Bushra Griffith
There's nothing quite like a plate of crispy French fries smothered in cheese, and it's surprisingly easy to make at home. You can use frozen fries or make your own, and the best cheeses for the job are classic Cheddar, Mozzarella, or a combination of the two. If you're making your own fries, the best potatoes to use are russet, Yukon gold, or Idaho potatoes, and you'll want to cut them into wedges or shoestrings. Soak the potatoes in water for at least 30 minutes to remove excess starch, then dry them thoroughly and toss them in oil and seasoning before baking. For the cheese sauce, simply melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour and milk, and then slowly add in your cheese until it's fully melted. Pour the sauce over your crispy fries and enjoy!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oven temperature | 375°F to 475°F |
| Potato type | Russet, Yukon gold, Idaho, or any high-starch variety |
| Potato preparation | Peeled or unpeeled, cut into wedges or shoestrings, soaked in water, dried thoroughly |
| Seasonings | Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning |
| Toppings | Cheddar cheese, mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby jack, or American cheese, bacon, green onions, parsley, ranch dressing |
| Cheese sauce preparation | Melt butter, whisk in flour and milk, add cheese off heat, season to taste |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use russet potatoes for the best homemade fries
Russet potatoes are the best type of potato to use when making homemade fries. They are the gold standard for French fries in general, but especially for baked fries. This is because the skins of russet potatoes are thicker and drier than those of other potatoes, so they crisp up nicely in the oven.
To make crispy oven-baked fries, start by cutting your russet potatoes into wedges or shoestring-sized fries. If you like your fries with the skin on, make sure the potatoes are well-scrubbed before cutting. Soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes will help remove excess starch, resulting in a crispier fry. Dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking and before seasoning.
Next, toss the potato wedges or fries with olive oil and seasoning. Spread them out in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet or pan. Preheat your oven to between 375°F and 475°F, depending on your desired level of crispiness and the thickness of your fries. Thicker fries will take longer to cook and may require a higher temperature.
Bake the fries for 20-25 minutes, then use a fork to flip them over and return them to the oven until they reach your desired level of crispiness. Watch closely towards the end of the baking time, as the edges can go from browned to burnt quite quickly.
Once your fries are crispy, remove them from the oven and sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over them. Return the baking sheet to the oven until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Serve immediately, with optional toppings such as bacon, green onions, parsley, or ranch dressing.
Cooking Brie Cheese: The Ideal Temperature Range
You may want to see also
Soak potatoes in cold water to remove starch and get crispier fries
To make crispy French fries, it is recommended to soak the potatoes in cold water after cutting them into fries. This process helps to remove the starch from the middle of the potato, resulting in a crispier fry. The longer you soak the potatoes, the more starch will be removed, and the crispier they will become. It is recommended to soak them for at least 15 minutes, but for the best results, you can soak them for a few hours.
It is important to note that the water will become cloudy and starchy, so if you are soaking for an extended period, it is recommended to change the water. You can also add salt to the water, which will help draw out the moisture from the potatoes, resulting in even crispier fries. However, if you soak them for too long, especially if they are thin fries, they may start to absorb water and become mushy. Therefore, thick-cut fries should not be soaked for more than 24 hours, and thin shoestring fries should not be soaked for more than 12 hours.
After soaking, it is essential to dry the potatoes thoroughly before seasoning and cooking them. You can pat them dry with a towel or use a salad spinner to aid in the drying process. This step will ensure that the potatoes are not sticky and will help the seasoning coat them evenly.
Soaking potatoes in cold water is an effective way to remove starch and achieve crispier fries. By following the above recommendations, you can ensure that your homemade French fries turn out perfectly crispy and delicious.
Chicken & Cheese Rissoles: A Tasty, Easy-to-Make Treat
You may want to see also
Bake at 400°F for 30-40 minutes, or until golden
To make crispy cheese fries, baking the fries is a healthier alternative to frying them. The secret to achieving crispy, oven-baked fries is to bake them at 400°F for 30-40 minutes, or until they are golden and crispy.
It is important to note that the baking time may vary depending on the thickness of your fries, with thicker fries taking longer to bake. To ensure even baking, spread the fries out in a single layer on a baking sheet or pan. Additionally, for optimal crispiness, it is recommended to use russet potatoes due to their thicker and drier skins compared to other potato varieties.
