McDonald's French Fries - Copycat Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 cup cold water (for brine)
• 0.5 cup corn syrup (can sub 1/3 cup sugar)
• 3 tbsp salt (for brine)
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 6 Russet potatoes (About 4.5 pounds, peeled and rinsed)
• 1 quart vegetable oil (for frying)
• 0.5 cup vegetable shortening (added for the second fry)
• salt (for seasoning)

Steps

1. 1

   Combine the 8 cups cold water, 1/2 cup corn syrup, 3 tablespoons salt, and 1 teaspoon white vinegar to create the brine and set aside.

2. 2

   Peel and rinse the 6 large Russet potatoes.

3. 3

   Slice the potatoes into strings just under 1/2 inch thick. Using a french fry potato cutter makes this process easier and more uniform.

4. 4

   Place the potato strings into the cold brine immediately as you slice them. Ensure the potatoes are completely submerged, adding more cold water if necessary.

5. 5

   Cover the container and place it in the fridge to soak for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results.

6. 6

   Drain the potatoes and rinse them twice with cold water to remove excess starch. Pat them completely dry with paper towels.

7. 7

   Preheat the quart of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven to 300°F (150°C). Use an oil thermometer to monitor the temperature accurately.

8. 8

   Fry the potatoes in batches for about 5 minutes. They should be very soft but not yet browned. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain.

9. 9

   Add the 1/2 cup vegetable shortening to the oil and increase the heat to 400°F (205°C).

10. 10

    Fry the potatoes in batches again until they are golden brown and crispy.

11. 11

    Remove the fries and place them on paper towels. Season with salt immediately while hot and serve with Big Mac Sauce.

Notes

Soaking potatoes in cold water helps get rid of starch for crispier results. The sugar in the brine prevents them from soaking up too much oil. Do not substitute butter or margarine for the shortening, as their smoke points are too low and will burn at the required temperature.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• side dish
• snack
• copycat
• fried
• vegetarian
• gluten-free