 minutes, still covered.
Stage 6 - 15 min.
Repeat this until potatoes are fried as you like them.
Stage 7
Be careful because once fried, potatoes can't be kept waiting, covered or not they will go soft.
You should serve them without delay.
You should serve them without delay.
Remarks
Brief summary of the method: wash and dry potatoes, coat with a little oil, cook slowly without salt and without stirring for 40 minutes, only then should you salt and stir to cook on all sides.
You will get excellent results with rattes (small firm waxy potatoes), they are already just the right size.
My uncle Pierre, a great chef, when he was chef of his own restaurant, used this dish to test new young cooks.
You will get excellent results with rattes (small firm waxy potatoes), they are already just the right size.
My uncle Pierre, a great chef, when he was chef of his own restaurant, used this dish to test new young cooks.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, in a closed jar.
Source: My uncle Pierre Barbary, the best self-taught chef I have ever known!.
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 % | 50 RDI=7 % | 1,260 RDI=60 % | 5,250 RDI: 60 % |
| Per 100 g | 1 RDI=1 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 4 RDI=1 % | 120 RDI=6 % | 500 RDI: 6 % |
| Per person | 5 RDI=2 % | 50 RDI=4 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 310 RDI=20 % | 1,310 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 4 people : 1.10 €
- Per person : 0.30 €
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: Crème de foie gras, Home-made potato crisps , Valay salad, Smoky sausage and mash, Hasselback or "Swedish-style" potatoes, ... See them all 83
Oil
Like these other recipes: Morteau sausage , How to prevent butter burning during cooking, Comtois surprise bread, Comtoise endive salad, Crispy potato galette with leeks, ... See them all 93
Salt
Like these other recipes: Croque-monsieur complet, Baked Mont d'Or with diced mixed vegetables, Leavened bread, Two-olive ciabatta, Morel risotto with Vin Jaune and Mont d'Or, ... See them all 653
Other recipes you may also like
How to prepare white beans
When you want to use white beans in a recipe, most of the time you use dried beans. They're handy, but they're hard and not easy to use, but don't worry, in this recipe you'll see how to prepare and cook them.August 16th 202325 K 12 hours 20 min.
Marinated tuna with herbs
Here is a very simple recipe, preferably for a barbecue or plancha, but could be made in the kitchen. As for any summer-barbecue-backyard recipe, all proportons can be varied according to taste.February 21th 2011274 K4.3 1 hour 25 min.
Hamburgers
Hamburgers don't have to be the greasy flabby things you find in fast-food outlets, well-made they can be excellent. It's a very convivial recipe as everything goes on the table, and everyone assembles their own burger according to personal taste.December 6th 2015425 K4.8 35 min.
How to peel a pineapple
For most recipes it is necessary to completely peel the pineapple, and to keep only the flesh which is then often cut into small pieces. Here is a method.February 21th 2011211 K3.7 20 min.
How to glaze a tart
Professional pastrycooks usually say that "a beautiful cake is already half sold", it is one of the reasons why they do not put a tart on sale without glazing it ("abricoter" in Fench), i.e. coating it with a thick apricot syrup. This glaze gives a glossy finish to the tart (see the photographs...February 15th 2016459 K4.4 7 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-06)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 5 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.