How to Make the Best Pan-Fried French Fries

French fries are one of life’s guilty pleasures. But have you ever made them from scratch before? Pan-fried french fries are easier to make (and even less messy) than you might think! The secret to the best skillet french fries is using the double-fry method. When double-frying, you fry the potatoes once at a lower temperature, then increase the heat and fry them a second time. The result: the crispest and tastiest golden brown fries you’ll ever eat.

Psst! If you love french fries, you’ve got to try these recipes.

How to Deep-Fry French Fries on the Stove

Ingredients

• 1 pound russet potatoes
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or another frying oil)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Special equipment

• 10-inch cast-iron skillet
• Instant-read digital thermometer (our Test Kitchen loves this colorful option from Thermoworks)

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the potatoes

Wash and peel the potatoes. Use a sharp knife to cut each potato into 1/4-inch julienned strips. Place the strips in a medium bowl and fill with water. Soak for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Drain and pat dry.

Editor’s Tip: Water and oil don’t mix! Make sure to thoroughly pat the potatoes dry before placing them into the hot oil. Otherwise, they’ll splatter. (Ouch!)

Step 2: Heat the oil

Add 1 cup of oil to a 10-inch cast-iron skillet (the walls of the skillet should be at least 2 inches high). Heat the oil to 340°F.

Editor’s Tip: Use a digital thermometer to monitor the oil temperature.

Step 3: Fry ’em up

Fry the potatoes in several batches. Place an even layer of fries into the hot oil. Fry for 5-6 minutes, or until lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the fries from the skillet, then drain them on a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat until all potatoes have been fried.

Step 4: Fry ’em again

Heat up the oil to 375°F. Fry your potatoes a second time in batches for 1-2 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown. Turn frequently with a wooden spoon or spatula to ensure even frying. Drain on fresh paper towels.

Step 5: Season the fries

In a bowl, season the fries to taste with salt and pepper—or get creative and use your favorite seasoning blend. Serve skillet french fries while they’re nice and hot.

Editor’s Tip: French fries are best eaten when fresh. If you have extras, here’s how to reheat fries so they’re as good as day one.

Looking for more ways to cook with your cast-iron skillet? Check out our complete guide to cast-iron cooking.

Delicious Things to Make with Leftover French Fries

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Short Rib Poutine

This combines the hearty, spicy flavors of my beloved slow cooker short ribs with my all-time favorite comfort food: fries and gravy. With a little prep in the morning, it's just about ready when I come home from work (plus, the kitchen smells amazing!). —Erin DeWitt, Long Beach, California   Not sure which brand of frozen french fries to buy? Check out the brands our editors and the Taste of Home Test Kitchen recommend.

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Reuben Waffle Potato Appetizers

I love Reubens, so I turned this classic sammie into a fun appetizer with corned beef and sauerkraut on waffle fries. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois

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Steak and Fries Salad

This is a very popular dish at restaurants in central Pennsylvania. Prepared sweet-and-sour dressing is good on this salad, too. —Nancy Collins, Clearfield, Pennsylvania

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Waffle Fry Nachos

My husband and two grown sons really enjoy these fun nachos—they can devour a platter of them in no time. They're also fun to make when friends come over. —Debra Morgan, Idaho Falls, Idaho

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Baked Chops and Cottage Fries

Convenience items like frozen vegetables, cottage fries and a jar of cheese sauce make it a snap to assemble this comforting pork chop supper. It's a simple one-dish meal. —Gregg Voss, Emerson, Nebraska

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Texas Chili Fries

The delicious chili goes together in minutes and then cooks while you run errands. The only way to make it even better is to pour it over crisp french fries and sprinkle with cheese. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Shepherd's Inn Breakfast Pie

Running a bed-and-breakfast keeps us busy. Once in a while I get creative and try to improve on an already good dish. That's how I came up with this one. It's a favorite among our guests.—Ellen Berdan, Salkum, Washington

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Crispy Fish & Chips

A British pub classic turns crown jewel when you add horseradish, panko and Worcestershire. You can also try it with white fish like cod or haddock. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin

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Loaded Baked Potato Dip

I never thought of using waffle-cut fries as a scoop for dip until a friend of mine did at a baby shower. They’re ideal for my cheesy bacon and chive dip, which tastes just like a baked potato topper. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota

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Beef & Tater Bake

The entire family will enjoy this heartwarming, all-in-one dinner. And cleanup is a breeze! —Mike Tchou, Pepper Pike, Ohio

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Tater Tot-chos

Playing with food is loads of fun when you have Tater Tots and taco toppings. Let kids build their own for smiles all around. —Eleanor Mielke, Mitchell, South Dakota

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Cheeseburger and Fries Casserole

Kids love this casserole because it combines two of their favorite fast foods. And I like the fact that I can whip it up with just four ingredients. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana

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Ultimate Pastrami Sandwiches

This peerless pastrami sandwich was adapted from a menu favorite at Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Pittsburgh. We took the basic ingredients—grilled cold cuts, cheese, fried potatoes and tomatoes—and created a tasty replica, including our version of their secret coleslaw topping. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Loaded Waffle Fries

Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois

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Mini-Burger Potato Bites

The caramelized onions and creamy sauce make these yummy bites a huge hit at parties. People say they’re even better than the mini burger appetizers that are so popular at restaurants.—Maribeth Condo, Lindenhurst, Illinois

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Poutine

The ultimate in French-Canadian junk food, poutine commonly features warm fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. This side dish is quick to fix with frozen potatoes and packaged gravy but has all the traditional greasy spoon comfort. —Shelisa Terry, Henderson, Nevada

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Ham 'n' Tater Bake

Get ready for a gourmet loaded baked potato in casserole form. This is so good, I can’t resist making it several times a month. And, it’s a quick and easy dish for company, too. My sister gave me the recipe, and I’m always happy to pass it along. —Peggy Grieme, Pinehurst, North Carolina

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Cheese Fries

I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina

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Loaded Tater Tot Bake

I keep frozen Tater Tots on hand for meals like this yummy Tater Tot casserole. It’s a super brunch, breakfast or side dish for kids of all ages. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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BBQ Chicken Waffle Fries

This is one of those dishes that sounds so wrong but tastes so right! Trust me—barbecue chicken leftovers are fantastic with the fries. We like it with lettuce, tomato and pickle, but you can add almost any toppings you like. —Janet Telleen, Russell, Iowa

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Philly Cheesesteak Bites

Here’s a deliciously downsized version of the ever-popular Philly cheesesteak. For perfect bite-size snacks, the sandwich ingredients are layered on waffle-cut fries instead of buns.

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Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Bake

This bacon cheeseburger tater tot casserole is the perfect dish to bribe your kids; homework, chores, piano practice—consider them done! —Deanna Zewen, Union Grove, Wisconsin

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Broccoli Beef Supper

Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables, so I'm constantly on the lookout for new ways of preparing it. This casserole is a great oven entree. —Connie Bolton, San Antonio, Texas.

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Cheesy Chili Fries

My family is all about chili fries, but restaurant versions pile on the calories. For a healthier approach, bake them and serve with green onions and avocado. —Beverly Nowling, Bristol, Florida

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The post How to Make the Best Pan-Fried French Fries appeared first on Taste of Home.

Susan Bronson