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DIY Freezer Fries

by Kristen

Once you try making your frozen french fries, you will never buy store-bought fries ever again! Making your frozen fries is a great way to use up potatoes that would have otherwise done bad. This recipe is easy and does take a little effort, but it is worth it. Homemade french fries are a terrific budget-friendly side dish that your whole family will enjoy! You might enjoy getting creative with seasonings and different fry shapes once you learn how to make these for your freezer! 

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Freezer Fries are inexpensive, delicious and you can get creative with the flavors that match your tastes. When making homemade fries for the freezer, you are only half cooking them for the freezer. When ready to eat them, you will take these fries out of the freezer and cook them in the air-fryer or bake them in the oven.   All you need is a bag of russet potatoes and to follow a simple process.

What you need for DIY Freezer French Fries

Russet potatoes

potato peeler for peeling the potatoes

pot of water

sheet pan

paper towels

parchment paper

slotted spoon

cutting board

knife or other french fry cutting tools such as a waffle fries cutting tool or a crinkle cutter.

Note: This process does not work well for sweet potato fries.

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I made two different flavors. The fries above are paprika fries. 

Just follow these simple steps.

1. Peel potatoes and cut potatoes into “fry” shapes slices. You can cut the potatoes with a crinkle cutter into potato wedges, steak fries, waffle fries, or whatever shape you desire.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil

3. Place the potato slices inside the boiling water.

4. Boil in water for precisely five minutes. This will help reduce the starch break down the enzymes. And help the fries become a crispier texture.

5. drain water and pat the fries dry with a paper towel.

6. Season. Toss the fries with seasoning. You can use your favorite fry seasoning. Salt, paprika, garlic powder, steak seasoning, nutritional yeast if you like the taste of cheese, or use whatever ingredients you like. I like seasoning your own because you get to control the amount of sodium on your fries. 

7. Lay the potato slices flat on a baking sheet to not touch each other. You can place sheets of parchment paper between every single layer.   I recommend making several batches of these fries because your family will love them that much.

8. ) After the fries flash freeze for about an hour, you can take them out of the freezer and store them in plastic bags.   The reason why it’s important to freeze them flat first is so they don’t stick together.

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Cooking Frozen Fries in the Oven

: Preheat the oven to 400. Spread the fries on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes OR until your desired level of Crispy ness is achieved. You can increase the cooking time. You can control how much oil to toss the fries in, or you can use cooking spray to reduce the number of calories in them.

Cooking Frozen Fries in your Air Fryer:

Remove the fries from the oven and place them in your air fryer basket. Cook them in the air fryer for 20-25 minutes or crispy.

 

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I would love to hear how they turned out if you make these! You can comment below or tag me on social media and let me know how they turned out. You can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, or Tiktok. I would love to try this with hash brown potatoes as well.   I can’t wait to make these and have homemade fries for making french fry bowls for dinner!

 

 

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54 comments

Ethel June 28, 2020 - 7:38 pm

Since I started making these fries, we won’t eat frozen ones from the grocery anymore. It makes you realize what little taste the store bought ones have. Thanks for sharing this great recipe. 5 stars for sure!

 
Kristen June 28, 2020 - 10:07 pm

Thanks for letting me know!

 
Kathy January 26, 2023 - 3:05 am

Ive done this for quite awhile, Im certainly glad others are waking up to fix good food for your familys. I can fries also i pretty much can , dehydrate an store all I can. My grandkids think im nuts but they all know about mommaws grocery in the basement. lol❤️

 
Teresa Reid March 27, 2020 - 9:35 pm

1. Did you add garlic salt and was the other paprika
2. Did you add it before freezing

 
Kristen April 5, 2020 - 6:53 pm

yes and yes 🙂

 
Shannon March 6, 2020 - 10:52 pm

Any updated directions using an air fryer? I’d guess perhaps spray the frozen fries with oil and airfry? This is genious!

 
Pamela Moore October 1, 2019 - 12:48 am

Kirsten, what type of potato did you use? Russets? I like waxier potatoes such as reds… but I’m wondering how they’d freeze. Anyone else make the fries with red potatoes?

 
Kristen October 1, 2019 - 1:27 pm

I used yukon gold.

 
Lisa Dee September 1, 2019 - 3:22 pm

These rocked! Just enjoyed a nice plateful with no salt, just garlic. Chili batch is in the freezer.

 
Kristen September 1, 2019 - 3:53 pm

yay! I am glad you enjoyed these as much as I did!

 
Sherryn Frigon June 27, 2019 - 7:04 pm

Do you put them in cold water after boiling to stop the cooking?

 
Bradee April 29, 2020 - 9:36 pm

How many potatoes should be cut? I am plan to make them this week. How long put in the freezer up to? A month? A few? I have deeper freezer.

 
Erica July 19, 2018 - 1:27 am

This is perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. I plan to do some with sweet potatoes, too!

 
Dalene Braden March 13, 2018 - 11:15 am

Do you season them right straining them or their in the bag and put it in then. Also could you coat them in Olive OIl And seasoning before freezing.

 
Kristen March 15, 2018 - 1:48 am

after 🙂

 
Alana January 11, 2018 - 8:27 pm

could you do this with the potatoes cut up hashbrown style?

 
Delphine September 22, 2017 - 12:25 pm

comment pouvez-vous appeler ça des frites ? les frites doivent obligatoirement passer dans la friteuse !! ce que vous faites, ce sont des pommes de terre au four, ni plus, ni moins…

 
Dana August 6, 2017 - 2:05 pm

Thank you for sharing your little boys happiness

 
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bill October 14, 2016 - 5:30 am

Other sites day to boil 2 minutes, some 3, some 4, some 5.

