Fries are made in different types, sizes and shapes. It is the most popular food all over the world and loved not just by children but of all ages. They are served mostly as a side dish to sandwiches, burgers and steaks. They are also served topped on a main dish or can be eaten alone. With so many different variations of French fries out there, we have rounded up in this article the most common types of fries that you may want to try. Read on below for more details.
Different Types Of Fries
Regular French Fries
These are regular French fries that is also known as standard cut fries. The most popular and common version of fries. Standard cut size is usually medium thickness about 1/8 to quarter inch.
Regular Fries are cooked deep fried using a neutral-flavored oil. These types of fries are cooked to be crispy on the outside, while soft and fluffy on the inside. Most of the times, regular cut fries is seasoned with salt, garlic, pepper or sometimes parsley and often served as a side dish to sandwich and burgers.
Crinkle-Cut Fries
Crinkle cut fries is similar to regular fries, wherein both have the same thick sides, but with crinkle cut fries the sides and edges are wavy or crinkly.
Crinkle fries are often served in restaurant but it is possible to make crinkle cut fries at the comfort of home. You need a special crinkle cutter cut the fries into shape for that signature-shaped French fries.
They are cooked deep fried and can either be eaten as plain fries or often times topped with cheese and ketchup or mayonnaise.
Curly Fries
Curly Fries are also called Suzi-Q fries or Goldilocks Fries. Curly Fries can be easily spotted because it has a spring-like shape. Because curly fries are spring-like shape, they are more appealing to children.
Curly fries are basically tomatoes that are cut using spiral cutter and are then seasoned with either paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder or onions and placed in a deep fryer for cooking.
Waffle Fries
Waffle fries are latticed-shaped French fries that is similar to a waffle, hence the name Waffle Fries. The lattice shaped cut is made using a Mandolin blade or a special slicer or cutter, . The holes of the waffle shaped fries makes frying of the fries more easily.
Waffles fries are often eaten alone but can also be used in addition to burgers or during breakfast together with your sunny side up egg.
You can dip waffle fries to your gravy, grated parmesan cheese, or melted cheese to add flavor to the fries.
Shoestring Fries
Shoestring fries are fries that are cut very long with a thickness of less than 1/8 inches, often these fries are curled. It is considered to be one of the thinnest types of fries. Because shoestring fries are so thin, when fried usually goes all the way through.
Matchstick Fries
Matchstick fries, as the name suggests, are skinny fries that is similar to shoestring fries. In fact, matchstick fries are often confused with shoestring fries. Although, matchstick fries are shorter but more crispy.
Steak Fries
Steak fries, are similar to French fries wherein thick wedges of potatoes are fried. Steak fries have a thick cut and it is called as such probably because it is usually served with Steak in steakhouse restaurants but is not only limited to that as it can also be pair with other dish as well.
Steak Fries are cooked deep fried for a crispy texture on the outside, but still soft and fluffy on the inside.
Wedges
Wedges is one of the thickest fries. Wedges fries are made by cutting the entire potato to create a thick wedge portion. Because wedges are large in size, frying them usually takes longer as compared to other types of fries. More cooking time is expected with Wedges Fries.
Wedges are seasoned before baking them or deep frying. When choosing to deep fry wedges fries, you may want to boil or microwave the wedge before frying then serve with sour cream or sweet chili sauce.
Tater Tots
Tater Tots referred to as grated potatoes that is formed into small size cylinders that can either be deep fry, shallow fry or oven baked. An Origin from Ore-Ida which is an American Food Company.
The preparation process can be time consuming as you may need to partially boil the potatoes, grate them afterwards, cutting and forming them into small cylinders shape and then fry or baked them. Although can take more of your time, eating Tater Tots is totally worth it.
Cottage Fries
Cottage fries is another types of fries that is also known for as Home fries or Round cut fries. Cottage fries cut are similar to that of potato chips wherein potatoes are cut in round shape. The potato skin can either be peeled or not.
The thickness of each cut can vary and it usually depends on your own preferences whether you like it to be think or thin. The large surface of Cottage fries are perfect for dipping into fries sauce such as a ketchup or mayonnaise dip.
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet Potato fries are fries made from sweet potato instead of using the regular white potatoes. Most of the time, sweet potatoes fries comes in different forms such as Waffle fries, Tater tots and or the standard cut fries.
Sweet potato are used instead of the regular fries because sweet potatoes are more healthier since it has low calories and carbohydrates and also contains Vitamin A as compared to White potatoes.
Cooking options includes cooking in the oven and or deep fried. You can serve sweet potato fries along with maple mustard dip and or with paprika garlic aioli.
Tornado Fries
Tornado Fries are also known as Twist potatoes or Tornado Potatoes. Tornado Fries cut as spiral-cut potatoes These fries are deep fried until crisp and usually eaten like a lollipop since is it usually placed on a stick.
Originally from South Korea wherein Tornado fries is a popular street food. Tornado fries is now widely popular all around the world and is served mostly during fun fairs and in carnivals.
Oven-baked Fries
Oven-baked fries are considered to be healthier fries as compared to deep fried fries simply because when baking fries its calorie content tends to be lower than deep fried.
Even if the fries is oven-baked, you may still need to a little bit of oil before baking the fries to be able to achieve that crispy texture on the outside. Although the amount of oil is lesser as compared to the amount of oil used during deep frying.
Seasoned Fries
Seasoned Fries refers to any types of French fries that are seasoned before it is served as compared to Plain fries wherein it is serve on a plate together with the seasoning.
