Waffle fries are a delicious treat and a nice change from the standard French fry. With just a few tools, some potatoes, hot oil and a watchful eye, you can easily make this yummy side dish at home.
How are waffle fries made? In this guide, you will learn how to make waffle fries at home using a simple waffle fry cutter and techniques to deep fry them.
How To Cut Waffle Fries
What are waffle fries? Waffle fries are white or sweet potatoes cut in a lattice work pattern with holes throughout.
Once the potatoes are cut, they’re deep-fried. Some chefs shape or curve them to hold toppings. They are similar to French fries in taste and texture, but are round like waffles.
Mandolin Method
Homemade waffle fries can be made with a mandolin slicer with a waffle blade or a waffle fry cutter.
It’s important to keep the slices thin so small holes appear in the weave.
- Scrub your potatoes. If using white potatoes, you may choose to leave the skin on. Sweet potatoes should be peeled.
- Use the mandolin to slice the potato at a thickness of around ¼ inch (6mm).
- Rotate the potato 90 degrees and make a second slice.
- Continue the above method until the potatoes are completely sliced.
Crinkle Cutter Method
Crinkle cutters take force to work. If you’re not well versed with using one, you might prefer to cut off two sides of the potato so the potato won’t roll when you apply pressure.
This will make rotating the potato for the next cut much easier.
- Scrub and rinse the potato.
- Peel off the skin (optional depending on your tastes)
- Remove the ends of the potato with the crinkle cutter.
- Rotate the potato 90 degrees so the crinkles on the cut end now run side to side instead of up and down.
- Make the next cut.
- Repeat the above steps until the whole potato is sliced.
How To Fry Waffle Fries
Homemade waffle fries are best fried in a deep cast iron skillet. An electric skillet can work as well. Heat your best frying oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit / 191 degrees Celsius while you cut the potatoes.
Temperature is critical. Oil that is too cool will be absorbed and make the fries soggy. If the oil is too hot, the outside of potatoes will burn.
- Fry the waffle fries in the hot oil, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy at the edges.
- Layer a ceramic or glass plate with paper towels.
- Remove the fries from the oil and spread them on the paper towels to drain. The oil will still be very hot, so don’t drain your waffle fries on a plastic or paper plate.
- Season to taste while still hot, and enjoy.
Make sure not to walk away during the frying process; you need to monitor the fries to make sure they don’t burn.