 
Jordyn Vickers May 26, 2016 - 12:47 am

How many servings or bags of frozen fries would you say that a bag of potatoes makes? We are trying to meal plan freezer meals, so I need to know how many frozen burgers to make with it. 🙂 Thanks!

 
Kristen May 26, 2016 - 1:15 am

I would say a bag of potatoes would make fries for 4 meals? I guess it depends on how large your family is.

 
bill October 14, 2016 - 5:29 am

That would depend on if it’s a 5 lb. bag or 10 lb. bag.

 
jackie drenth May 15, 2016 - 4:41 pm

do you put them in boiling water or cold water and then bring to boil?

 
Kristen May 16, 2016 - 1:49 am

bring the water to a boil first.

 
Robin April 14, 2016 - 1:22 am

These look delicious, excited to give them a try!

 
Kit loring January 27, 2016 - 3:37 am

What kind of potat did you use?

 
Kristen January 27, 2016 - 1:33 pm

To boil the potatoes? One I would boil pasta in

 
Dessa January 24, 2020 - 6:02 am

I just made them. Thx I prefer oven to fryer these are great

 
Kristen January 24, 2020 - 12:54 pm

I am glad you like them!

 
Frank June 6, 2015 - 1:10 am

This is One of the best explanations of how to make homemade freezer fries I’ve read! In answer to a common question the boiling helps to eliminate natural bacteria that occurs on the potatoes. This process is called blanching. If not done the fries have the tendency to turn dark and or develop a sour smell. Personal note while coating them lightly an baking is delicious I find good ole deep frying or pan frying to be quite tasty! Thanks for posting this!!!

 
Kristen June 6, 2015 - 4:17 pm

thanks for the feedback and info! Have a great day!

 
Nona Sanchez November 7, 2017 - 4:15 am

How long do you cook THE frozen fries for IN a deep fryer? We have a good method for frying the potato fries after peeling and letting them sit in water for a good hour b4 frying, 1st at 300 DEGREES for about 5 minutes and remove from oil and let fries rest WHILE the oil heats up to 400 and then fry fries again for 6 minutes. Then they’re done. Now that I have tried freezing the fries, I have yet to figure out how to fry them in the fryer and have them turn out a little soft and not like potato chip like.

 
Kristen November 7, 2017 - 2:22 pm

Not sure how to answer your question. I have never fried them, I always drizzle them in olive oil and bake them.

 
Alyssa Skiba November 28, 2017 - 6:05 am

So, I blanch them, freeze in single LAYER, and then preheat oil to 375. When you add the fries the temp MAY drop, but you want the heat around 350 for the duration OF the frying. It takes how long it takes, but pull them when golden and they are delicious

 
Vicki D February 15, 2015 - 5:04 pm

Awesome tip. Do you think this would work with sweet potato fries, too?

 
Kristen February 15, 2015 - 5:10 pm

I am not sure. Sweet Potatoes have a totally different consistency. Maybe I will do some testing for a future post!

 
Emma January 12, 2015 - 12:46 am

hi! I found this via Pinterest. Thank you so much for sharing! I always buy potatoes and they go bad before I do anything with them. I can’t wait to try this!

 
Jayleen September 30, 2014 - 10:30 pm

Oh my! These look yummy! I have a box of potatoes waiting too!!!

 
Sheila @ Brain Power Boy September 22, 2014 - 1:11 am

I have made homemade fries before but had never heard about the par cooking tip. I am going to do this for sure. Pinning

 
Karly September 17, 2014 - 4:50 pm

What a great idea! No more making fries every.single.time. I want them, ha ha ha!

 
Chrissy September 17, 2014 - 3:52 pm

These are so cool and don’t look complicating to make! I bet I’d save tons making them this way 🙂

 
Payal Bansal (TrendsnHealth) September 17, 2014 - 8:25 am

That is such an easy way to store lots of fries in freezer and use them whenever u want. Loved the idea!!

 
Rosey September 16, 2014 - 1:18 pm

Well I never thought to do this on my own. This is way better than buying a freezer bag of fries (which is what we do now).

 
Bonnie @ wemake7 September 16, 2014 - 11:25 am

What a great idea! This would really come in handy here. Making these today! =)

 
Nolie September 16, 2014 - 3:22 am

Definitely going to get my husband to give these a shot.

 
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement September 16, 2014 - 1:34 am

I completely understand how your 2 year old feels. Does my boyfriend buy me flowers every time he sees me? No. He buys me a large french fry. Why? Because it makes me so happy. LOL

Well that and seeing him of course 😀

 
FamiGami September 16, 2014 - 1:28 am

I love this idea. Thank you for showing us how to make our own fries!

 
Gabby September 16, 2014 - 1:06 am

Great post! I have to try this. I just love garlic fries.

 
Roch September 16, 2014 - 12:36 am

These fries are great snacks at home and in the office. We also don’t buy fries at restaurants or fast food chains. We prefer doing it on our own. I like the crispy edges.

 
Liz Mays September 15, 2014 - 8:58 pm

Oh, that is just awesome! Truly great! I love making things that I can freeze and prepare later. Too cool!

 
Robin (Masshole Mommy) September 15, 2014 - 3:17 pm

What an awesome idea!! I am going to have to try this!

 

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