Seasoned fries are French fries that have been seasoned ever before it was cooked. Seasonings includes black pepper, salt, herbs, spicy blends, Paprika, Dried Basil, Cayenne Powder and or Garlic Powder.
Cheese Fries
To make the definition simple, Cheese fries are French fries that is basically covered in Cheese, hence the name Cheese fries. Although sometimes the cheese are placed on top of the fries but it would be more delicious if the cheese toppings were melted to create Cheese fries.. Melting the cheese for your Cheese fries can be done in two ways: either it naturally melts because of the heat from the fries (cheese on top) or by baking the fries with cheese on top for a minute.
Several cheese options can be used for your Cheese fries such as Cheddar, Parmesan, pepper Jack, Swiss cheese or Mozzarella Cheese.
Cheese Fries are found served mostly in Fast food restaurants and diners everywhere. Cheese fries are the favorite choice for type of fries and is loved by children and of all ages as well.
Chili Cheese Fries
Chili cheese fries is similar to Cheese fries mentioned above, however, the only difference is that chili is added at the top of the Cheese fries. Basically, chili is added in between the fries and the cheese to create Chili cheese fries.
Chili can also be added to other variety of French fries such as Shoestring, crinkled and regular fries as well. Topping the fries with either vegetarian, beef or turkey chili. Topping can vary depending on one’s preferences in terms of taste and quantity.
Garlic Fries
Garlic Fries are fries that are basically topped with Garlic. Seasoning the fries with a touch of garlic will definitely enhance its taste and flavor.
Aside from garlic, these fries are also served with salt, chopped parsley and Parmesan Cheese that are grated. The minced garlic is usually sautéed when place on top of the fries. Parmesan Cheese are also added for that cheesy garlic flavorful experience.
Animal-Style Fries
Animal Style fries is made popular by the well known fast food chain in the United States, the In-n-out burger. Animal Style fries are served with grilled onions, shredded cheese and their famous house sauce. The House sauce is similar to the popular thousand island dressing, therefore you can easily make animal style fries at home too.
Poutine
Poutine is a popular French fries dish originally from Quebec in Canada that is already served in the US and other parts of the world.
Poutine dish typically consists of either regular or sweet potato fries, cheese (either mozzarella or fresh cheese curds) and gravy (brown or mushroom gravy).
Bistro Fries
Bistro Fries are fries that are crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. The name is inspired from French and Belgian Bistros.
Bistro Fries are medium sized fries that are typically cooked until it turn golden brown. Its length and thickness are also medium in size.
There are also different cooking variations for making Bistro Fries such as Blanched cooking and deep fried. Although some usually deep fried the fries the second time around to make it more crispy.
Pommes Souffles
Pommes Souffles are also known as Puffed Potatoes. This type of fries has a unique way of preparing it wherein it is cooked and fried twice.
Pommes Souffles cooking process usually starts with slicing the potato into an oblong. The oblong shaped potatoes are then deep fried twice, but with the second frying at high temperature. The first frying starts with a temperature of about 300°F, the fries are then cooled down. Once cooled down, the fries are again placed for deep frying but this time at a higher temperature of about 375°F. This is done to make the fries puff up, when that happens it will be filled with air as a result of getting a crispy French Fry Balloons. It is then advisable to serve and consume Pommes Souffles right away before if deflates.
Carne Asada Fries
Carne Asada fries are fries that are topped with Carne Asada, these are flanks or steak that are thinly sliced and grilled). Aside from topping the fries with Carne Asada, other toppings includes Cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce.
Chimichurri Fries
Chimichurri Fries are French Fries topped with Chimichurri sauce. The sauce is made from fresh oregano leaves, garlic, olive oil, fresh parsley (chopped), fresh cilantro, vinegar and red pepper flakes.
You can also add sliced steak (grilled) in between the fries and Chimichurri sauce. Also, in addition to scallions that are chopped and Feta cheese.
Pizza Fries
Pizza Fries are made of Frozen fries, cheese, Pepperoni and of course Pizza sauce. Pizza and Fries in one dish. To make it more appealing and delicious, you have the option to add more toppings as how you would like your pizza fries to be.
Patatas Bravas
Patatas Bravas is another large type of fries. It is the most popular tapas and popular dish in Spain. Patatas Bravas uses large pieces of potatoes. The potatoes are parboiled and then fried afterwards.
Patatas Bravas are served usually with dipping sauce such as spicy tomato sauce.
Air Baked Fries
Air Baked fries is also considered to be another healthier variation of French fries because cooking does not involve too much oil as compared to deep frying the potato. With Air Baked fried, the potatoes are cooked using an air fryer. With air fryer used, there be less calories and lesser cholesterol. You can enjoy eating as much French fries as you can without thinking about your calories intake.
Boardwalk Fries
Boardwalk fries is considered to be a minimalist types of French fries because it is only seasoned by salt and vinegar only. The potatoes are cut into medium sized and are cooked by deep frying.
Some say that to make the fries more delicious, you need to soak the potatoes that are already cut and place in saltwater. It is then fried twice after, each time at different temperature settings.
FAQ
To cook frozen fries using the air fryer is pretty simple. All you need to do is to simply preheat the air fryer at a temperature of 400°F for about 10 to 15 minutes then add the frozen fries. Simple as that.
If you are wondering if you need to thaw the frozen fries first, the answer to that is no. You no longer need to thaw the frozen fries as the hotness in the air fryer will cook the fries until it is crispy.
Although it is rare, too rare to have left over fries, but if there are instances where there are left over fries the best way to store them is inside the refrigerator for about 2 to a maximum of 5 days. Make sure fries are already cooled down before placing the leftover fries inside. Do not forget to place leftover fries in an airtight container.