03/20/2025
Following up on the previous post about fast food fries … making them at home is simple!
From A Healthier Home Cook by … Yours Truly!
Ingredients:
3 pounds (3 to 4 medium) russet potatoes, peeled if desired
¼ cup beef tallow or avocado oil
Salt, to taste
Optional: Seasonings of choice
1. Cut the potatoes into sticks about ½-inch wide. Or use a mandolin with wavy blade and cut potato rotating 90° every pass to make a. waffle cut.
2. Put the cut potatoes in a big bowl of cold water and let them sit for 30 minutes, or refrigerate them up to overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Drain and pat dry the potato with a clean cloth.
4. In a large bowl, mix the avocado oil with salt and seasonings, if using. Toss the potatoes in the seasoned oil and spread them out in a single layer on the lined sheets. (They get crispier if they have a little space around them, so don’t overcrowd the pan.)
5. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden and crispy. Turn the oven to broil for the last 5 minutes or so to toast the tops. Keep a close eye, though!
Tip: If the potatoes will sit in the water for longer than 30 minutes, store them in the fridge until you’re ready. This will keep the potatoes from turning black, and it will also help draw out some starch so that you end up with a crispier fry.
When shopping for tallow, look for one with only a single ingredient, grass fed and grass finished, and minimal processing. I’ve listed a few great options in a slide here.
For a convenience fry, we love and keep a bag in the freezer often for a quick and easy side that uses ingredients I’d use myself. The look amazing and are available lots of places around the north east currently. You can check either of their websites for store locators or use the Instacart app to see if stores near you carry any of these items mentioned in the post.
If you don’t have it yet, my cookbook is sold pretty much anywhere books are sold. It’s on a crazy sale on Amazon right now. If you want the link in your inbox you can comment COOKBOOK here and it’ll appear there with the help of technology.