A Detailed Guide to Types of French Fry Cuts, Styles and More
Whether you like them curly and dipped in sauce or loaded with several different toppings, many different types of french fries are made at home and in restaurants around the world. At Freddy’s, shoestring fries are our favorite. However, they are just one of the different cuts of fries that you can experiment with at home or dive into when dining out. For the curious cook or any other french fry fan, the following guide offers information about the following topics:
● Popular french fry cuts and ways to enjoy them
● Key characteristics of different french fry styles
● Other types of fries to try in addition to traditional potato preparations
● Frequently asked questions about the fries at Freddy’s
Since a craving for fries may result from reading about the types and styles of french fries below, consider finding the Freddy’s near you now, so you are prepared to satisfy your desire for tasty fries ASAP!
Popular French Fry Cuts
When french fries are on the menu, you may find yourself in the frozen food section at your local grocery store. Here, you face the challenge of choosing between different types of fries. While the french fry seasoning is one consideration, the range of various french fry cuts may also guide your selection. Continue reading to learn more about several of the most loved types of fries cuts and which ones may work best for an upcoming meal. Are you planning to make fries from scratch? You’ll also find some tips for creating different cuts of fries at home!
Common French Fry Cuts
In daydreaming about fries, the desired french fry shape often contributes to that mouthwatering vision. That’s because each french fry cut offers its own unique characteristics to the dining experience, as celebrated below.
Shoestring fries
These thin, long strands of potato maximize the crunch factor. Since this type of fry focuses on making the most of the exterior, the use of a french fry seasoning further helps enhance the overall flavor.
Straight cut fries
Similar in shape to the shoestring fry, this french fry cut typically offers more fluffy potato interior than the slightly more slender french fry variety. For a french fry shape that offers both crispiness and tenderness, the straight cut fry may be ideal.
Steak fries
Unlike the crispy outside for which well-prepared shoestring fries are known, steak fries offer the opportunity to revel in a fluffy potato core. Potato wedges can provide a similar interior as this type of fry and are similarly one of the thicker french fry cuts. However, wedges are more triangular in shape than the rectangular potato plank appearance of steak fries.
Crinkle cut fries
The ridges of this cut distinguish it from other fries. These crinkles provide even more space for seasonings and sauces to adhere to, offering a structural foundation for both functional purposes and even more flavor as a result.
Curly fries
Due to their spiral-like shape, these fries have a unique appearance and a little novelty to them in comparison to more readily available french fry cuts, such as the straight cut fries. Great for dipping, these fries more so than other varieties tend to be battered to enhance crispiness and overall taste.
Waffle fries
These crispy, thick scooping tools are ideal for multiple varieties of french fries, such as loaded fries. The small holes in these fries also help ensure plenty of crispy surfaces and places for seasonings, sauces and toppings to nestle.
How to Create Different French Fry Cuts at Home
Once you feel confident about choosing the best potatoes for french fries and how to cook them, experimenting with french fry shapes may be of interest. While picking up a bag of frozen fries may be the easiest option for some french fry cuts, Food Republic details how to make several of the most popular types of french fries yourself. Cutting potatoes by hand works for many shapes, while the use of specialty kitchen tools such as a mandoline or a spiralizer makes it easier to achieve other cuts. Even with a singular type of fries, there may be a few different ways to achieve these cuts, such as the use of a knife or an apple slicer for steak fries. Buying a french fry cutter is another option. This guide from Tasting Table surveys some of the most popular manual and electric french fry cutters and their associated features.
How to Choose the Best French Fry Varieties for Your Needs
Before you choose the type of fries for your next meal or a particular cut for your homemade fries, consider how you plan to serve these fries. Any french fry cuts can be seasoned, but the intensity of that seasoning may vary depending on the french fry cuts. For example, fries with more nooks and crannies offer greater potential to hold onto more of this seasoning. Similarly, if you are looking for a softer fry or heartier potato flavor, a steak fry might be a better choice than a thinner cut like shoestring. To the delight of younger diners in particular, curly fries may provide a bit more of an entertainment factor. For french fry styles that feature layers of sauces and toppings, waffle fries can do double duty as a stable foundation for these ingredients and an edible utensil.
Exploring Styles of French Fries
While there are many different shapes of french fries, there are also many different styles in which they can be prepared and served. From the choice of seasonings and toppings to the cooking method, discover some of the stylistic elements that can distinguish some dishes starring fries from others.
French Fry Seasoning
Salt is the most well-known french fry seasoning. However, restaurant fries and recipes for homemade fries alike may offer many different flavor variations. Whether the seasoning ingredients are designed to bring some heat or otherwise, the seasoning on fries can be one element that defines them. For example, you might try making Cajun fries, as explained in this recipe from The Kitchn. Specialty mixtures such as Freddy’s Famous Steakburger & Fry Seasoning® can also contribute to why diners may crave a particular order of fries, not just fries in general.
