The "French Fry" ("chips", "fries", "frites", etc.) debate thread (1 Viewer)

AlbinoDragon

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The perfect essence of a vegetable, specifically a tuber * that has been sliced in julienne style **, immersed in hot oil + as the defined cooking style # of such foodstuff.

See also ambrosia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia), ecstasy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecstasy_(emotion)), joy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy) and culinary perfection (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfection).

The inventor of the resulting piece of art has been lost to time, but this thread should serve as a memorial to them through that which they have created.




Now the debate begins, as any great icon should be. Ali or Frasier? Bird or Johnson? Gretzky or Howe? Nobody will ever be correct, but you know the right answers, so record them here.

Who is the G.O.A.T. and how do you prefer your fries?



For me the perfect version is hot with a golden, crispy exterior, gloriously fluffy on the inside, and needing of nothing more than the exact adornment of salt to elevate that perfection to ethereal levels. Angelic choirs sing of these. Variants concocted from the tuber known as "sweet potato" are acceptable based on the food they accompany.




Post your favorite variant and explain why it's the best of all versions....




References:

* tuber: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber
** julienne: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julienning
+ deep frying: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_frying
# french fries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries
 
I prefer mine to be called chips but we are where we are :)

Topic certainly needs a reference pic though and this one seems to have the main contenders in it.

Oo9jFUw.jpg


although chippie chips need adding as well

lLhNTi7.jpg


I, and at least most UKers I suspect, would call the "shoestring" ones French Fries.

I'm a fan of all of them to be honest but am always disappointed when I buy a pack of curly fries as they always seem to be broken into small pieces :(

All types work with steak but fish and chips can only be chippie chips - with salt and (malt) vineger.

So difficult to choose a favourite though ... ummm
 
Belgian/Dutch friet with Mayo is the only way.

If you’ve not had actual Dutch fries, go buy yourself a plane ticket to Amsterdam, take a train to Amsterdam Centraal, walk about two blocks to Manneken Pis, have a euphoric experience, and then you can turn right around and head home — changed forever.
 
FestiveKnight said:
Belgian/Dutch friet with Mayo is the only way.

If you’ve not had actual Dutch fries, go buy yourself a plane ticket to Amsterdam, take a train to Amsterdam Centraal, walk about two blocks to Manneken Pis, have a euphoric experience, and then you can turn right around and head home — changed forever.
Click to expand...

Haven't tried those but should ... there's even a shop dedicated to them here just down the road. (Twice fried is their USP for those not in the know)

dzvQarn.jpg


I think they've just had a delivery :)
 
Nymor said:
Twice fried is their USP for those not in the know)
Click to expand...

I hate Braums fries. Always mushy. Last week we went to braums and I said shit, I hate their fries. So I ordered them crispy as a lark to see what they would do. They refried the fries they already had! Best fried potatoes ever!!
 
My favorites are home made. Relatively thinly cut from big potatoe, like the ones used to make baked potatoes. Soak em in water with a splash of white vinager before double or even triple fry.

Usually way too lazy for that though and just dump a package of frozen ones from the store in the fryer.
 
2-1-3-6-5-4

As an American, I do like mayo on french fries. If I go to Amsterdam it won't be for the fries, but I'll try them because I'll be quite hungry.

 
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3 and 5 are just fried chunks of a baked potato. 2, 4, and 6 are what you get when creative chefs play with food. There are also a number of valid sizes between shoestring and steak that do not have special names, to my knowledge, and are not shown here.
 
Crinkle fries have more surface area for crispy fried goodness. They also hold sauces better when dipping. Crispy for the win. Steak fries a close second. The others have their place as better in certain situations, but curly fries are dead last for me most of the time.
 
Nymor said:
I prefer mine to be called chips but we are where we are :)

Topic certainly needs a reference pic though and this one seems to have the main contenders in it.

