French Fry question

RE: French Fry question (Adjudicator)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:21:19 GMT

IMO, any type of fries directly out of hot oil for less that 5 minutes (and salted) will taste good. I prefer traditional cut skin-on fries, myself. Crinkle-cut OK but not my favorite. I used to like steak cut style fries also, but the 5 minute rule is hard to observe when eating them, especially when there are other goodies to consume.

RE: French Fry question (Ashphalt)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:02:54 GMT

I've gotta agree with Greyghost that crinkle cuts are usually better in theory than in practice. Typically they're served limp and underdone. Once in a while you get some that are good, hot, golden brown and fresh from the fryolator and they're great, but that's the exceptional case.

Something similar happens with "Texas" fries. They sound good, but they're usually wet on the outside and undercooked on the inside, more like an under-roasted potato than a fry. Given a choice, my safe bet is a thin straight cut, even a shoestring.

RE: French Fry question (divefl)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:57:08 GMT

I'm a hamburger. I'm a hamburger.

RE: French Fry question (divefl)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:55:57 GMT

I probably lean towards straight as I come into contact with them the most, but my favorite frie is crispy. No matter what cut.

RE: French Fry question (Foxyfishy14)

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:46:24 GMT

I like the crinkle cuts the best...they remind me of when I was a kid and we used to get them up in maine on the beach with some lunch...those were the days!

RE: French Fry question (Big Ugly Mich)

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:10:17 GMT

I rather like the waffle fries myself, sort of an American Fry with holes in it. I could never tell the difference between crinkle cut and regular cut. I wonder why they don't make french cut fries like they do french cut beans?

RE: French Fry question (rebeltruce)

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:45:27 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Greyghost

I believe the idea behind crinkle cut is to expose more surface area to the cooking fat.
For me the theory does not work. It creates an uneven surface, thus an uneven result.

Frozen fries are not fries, crinkle or not. If you want to do them in the oven, buy real potatoes cut them up and coat with your own oil. Proceed exactly as you do with the frozen.

Real fries must be done with real potatoes, real oil and actually deep fried. An acceptable short cut is pan frying much as one would do with chicken. I cant believe people are still buying this frozen bagged stuff.

The question is, do you want a mystery bag from a huge corporation with same dedication others gave to their suppliers? First it was the pet food, then the toothpaste, then the toys.
Are you really feeling lucky when you buy that corporate bag?

Perhaps you may want to spend a few minutes cutting up real potatoes and enjoy real fries.

I don't cook the frozen frys in the oven, I deep fry them. While they may not be as good as a true double fried fresh french fry, (say that 5 times really fast...LOL) I find them to be quite tasty.

I disagree that you can take a potato, slice it up, coat it with oil and bake it in the oven and expect to have a fry. Not saying that they would be bad, they just don't compare to a deep fried Ore Ida crinkle cut fry, not the "crispers", but the crinkle cut frys.

RE: French Fry question (BigDave67)

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:28:29 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Greyghost

I believe the idea behind crinkle cut is to expose more surface area to the cooking fat.
For me the theory does not work. It creates an uneven surface, thus an uneven result.

Frozen fries are not fries, crinkle or not. If you want to do them in the oven, buy real potatoes cut them up and coat with your own oil. Proceed exactly as you do with the frozen.

Real fries must be done with real potatoes, real oil and actually deep fried. An acceptable short cut is pan frying much as one would do with chicken. I cant believe people are still buying this frozen bagged stuff.

The question is, do you want a mystery bag from a huge corporation with same dedication others gave to their suppliers? First it was the pet food, then the toothpaste, then the toys.
Are you really feeling lucky when you buy that corporate bag?

Perhaps you may want to spend a few minutes cutting up real potatoes and enjoy real fries.

I really like frozen fries.I think it's a stretch trying to tie them to those other products.

RE: French Fry question (Greyghost)

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:14:30 GMT

I believe the idea behind crinkle cut is to expose more surface area to the cooking fat.
For me the theory does not work. It creates an uneven surface, thus an uneven result.

Frozen fries are not fries, crinkle or not. If you want to do them in the oven, buy real potatoes cut them up and coat with your own oil. Proceed exactly as you do with the frozen.

Real fries must be done with real potatoes, real oil and actually deep fried. An acceptable short cut is pan frying much as one would do with chicken. I cant believe people are still buying this frozen bagged stuff.

The question is, do you want a mystery bag from a huge corporation with same dedication others gave to their suppliers? First it was the pet food, then the toothpaste, then the toys.
Are you really feeling lucky when you buy that corporate bag?

Perhaps you may want to spend a few minutes cutting up real potatoes and enjoy real fries.

RE: French Fry question (Saint Matt)

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:05:47 GMT

I love crinkle cut. I don't know why, but they always taste better to me. I like them slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

RE: French Fry question (db1105)

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:37:33 GMT

Regular cut

RE: French Fry question (rebeltruce)

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:26:39 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Fieldthistle

Hello All,
When I bake them in the oven, I use Ore-Ida crinkle.
Home-made that I drop in the oil, I hand cut with a medium thickness.
When eating out, I prefer medium cut, straight fries.
I don't really like thin straight fries as there is not
enough meat to them.
Also, when I make them at home, the age of the oil has much to
do with the quality and taste of the fries, whether crinkle or straight cut.
The best tasting fries I've had were fried in lard rather than vegetable oil,
but that was many moons ago.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

Fieldthistle,

I love the Ore-Ida crinkle cut, not the "formed" ones but the ones that are sliced as whole potato's. I always deep fry mine though..

On another note aren't you located in the Luray, Va area....? I seem to remember having a brief conversation with you here on Roadfood about Melting Pot Pizza in Front Royal...if so did you ever get a chance to give them a try?

Sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread, I like all frys...heck I just like deep fried stuff in general!!!!

RE: French Fry question (Fieldthistle)

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:51:38 GMT

Hello All,
When I bake them in the oven, I use Ore-Ida crinkle.
Home-made that I drop in the oil, I hand cut with a medium thickness.
When eating out, I prefer medium cut, straight fries.
I don't really like thin straight fries as there is not
enough meat to them.
Also, when I make them at home, the age of the oil has much to
do with the quality and taste of the fries, whether crinkle or straight cut.
The best tasting fries I've had were fried in lard rather than vegetable oil,
but that was many moons ago.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

RE: French Fry question (tkitna)

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 03:07:50 GMT

I'll be honest, i've never really thought about it. Is there a difference in taste to anybody? I do however like my fries soft and not real crispy so maybe its just me.

RE: French Fry question (ynotryme)

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:37:58 GMT

crinkle cut but I make my own with a crinkle cut serrator, sort of a wavy bladded cleaver with a handle.

RE: French Fry question (Twinwillow)

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:53:47 GMT

I prefer "regular" fries. Crinkle cut fries never seem to be crispy enough for me. And, I do like my fries crispy.
Unless, they are "Texas cut fries".

French Fry question (BigDave67)

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:38:09 GMT

Do y'all prefer regular or crinkle cut fries? I love crinkle cut fries,fresh out of the fryer!