There’s a reason why French fries are called fries. Because they’re supposed to be fried. It is not baked.
Thus, if you want to know how to cook frozen French fries to perfection in a pan, there are two alternative methods.
Simply said, they may be cooked in hot or cold oil, and they can be frozen or thawed.
Every technique used properly will result in brilliantly golden fried French fries.
Contents
- 10 minutes to prepare frozen French fries
- Frozen French Fries Fry in Cold Oil
- Frozen French Fries Fry in Hot Oil
- The Benefits and Drawbacks of Each Technique
- To summarize
- FAQs
- Can you cook frozen French fries in a frying pan?
- What is the best way to cook frozen French fries?
- Can you cook frozen potatoes in a frying pan?
- Do I need to defrost frozen French fries before frying?
- How long to fry frozen french fries in oil?
- What is the best oil for frying french fries?
- Should you soak frozen fries before frying?
- Why are my frozen fries not crispy?
- Can you fry frozen French fries in olive oil?
- Why aren’t my pan fried potatoes crispy?
10 minutes to prepare frozen French fries
When you have a need for delectable French fries that are perfectly cooked, you must ensure that the French fries are made appropriately.
When frozen French fries will be used instead of fresh potatoes, the starch value will be much lower.
There is minimal to no preparation required if you are cooking frozen French fries.
When frying French fries from a thawed state, a little more attention to detail is required.
When thawing frozen French fries, first lay the desired amount of French fries on a paper towel to absorb the moisture that will be emitted throughout the thawing process.
Remove as much moisture from the top and bottom of the French fries as possible.
Frozen French Fries Fry in Cold Oil
Many individuals prefer to use cold oil to prevent hot oil spattering on their hands or arms.
Just turn your burner to medium heat and arrange the frozen French fries in a single layer in the frying pan.
While the fries are in the pan, add a layer of cold oil over them until they are completely coated.
Next you just turn on the burner and let the fat heat up to fry the French fries. It usually takes 15 to 20 minutes each batch.
When the oil reaches a rolling boil, however, you may remove your French fries since they are done!
After removing the fries from the fat, place them on a layer of paper towels or even brown paper lunch bags.
This is the best method for absorbing the fat from the French fries.
Season the fries with salt and pepper right away. Now is the greatest moment to season with anything you desire.
Just make sure you apply it while the fries are still hot from the oil so that the seasoning stays to them.
When asked why individuals use cold oil, the most common response is because there is no babysitting involved.
The cook is not required to be in the kitchen and watch over the stove. This permits them to prepare additional food items during the dinner while remaining certain that nothing will burn.
Frozen French Fries Fry in Hot Oil
While employing the hot oil technique, you should use either peanut or vegetable oil since they can resist high heat better than any other oil.
The hot oil method is quite similar to the cold oil procedure. Heat the peanut or vegetable oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a heavy-bottomed pan.
Before you put any frozen French fries in the oil, use a thermometer to check the temperature.
After the oil reaches 350°F, add one layer of frozen French fries and fry for a maximum of three minutes.
Avoid crowding the French fries in the oil. This ensures that they cook evenly.
After three minutes, remove the French fries and set them on paper towels or brown paper lunch bags to absorb any extra oil.
Your fries are far from done at this stage. Looking at them, you’ll see that they’re still pale and frail.
Increase the temperature of your oil to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and check it again using a thermometer. When the temperature hits 400 degrees Fahrenheit, add the fries for a second frying time.
Keep an eye on your French fries and remove them from the oil as soon as they begin to become golden brown.
Put them on fresh paper towels to absorb the oil once again. The second cooking time will be between two and three minutes.
Be sure to season your fries with salt and pepper just after you take them out of the oil for the second time.
Again, this is an excellent time to add any additional seasonings you like. Several individuals like to add powdered cheese or seasoned salt.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Each Technique
The main disadvantage of trying the cold oil approach is that it takes longer to cook them. It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes in total.
This does not include the time spent preparing. Thus, from start to finish, you’re looking at roughly a 30-minute overall time.
The main advantage of using heated oil to fry the ideal French fry is that it takes less time to cook, which means you can prepare them for bigger groups.
A big disadvantage would be the possibility of getting burnt by splattered grease. The burns will be remembered for a long time!
To summarize
If the cook has time and ingenuity for spices, any frozen French fry may be fried to perfection.
Yet, like with everything in life, one approach is always superior than another. Cooking is absolutely no exception.
While frying, having a minimum quantity of moisture in a frozen French fry is critical. The moisture will be released into the oil, causing it to splatter.
When water hits oil, there is a greater chance that steam will be forced through the oil at high rates, causing spattering and maybe burns.
As with everything, proceed with care.
You may also be interested in:
- In A Pan, How Do You Reheat Fried Chicken?
- What Is the Best Way to Steam Vegetables in a Pan?
- Is it possible to cook steak in a nonstick pan?
- Can You Deep-Fry in a Nonstick Skillet? Stuff You Should Know!
FAQs
Can you cook frozen French fries in a frying pan?
Cook frozen French fries in a frying pan with a neutral-tasting, high-smoke-point oil. Moreover, heat the oil to 350°F and cook the French fries for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. To achieve consistent cooking, avoid adding too many fries to the pan.
What is the best way to cook frozen French fries?
The optimum optimal temperature is between 325 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is what restaurants utilize — and you know they know what they’re doing. Frying your french fries at this temperature will guarantee that they are golden, crispy, and tasty without becoming too mushy and bland.
Can you cook frozen potatoes in a frying pan?
A: You may leave the potatoes frozen or defrost them till they are still chilly. Put them on a hot, greased flat-top grill or skillet set to 350°F. Cook for 4 minutes each side, flipping once.
Do I need to defrost frozen French fries before frying?
Do not defrost frozen French fries before cooking them. Before utilizing frozen French fries, keep them thoroughly frozen. This ensures that the potato’s surface is sealed throughout the frying process, resulting in a crispy, high-quality fry.
How long to fry frozen french fries in oil?
Fill a big straight-sided pan with approximately 1 inch of vegetable oil, heat to 350°F, and cook frozen French fries in batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes each side.
What is the best oil for frying french fries?
The best oil to use for preparing french fries is refined peanut oil. Canola or safflower oil may also be used. Moreover, restaurant fries are so crispy because, among other things, they are constantly cooked in old oil.
Should you soak frozen fries before frying?
If you’re using frozen French fries, there’s no need to defrost them before frying them. In fact, thawing frozen fries may result in mushy fries. This is because the ice will melt and soak into the potatoes rather than instantly evaporating in the hot oil.
Why are my frozen fries not crispy?
Excessive oil might result in a soggier, less crispy fried. So place the fries in a plastic bag, spritz with oil, close the bag, and shake before adding to the frying sheet or rack (or basket, if using an air fryer).
Can you fry frozen French fries in olive oil?
Can you cook frozen french fries in olive oil? Because of its low smoke point of 374° F, olive oil cannot be used to cook frozen French fries. Extra virgin olive oil may begin to burn before the frozen potato fries finish cooking, resulting in mushy fries.
Why aren’t my pan fried potatoes crispy?
Let the oil to heat up completely before adding the potatoes. It will not smoke, but it will cause a ripple in the pan. Avoid overcrowding the skillet. You may cover the pan to help them cook for the first few minutes, but remove it for the final few minutes or your potatoes will be soggy.