Toppings and Sauces
As with seasoning, toppings and sauces are two other elements that can distinguish popular french fry preparations and regional french fry styles. Drizzles of flavored oils or select vinegars alone or in combination with garlic or other seasonings are some common approaches. Dipping sauces and toppings for fries are two more components used in various french fry styles. For example, cheese sauce can be served as a dip for fries. However, topping the fries with this sauce is essential to the recipes for cheese fries, which is one specific and beloved fry-centric dish. Topping and sauce selections also distinguish regional french fry styles. For example, fries topped with cheese curds and gravy are characteristic of poutine, a well-known preparation featuring fries that originated in Canada.
Cooking Method
When exploring how to make the best crispy french fries, you’ll find a wide range of tips for potato preparation and cooking methods to try. For example, deep-frying, air-frying, and baking are three ways to cook fries. Methods such as battering or double-frying french fries similarly emerge in recipes or restaurant preparations designed to create the perfect crunch. As with onion rings, fries too may be created with beer batters. Therefore, this preparation can be used to set this style apart from other french fry preparations.
Beyond the Potato: Other Types of Fries
French fry seasonings, sauces, and toppings enable home cooks and chefs alike to enhance the flavor of fries. As noted at Bon Appétit, swapping out the usual russet potato provides another opportunity for tasty and more unique fries. While fries made with sweet potatoes are increasingly common in restaurants and elsewhere, here are some other options to consider when making fries at home:
Root Vegetables
Unsurprisingly, other root vegetables make delicious fries. For a colorful and sweeter batch of fries, consider using rainbow carrots for your fries. Parsnips are another option that offers nutritional benefits that may be of interest like more fiber, as shared at Clean Eating.
Squashes
Both butternut squash and zucchini appear in recipes for fries. As with fries made with potatoes, these fries are often seasoned and served with a dipping sauce.
Polenta or Avocado
In addition to using different vegetables, polenta fries and avocado fries are two other options designed to offer the experience of a crispy outside paired with a tender inside. With these two types of fries, anticipate a creamier center versus a fluffy one. To learn more about making fries with these ingredients or several other alternatives to potatoes, find more than 10 different recipe ideas in this collection from Allrecipes.
A Guide to the Fries at Freddy’s
The best way to learn about Freddy’s fries is to experience them for yourself. However, you can find out answers to common questions about the fries on Freddy’s menu below:
What types of fries are available at Freddy’s?
Crispy shoestring fries are the featured type of fries at Freddy’s. Aside from their texture, tossing these fries with our specialty seasoning also helps them stand out from other fries.
Which dipping sauces are offered with Freddy’s Fries?
Guests have the choice of more than 10 dipping sauces to accompany their fries. If you like mayo for your fries or other common condiments like ketchup and cheese sauce, they are available in our collection. Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce®, Freddy’s Famous Jalapeño Fry Sauce®, and Freddy’s Smoky Fry Sauce® are three of our very own creations that are available for enjoyment with fries, steakburgers and other menu items.
How are fries featured on the Freddy’s menu?
Our guests can choose from different sizes and sauces to accompany their fries. Plus, they have four different choices in ordering fries at Freddy’s, as listed here:
1. Side: Freddy’s Fries are available in regular or large sizes as a side and with a choice of sauce. If you are interested in the applicable nutritional considerations related to these portion sizes, sauces or otherwise, this Nutrition and Allergen Guide may be helpful.
2. Cheese Fries: Also available in two different portion sizes are our Cheese Fries. Indulge in Freddy’s shoestring fries smothered in jalapeño cheese sauce, if you are craving a comforting and tasty savory side.
3. Chili Cheese Fries: At Freddy’s, you’ll also find one of the most popular loaded styles of fries – the Chili Cheese Fries. In addition to crispy fries and creamy jalapeño cheese sauce, hearty chili provides another layer of flavor to these fries. Toppings such as diced onions and fire-roasted jalapeños are available to further enhance this dish. You can also elect to include an extra sauce on the side if you like!
4. Combo Meals: Kids Fries are one of four sides available in the three different Kids Meals at Freddy’s. In our new Senior Meals as well as our many Combo Meals, guests have the option of Freddy’s Fries for their choice of side and can upgrade to larger portion sizes or to Cheese Fries and Chili Cheese Fries, if they so choose.
Can I earn Freddy’s Rewards points on orders of fries?
Yes! As a member of the Freddy’s Rewards program, you can earn 10 points for every dollar you spend at Freddy’s. Once you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for FREE rewards to use in-app, online or in-store. Currently, a Large Fry is one of the rewards, as well as two different frozen custard treats and the Freddy’s Original Bacon & Cheese Double.
Learning about the types of fries, their various uses, and more is one way to help guide your choices when making homemade fries or ordering them from your local restaurant. At Freddy’s, we are proud to offer our guests crispy shoestring fries with a variety of dipping sauces and toppings, as well as our specialty seasoning. To easily reorder your favorite fries with your preferred sauce or any other customized dish at Freddy’s, make sure to download the Freddy’s app from Google Play or the App Store today before placing your next order for dine-in, carry-out or delivery!