What Exactly Are Julienne Fries And How Do You Cut Them?

Chunky, curly, or crinkle cut, every iteration of deep-fried potato has its merits. However, it's those super-slender frites with a crispy exterior that are textural nirvana for crunch connoisseurs. Known as julienne fries, these slender little guys are made with potatoes that have been sliced into fine matchstick-shaped pieces and are easy to prep with nothing but a knife and a mandoline.

While bags of frozen pre-cut julienne fries are a convenient option, they often contain additives and preservatives. Preparing your own julienne fries takes a little more time but is worth the effort because you'll only be using two common ingredients: a flavorless oil for deep frying and spuds (follow this potato tip for homemade french fries). To start, wash and peel your potatoes; leave the skin on for texture and fiber if you prefer. With a sharp knife, cut a small sliver off the longest side of your potato to create a flat surface. Then place this flat side onto a mandoline slicer and move your potato forwards and backwards to create a series of even planks. Be sure to place your tater in the guard or holder first to protect your fingers! Collect the planks and neatly stack them on top of each other before using a knife to cut them into thin strips.

Using a mandoline to prepare your julienne fries results in pieces that are uniformly shaped. This guarantees that every batch of frites will cook through at the same rate and develop an even color. If you don't have a mandoline, you can cut your potatoes into planks using a knife instead. Simply stack them up and slice them into julienned sticks. This takes a little more time but is equally effective if you take extra care to produce consistent slices.

To turn your julienne fries into matchstick or shoestring fries, all you need to do is alter their length. Matchstick fries should be short and stubby (just like matchsticks), and shoestring fries should be very long and thin, like shoelaces. Start with large potatoes, and you'll have the option to keep them long and slender or cut them down into shorter pieces. Alternatively, use a spiralizer to make homemade shoestring fries.

For super-crispy julienne fries, place your sliced potatoes into a bowl of cold water first to remove some of their starch. After a quick soak, drain them and pat them dry with some paper towels before deep frying. As julienne fries are very slender, they will cook very quickly. While you could double-fry them, first at a lower temperature to soften and again at a higher temp to crisp them up, it isn't necessary.