How to Make Perfect Homemade Chips or French Fries

It stands to reason that the first step in any food recipe is choosing the correct ingredients. Simple chips and French fries are no different in the sense that not every type of potato is suited to being cooked in this fashion.

It is clearly necessary in the first instance to peel, slice and chop the potato in to chip or French fry sized fingers. When you have done that, the potato pieces should be added to a pot of cold water. It is a really good idea at this stage - especially if preparing small French fries - to place a wire, deep frying basket in the pot before adding the potatoes. The reason for this will become clear when you reach the stage of draining the potatoes. Simply lifting the basket out of the pot to do so eliminates the risk of the potatoes breaking if they are strained through a colander.

There is no requirement to salt the water, simply ensure that there is enough in the pot to comfortably cover all the chips. Put the pot on to a high heat until the water boils. Reduce the heat at this stage to achieve a gentle simmer. Simmer for five minutes for French fries or seven to eight for larger chips.

Take the pot to the sink and simply lift out the wire basket before pouring out the boiling water. Refill the pot with cold water and put the basket back in. This cools the potatoes more quickly and helps prevent them turning black. Allow a few minutes only in the cold water, or the potatoes will soak it up and be mushy.

Drain the potatoes as before by lifting the wire basket out of the pot at the sink. Hold it over the sink for a couple of minutes to let as much of the water drain off as possible. Very carefully, place the chips in to a large plastic container. If possible, try to arrange them in a single layer. Put the dish in to the refrigerator for a minimum of half an hour.

Note that the potatoes can be left in this way for up to a couple of hours but don't be tempted to leave them longer than this, especially not overnight.

When the chips are suitably chilled, it is time to fry them for the first time. This is done in a deep fryer at 300F/150C. Note: Although traditionally, chips were made by frying them in beef fat, vegetable oil has been used here on health grounds, as a means of reducing the unfortunately high levels of saturated fat.

Add the chips or French fries to your deep fryer basket and cook for five minutes in the case of chips, or four minutes in the case of French fries. Remove to a plate laid with kitchen paper, cover and allow to cool completely. They are then returned to the (dried) plastic dish and the refrigerator for a further minimum half hour.

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