By: Jill Mills Posted: Sep 12, 2026

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These easy homemade French Fries are made with just Russet potatoes, salt, and oil. Using the double fry method ensures they’re tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, and that they stay crispy.

Overhead view of a plate of crispy homemade French fries with a dish of ketchup

It’s probably no surprise that we eat a lot of French fries in this house. With three boys who are always hungry and their friends over quite a bit, plus a busy schedule, fries are just one of those things we reach for often. I got tired of buying bags of frozen fries, so I decided to start making my own homemade French fries.

The most important thing for me was fries that are crispy and easy to make. I wasn’t trying to replicate a certain fast-food fry, but I did want one that had flavor and tasted good. It turns out all I needed to make crispy homemade French fries was the right potatoes and a bit of time.

The method used to make these crispy fries is similar to the method I use to make fish and chips, so I knew it would work. They’re not quite as crispy as my homemade shoestring fries, but mostly because they’re cut a bit thicker. It’s personal preference as to which is better. My boys and their friends definitely prefer these, especially when dipped in ridiculous amounts of fry sauce or ranch dressing.

Why These Homemade French Fries Are So Good

They stay crispy. So many homemade fries are crispy for about 2 minutes when they come out of the fryer. Not these ones! Using the right potatoes, removing excess starch, and using a double fry method means these French fries stay crispy even after they cool.
Tender on the inside. These are relatively thin fries but cut thick enough so that you actually have something to bite into, and the first fry at the lower temperature ensures that the inside is perfectly soft and tender.
Only 3 ingredients. The only things needed to make these fries are Russet potatoes, salt, and canola oil. You can add other seasonings, of course, but salt is really all that’s needed to make these irresistible.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make homemade French fries

What You’ll Need

Let’s take a look at the 3 ingredients in this recipe. They’re so simple! The exact measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Potatoes – Russet (aka Idaho) potatoes are the best for making homemade fries. They’re starchy with a lower water content than other varieties. I suspect that Yukon Gold potatoes would also work but avoid any waxy potatoes.
Salt – Kosher salt or sea salt, your preference.
Canola oil – Canola oil is a great choice for frying due to its high smoke point and neutral flavor. However, for a richer flavor and crispier texture, you can use beef tallow.
(Optional) seasonings – Feel free to add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning for extra flavor.

How To Make Crispy Homemade French Fries

These crispy fries are easy to make, with about 20 minutes of frying time. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Slicing a potato into homemade French fries

Slice the potatoes. Peel the potatoes. Cut one side to create a flat surface, then place the flat side down on a cutting board. Slice into pieces slightly thicker than ¼ inch, then cut the slices into sticks.
Soak in ice water. As you cut the fries, place them in a large bowl of ice water. Once all fries are cut, continue soaking in ice water for 10 minutes.
Drain the potatoes. Drain and rinse the potatoes under cold water. Spread on paper towels and pat completely dry, removing as much moisture as possible.

A slotted spoon removing partially cooked fries from the oil

Fry the potatoes. Heat the canola oil to 325F. Add half of the potatoes. Fry for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender inside. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with the second half.
Fry again. Increase the oil temperature to 375F. Fry the first half of the potatoes again for 3 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with the remaining fries.
Season. Transfer the fries to a paper towel-lined bowl. Season generously with salt while hot. Enjoy!

A red basket of crispy homemade French fries

Tips for Crispy Fries

The process for making homemade French fries is easy but there are a few key things to remember to ensure they turn out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Slice the potatoes evenly. Use a fry cutter for even slices, or ensure all fries are cut to a similar size for consistent cooking.
Soak the potatoes. Soaking the sliced potatoes in ice water helps remove excess starch that can keep them from crisping up in the oil.
Drain well. This goes for after rinsing them off AND after frying. Removing moisture before frying helps get them crispier, and prevent the oil from splattering too much. Draining them on paper towels immediately after frying is essential to prevent soggy fries.
Fry twice. The first fry cooks the interior, while the second fry crisps the exterior. This method ensures the best texture and fries that stay crispy.
Two different oil temperatures. You don’t want it higher than 325F for the first fry, as it can cause the potatoes to brown before the inside cooks, but the higher temperature is necessary to get the crispy outside on the second fry.
Use a thermometer. The best way to ensure the oil is at the right temperature is to use a thermometer. Be sure to let it come back to temp between batches if necessary.
Salt while hot. Add the salt immediately after the second fry so that it sticks to the fries.

A crispy homemade French fry dipped in ketchup

What to Serve Them With

These crispy homemade French fries pair so well with burgers, sandwiches, and BBQ. We love them with mushroom Swiss burgers, smash burgers, and chili hot dogs. They also pair great with air fryer chicken tenders.

And don’t forget the dipping sauces! My family loves fry sauce, homemade ketchup, ranch dressing, and honey mustard.

Storing & Reheating

Fridge: Store leftover homemade fries in an airtight container in the fridge. They’re best enjoyed within 5 days.
Reheat: To maintain the crispy texture, reheat the fries in the oven at 375F for about 10 minutes, until hot. The air fryer would work as well, but the microwave will make them soggy.

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