How to make french fries like McDonald's

[Hum]

"They are consistent," says David Myers, chef/owner of Comme Ca in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. "I can't imagine how many millions of dollars in research and development they have spent in order to achieve a perfect fry around the world." Myers is no stranger to fried potatoes. His restaurants, which serve classic French brasserie fare, cook hundreds of orders of "pommes frites" (French-fried potatoes) a week.

McDonald's French fries are shipped to outlets frozen. "We do all of ours fresh everyday," says Myers who uses the same recipe at his restaurants and at home. Myers also uses the best Idaho russet potatoes, French sea salt, and super fresh cooking oil.

He says the key to making a perfect, consistent, McDonald's-style fry is in the advance preparation. The cut potatoes need to be soaked for at least two hours before cooking which pulls out excess starch and ensures the crispiest product. Also, Myers recommends that, "you have plenty of paper towels, a lined sheet pan, and have your oil ready to go."

The beauty of Myers' two-step cooking method is that you can cook your fries ahead of a dinner party and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to finish in hot oil just before serving. This way you get the most delicious, sizzling, salty, golden-brown fries every time.

Perfect French Fries (adapted from David Myers's recipe for "pommes frites")

Ingredients:

6 Idaho russet potatoes

Peanut oil

Sea salt (Myers prefers Sel Gris, a fine light grey French salt)

Method:

Peel and square off potato ends. Cut into 3/8" batons. Soak for two hours changing water after an hour. Dry thoroughly with paper towels. Heat about an inch of oil (or enough to cover potatoes) in a large, heavy bottomed pot to 290 degrees. Blanch potatoes gently for about two minutes until cooked through but still completely pale. Place on a paper-towel lined sheet pan and cool in the refrigerator to stop cooking process.

Re-heat oil to 370 degrees. Cook fries until golden and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. If necessary, agitate gently with a spatula to prevent sticking. Remove from pan and toss with salt to taste (Myers doesn't blot but you can if you want less fat). Serve immediately. Recipe serves 4 to 6.

more

[cooky560 Veteran]

If the standard is set by McDonald's it can't be particularly high

[tsupersonic]

Why would you want crappy french fries? Not particularly a fan of any fast food french fries.

[pwnz0r3d]

I thought McDonald's fries where made out of salt, because that's all it taste like.

[Amarok]

Not a fan of french fries at all, but when I did eat them I thought McD's had some of the worst. Soggy, greasy, nasty.

[rajputwarrior]

whatever haters. best french fries in the world!

[KillTheIrishman]

Russett Potatoes- peeled and cut into quarters= steak fries (however many you'd like)

Lawry's Seasoning + a little black pepper

place in a pan and coat with EVOO

bake @ 350 for 30-45 minutes

MUCH better

[JaredFrost]

whatever haters. best french fries in the world!

The fries at McDonalds in Canada are awesome, the ones in the US are like deep fried lard sticks, they're pretty gross, so technically you're all right.

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

that is similar to how I have made fries for years.

[Tom]

whatever haters. best french fries in the world!

Are you their spokesman?

[KillTheIrishman]

The fries at McDonalds in Canada are awesome, the ones in the US are like deep fried lard sticks, they're pretty gross, so technically you're all right.

And you know this to be true or is it just a US bashing statement?

[KillTheIrishman]

Are you their spokesman?

Are you their anti campaign spokesman?

[Ambroos]

I'm a Belgian (Belgium = homeland of fries), and I quite like McDonald's fries. The Belgian ones at least. They are a bit salty but strangely satisfying to eat.

[Astra.Xtreme]

The problem is that fast food can be good if it's made correctly and with care, but we all know that the people that work fast food generally aren't very bright.

[Hum]

^ Mostly true.

McDonald's are not the best french fries I have ever had.

Big, long (as much as 8 inches), (1/2 inch) thick cut fries from a golf club restaurant were the best ever ! :p

[KillTheIrishman]

The problem is that fast food can be good if it's made correctly and with care, but we all know that the people that work fast food generally aren't very bright.

Generalizing a fast food worker is now your "specialty"? Who are you to judge? I personally know very many fast food workers who are very intelligent. The individuals are going to college and are trying to help pay their way through school.

[44MLX]

Mc Donald's French fries are the best! You can't make them unless you get them to supply you their frozen packs, which they have delivered to their stores.

[ozgeek]

french fries = chips?

[KillTheIrishman]

french fries = chips?

Technically, yes and nobody has better chips than the UK. IMHO Fish and chips. Nuff said. LoL

[Salutary7]

Nobody can perfectly emulate the taste of McDonald's food since it all has specially engineered artificial flavoring.

[rajputwarrior]

And you know this to be true or is it just a US bashing statement?

no because it's true. mcdonalds in the states in disgusting. except for the spicy mcchicken you guys have. it's awesome. (i eat a lot of mcdonalds...) and JaredFrost is right. the fries don't taste right down there.

[KillTheIrishman]

Nobody can perfectly emulate the taste of McDonald's food since it all has specially engineered artificial flavoring.

Tell that to the individual who perfected the KFC recipe (do a search).

[KillTheIrishman]

no because it's true. mcdonalds in the states in disgusting. except for the spicy mcchicken you guys have. it's awesome. (i eat a lot of mcdonalds...) and JaredFrost is right. the fries don't taste right down there.

Once again... and you know this how? Seems like you are basing your opinion from the CA side.

[rajputwarrior]

Technically, yes and nobody has better chips than the UK. IMHO Fish and chips. Nuff said. LoL

the UK wouldn't know what proper food was if it slapped them in the face. you guys call a burger two peices of bread and a peice of meat. no condiments, no veggies. UK food is soo bland. the best thing about UK food is the curries and that's indian.

[KillTheIrishman]

Anyone hungry yet? ;)