Oo9jFUw.jpg


although chippie chips need adding as well

lLhNTi7.jpg


I, and at least most UKers I suspect, would call the "shoestring" ones French Fries.

I'm a fan of all of them to be honest but am always disappointed when I buy a pack of curly fries as they always seem to be broken into small pieces :(

All types work with steak but fish and chips can only be chippie chips - with salt and (malt) vineger.

So difficult to choose a favourite though ... ummm
Click to expand...

Of these, I really only don’t care for wedges - but I also don’t like baked or mashed potatoes, so I’m often faced with exile in potato conversations.

Waffle fries might have the highest upside because there’s so much surface area for crispy goodness.
 
Goddamn I fucking love French fries of any type.

Waffle fries are hard to beat. Get some good buttermilk ranch dressing and dip and enjoy.

There is a brewery near me that makes fantastic duck fat fries. Those are some of the best I’ve ever had.

For whatever reason, when I’m sick, I need McDonalds French fries. Best fast food french fries.

Five guys is too mushy when they close that bag. Burger King fries are too square and weird and often undercooked.

We should have a French fry tasting at a meetup.
 
Love them and hate them cause they hard ro replicate at home

Usually settle for patato pankaces
 
bergs said:
Goddamn I fucking love French fries of any type.

Waffle fries are hard to beat. Get some good buttermilk ranch dressing and dip and enjoy.

There is a brewery near me that makes fantastic duck fat fries. Those are some of the best I’ve ever had.

For whatever reason, when I’m sick, I need McDonalds French fries. Best fast food french fries.

Five guys is too mushy when they close that bag. Burger King fries are too square and weird and often undercooked.

We should have a French fry tasting at a meetup.
Click to expand...
@MegaTon44 let's do this

I'll help sponsor for lunch Friday if there's interest
 
6 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 --------------------------1 (I hate skinny shoestring fries).

I prefer mustard, mayo, or dill tartar sauce. Sometimes malt vinegar, and only ketchup when none of the above are available and the fries aren't good enough to eat uncondimented.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and brown gravy + cheese curds.
 
Schmendr1ck said:
6 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 --------------------------1 (I hate skinny shoestring fries).

I prefer mustard, mayo, or dill tartar sauce. Sometimes malt vinegar, and only ketchup when none of the above are available and the fries aren't good enough to eat uncondimented.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and brown gravy + cheese curds.
Click to expand...
IMG_1166.jpeg
 
Lobster roll with shoestring fries, a proper fish and chips, or poutine are all my kryptonite, in a good way.

IMG_0740.jpeg
IMG_2828.jpeg
IMG_2410.jpeg


But who am I kidding? I like all variations. Waffle cheese fries are a guilty pleasure too.
 
Thick: Steak > Crinkle > Wedge
Thin: Shoestring > Curly (unless no dip)
Planar: Waffle (wins category by default decision)

---

But I concur that the ultimate winner is the Pommes Frites.

Should look something like:

1691733616249.png


For full credit the mayo has to be in a dipping cup.
 
Thrashers in Ocean City, Maryland. They just hit different at the beach.
If you've had them you can taste this picture.
Screenshot_20230811_040325_Google.jpg
 
the perfect fries are made at home (or more often for us, camping). we use raw (skin on) russet potatoes cut in one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Stainless-Commercial-Restaurant-Vegetables/dp/B07KVSNCT7?th=1

soak in water for ~30 minutes, drain and pat dry then basket fry in 350°F PEANUT oil for ~7 minutes. remove, shake dry, salt liberally, then basket fry again for about 2 more minutes until golden brown.

for takeout, i find that five guys fries taste the closest to this technique, they definitely use peanut oil.

if we are trying to be quicker/easier/healthier, as @legend672 mentioned, nathan's crinkle cut are our go-to and they come out great in the air fryer.

for pure nostalgia, nothing beats the pier fries at old orchard beach:

box-of-pier-fries-465x363.jpg
 

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