Before baking, dry the potatoes thoroughly and season them with oil, salt, and pepper, or other seasonings of your choice. You can also try soaking the potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes before drying and seasoning them to remove excess starch and achieve a crispier texture.
While the fries are baking, you can prepare the cheese sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly golden, then sprinkle in flour, whisking constantly, until the flour is absorbed. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously, to create a smooth and creamy sauce. Finally, remove the sauce from the heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time until completely melted.
Once the fries are golden and crispy, remove them from the oven and drizzle the cheese sauce over them. You can also sprinkle on additional toppings, such as bacon, green onions, or parsley, and serve with ranch dressing on the side or drizzled over the fries.
The Perfect Chili Cheese Kransky: A Tasty Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Make a cheese sauce with butter, flour, milk, and cheddar
To make crispy cheese fries, start by preparing the potato wedges. Toss them with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Spread the wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Next, flip the potatoes and bake for an additional 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the desired level of crispiness.
While the fries are baking, you can start making the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add in flour and cook until a thick paste forms. Keep whisking continuously for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the paste turns golden. This cooks out the raw flour taste from the sauce.
Now, slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Keep whisking until the sauce simmers and
Once the fries are done, transfer them to plates or bowls and drizzle the cheese sauce over them. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Making the Cheese Sauce:
To make the cheese sauce, start by melting butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. You can adjust the amount of butter used according to your preference, but a common ratio is 2 tablespoons of butter for every 1 cup of milk and 2 cups of cheese. Once melted, add in the flour and whisk until a thick paste forms. Keep cooking the mixture, whisking continuously, until it turns golden. This should take about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Next, slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Keep whisking until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble, which should take about 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat. Add the shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring continuously until it melts before adding more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you like a kick, add some cayenne pepper as well.
It is important to add the cheese slowly and off the heat to prevent the sauce from becoming grainy. If the cheese isn't melting, return the saucepan to low heat and stir constantly until it melts. This cheese sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated when needed. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until heated through. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a splash of milk to thin it out.
Cooking Moldy Cheese: Is It Safe?
You may want to see also
Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic
To make crispy cheese fries in the oven, you'll need to season the potato wedges with salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic. The seasoning is a key part of the recipe, so be sure to add a generous amount of each spice.
First, prepare your potato wedges by tossing them with olive oil. Then, sprinkle the wedges with salt and pepper. You can also add garlic powder to this initial seasoning mix, or alternatively, you can cook with garlic cloves or garlic powder later when making the cheese sauce.
After adding the initial seasoning, bake the wedges for 15 minutes. Then, flip the potatoes with a fork and sprinkle this side with salt and pepper. Bake for an additional 10 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender and have reached your desired level of crispiness. Keep a close eye on the potatoes during the final minutes of baking, as they can quickly go from browned to burnt.
Once the potatoes are baked, it's time to make the cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. If you haven't already added garlic to your seasoning, you can cook it now by adding garlic to the melted butter and cooking until lightly golden. Next, whisk in flour and cook until the mixture turns golden. This will cook out the raw flour taste.
Finally, slowly add milk to the mixture, whisking continuously to remove any lumps. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat. Add a handful of cheese at a time, stirring until it's completely melted before adding more. Once all the cheese is melted, add salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder to taste.
Now you have your seasoned potato wedges and cheese sauce, it's time to combine the two and enjoy your crispy cheese fries!
Delicious Frozen Cheese Manicotti: Quick and Easy Steps
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Russet potatoes are the gold standard for French fries. They are especially suitable for baked fries because their skins are thicker and drier than other potatoes, so they crisp up nicely in the oven. Yukon gold or Idaho potatoes are also good options. Avoid waxy varieties like red or white potatoes, as they have a high water content and will turn out soggy.
First, cut the potatoes into wedges or shoestring fries. Soak the potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove excess starch and achieve a crispier fry. Dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking, then toss them in oil and season generously with salt and pepper, or other seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
Preheat your oven to between 375°F and 475°F. Spread the fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined or foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, then increase the temperature to 425°F-475°F and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes, until the fries are golden and crispy. Thicker fries will take longer to bake, and thinner fries may burn without crisping, so adjust the baking time accordingly.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until lightly golden. Sprinkle in flour and whisk until a thick paste forms. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously, until the mixture is thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time until melted. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.
