This Is The Best Type Of Potato For French Fries

Is there anything not to love about French fries? At their best, the deep-fried spuds are crispy and golden brown on the outside, tender and steaming on the inside, and perfectly seasoned with plenty of salt. We love to enjoy French fries alongside a juicy burger, dipped into a milkshake, or piled high with gravy and cheese curds — aka poutine. We also know we're not alone in our affinity for French fries, since it's one of America's favorite foods. Each year, the average American eats a whopping 30 pounds of the fried potatoes, whether at home, in a restaurant, or at a fast food joint (via The Daily Meal). 

And speaking of fast food, McDonald's sells a truly mind-boggling amount of fries each year — in fact, 7% of the country's potato crop is sold to the fast food giant to meet its French frying needs. We love fast food fries as much as the next person, but we also really like to make them at home. When doing so, it's important to choose the right potato for the job, as waxy potatoes such as fingerlings and Yukon Golds just won't work out. Read on to find out which variety will yield the most irresistible fries.

Want to fry up a batch of crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside French fries? You're going to want to select Russet potatoes for the job. Also known as Idaho potatoes or baking potatoes, Russets are probably what you envision when you picture a spud — large, with white flesh and brown skin. So why do Russet potatoes yield the best salty treats? For two reasons — they're starchy and because they're low in moisture. 

Starchy potatoes are most apt for fries because they brown evenly in hot fat, resulting in the golden brown fries that are the stuff of dreams. And the low moisture content of Russets means the oil doesn't have to work too hard to dry out the fries and make them crispy — the water that is in the potatoes will quickly evaporate, producing a crunchy, not soggy, French fry (via The Spruce Eats). Ready to make a batch of fries at home? Grab some Russets at the store, check out our recipe for copycat McDonald's fries, and get ready for a deeply satisfying binge fest.