The Best Twice-Cooked Chips

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/23/23
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Thick-cut, twice-cooked french fries on a plate with dipping sauce

The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 serving
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
381 Calories
37g Fat
13g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 381
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 47%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 152mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 6mg 30%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 334mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

In countries like the U.K., Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and South Africa, French fries are known as chips. Not to be confused with potato chips, British chips are thick slices of potato that are fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The trick to getting the chips to taste like they are straight from the chip shop is to fry them twice in the hot oil. The first fry is at a lower temperature and softens the potato; the second turn in the hot oil is at a higher temp and achieves that signature crispy exterior.

This recipe requires only potatoes and vegetable oil or other deep-frying oil. The potatoes are sliced, rinsed, and boiled, and then drained and dried. Parboiling ensures the chips are cooked through with a fluffy interior. The chips are fried in batches, drained, and fried again until golden, ensuring they are crisp. Sprinkled with salt, they are addictive and taste great with burgers and fried fish.

1:08

Click Play to See These Twice-Cooked Chips Come Together

"I made these fries in a deep saucepan with a deep-fry thermometer following the instructions, and they cooked perfectly. The results are well worth the few extra steps to making twice-cooked fried. I used russet potatoes, and the second fry took about 5 minutes. Regulate the heat as necessary to keep the oil temperature constant." —Diana Rattray

The Best Twice-Cooked Chips Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 250 grams (1/2 pound) russet potatoes, peeled

  • Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, for seasoning

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for twice-cooked french fries recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  2. Cut the potatoes into about 1/2-inch (1-cm) slices, then slice these into 1/2-inch (1-cm) wide chips.

    Potato halved being cut into evenly sized sticks on a wooden cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  3. Place the chips in a colander and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear.

    Potato sticks in a metal colander

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  4. Place the washed chips in a pan of cold water, bring to a gentle boil, and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.

    Potato sticks in a pot covered with water

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  5. Drain the potatoes in a colander.

    Parboiled potato sticks draining in a metal colander

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  6. Drain the potatoes thoroughly and then pat dry with paper towels. Remove as much moisture off of the potatoes to avoid splatter when putting them in the oil.

    Potato sticks drying on paper towels

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  7. Add about 2 to 3 inches of oil to a heavy pot or Dutch oven and attach a deep-fry thermometer. Heat the oil to 320 F/160 C. Carefully lower some chips—about 2 handfuls—into the hot oil using a slotted metal utensil or deep-fry basket.

    Fry for about 3 minutes. Do not brown them. Let the oil come back to temperature between batches.

    Potato sticks frying in oil in a large pot

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  8. Turn the chips out onto paper towels to drain. Keep them at room temperature until needed.

    Pale yellow french fries degreasing on paper towels

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  9. Reheat the oil to 375 F/190 C and fry the chips once more until golden and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes.

    French fries turning golden in bubbling oil

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

  10. Drain and season with salt. Serve immediately and enjoy.

    French fries on a plate with a small bowl of dipping sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Ahlam Raffii

Tips

  • To keep fried chips warm while frying subsequent batches, preheat the oven to 200 F. Place the cooked chips on a cooling rack set on a baking sheet and place it in the warm oven. Hold them in the warm oven for up to 20 minutes.
  • Choosing the right type of potato is important to get a good chip. A starchy potato is best as it has a soft, dry texture, making it good for chips. Look for King Edward, Maris Piper, Romano, Désirée, or russet potatoes.
  • You can use beef fat or good vegetable oil for frying chips. If you prefer a traditional flavor, you can use lard. Beef fat or lard produces a full-flavored chip and, if cooked properly, the chip will be crisp and brown on the outside and soft within. Chips cooked with vegetable oils do create a similar chip (and have less cholesterol) but have less flavor.
  • Cooking in batches keeps the oil temperature from dropping. Make sure you don't add too many fries at once or they may turn out soggy. Check the temperature each time before adding more fries to make sure the oil is hot enough.

What Vegetable Oils Are Best Choice for Chips (French Fries)?

Choose a neutral-flavor, high smoke point oil, such as peanut oil, canola, or refined safflower oil.

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