SaurabhFrench fries are some of the most popular dishes all over the world.
They can be delicious by themselves or along with chicken, beef, pork, burgers, or simply a tasty salad. But to make perfect French fries, you will need to use the best oil!
You can use vegetable oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, peanut oil, rice bran oil, and many others that you will discover in this guide!
Best Oils For French Fries
Choose the oil you can find at your grocery store but also take into account that some of them will bring their own flavor to the meal!
1. Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is not only the best option but also the most affordable one. You can find this type of oil in almost all supermarkets and it brings no strong flavor to your fries.
This oil has a high smoke point, depending on the brand. Vegetable oils that have soybean oil have a smoke point of over 500 degrees F.
You can use any type of vegetable oil. And since it comes at a budget-friendly price, we suggest you always have an extra bottle in your kitchen.
2. Canola Oil
Canola oil is another great option for fries and any type of fried dish.
It has a smoke point of 400 degrees F and you can count on it any time you make fries or wedges. The flavor of canola oil is neutral and it will not alter the taste of your fries.
Your fries will turn out crispy and soft on the inside and they will have a beautiful golden color. It is important to mention that canola oil should only be used once and discarded after that.
3. Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is very popular thanks to its neutral flavor and smoke point of 450 degrees F which is ideal for frying.
You can use it for frying other dishes besides fries and you can find it with different spices such as chili or parsley to add even more taste to your food.
So, definitely consider this type of oil when you want to make some tasty, crispy fries!
4. Corn Oil
Another great oil for making fries with a smoke point of 450 degrees F is corn oil.
As its name says, this oil is made of corn. The flavor it brings is mild so it will not alter the taste of your fries or any other dish. It is an affordable option and one that offers you tasty fries.
5. Peanut Oil
If you like the nutty flavor of peanut oil, definitely use it on your fries and you might prefer it over any other type of oil.
It has a high smoke point of 450 degrees F and enriches the taste of any dish you add it to. If you want, you can reuse this oil for the second batch of French fries, just make sure you do it right away.
This type of oil oxidizes rather fast once it is used in cooking. Peanut oil might not be as cheap as the other alternatives on the market but it is definitely a great option.
6. Rice Bran Oil
Rice bran oil is going to bring a mild flavor to your fries. Furthermore, since it has a high smoke point, you can use it in all types of fried dishes.
Rice bran oil comes from the outer layer of rice, called chaff. It might not be so easy to find but if you do find it, it is well worth a try!
7. Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is considered a healthier oil compared to other sources of fats.
With a smoke point of 420 degrees F and mild flavor, this oil makes a great option for your fries, omelets, or even your fried desserts.
It has a green color that could impact the shade of your fries though, so keep that in mind every time you use this option.
8. Soybean Oil
Soybean oil is an ingredient in many vegetable oils but it is also a great oil by itself.
You can use it to deep fry any type of dish, not just french fries and it works great for fried desserts as well.
It is not only a very efficient oil with almost no flavor but also one of the cheapest ones you can find on the market.
9. Cottonseed Oil
Cottonseed oil is one of the hardest oils to find on the market. However, you can order it online. It has a medium smoke point of 420 degrees F and has almost no flavor.
You can use this oil to fry almost anything from meat to veggies but it is not one of the cheapest options you will have.
10. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil might not be everyone’s first choice due to its strong avocado flavor.
It has a high smoke point of 520 degrees F and it can work great for fries. Aside from the avocado flavor, this oil will also add a mild sweetness to your food.
It is also a great option for fried desserts. This oil tends to be pricier than other oils in this guide and not so widely available.
What Kind Of Oil Do Restaurants Use For French Fries?
If you want to have fries that are similar to those you get at a restaurant, you are most likely wondering what type of oil they use
Restaurants tend to use corn oil for their fries. They prefer this oil because it’s affordable, has a mild flavor, and gives the fries an inviting golden shade.
So, if you are looking for a similar taste, you could try using corn oil and see how your fries turn out.
What’s The Best Oil To Fry Potatoes In?
By far the best type of oil to make ideal fries is vegetable oil. And you can use any kind of vegetable oil and you will likely obtain the best result.
However, we recommend using a light vegetable oil so you don’t load your fries with too much fat unnecessarily.
If you are looking for crispy potatoes, however, peanut oil is one of your best options. It is much better than olive oil when it comes to crispiness and you can use it for all types of potato recipes.
However, peanut oil might not be available in all stores. Therefore, if you don’t find it, vegetable oil should be the next best thing.
As a general rule, always choose a type of oil with a smoke point higher than 350 degrees F.
Best Oil For Frying Frozen French Fries
If you are planning to make frozen fries and you want them to taste as fresh as possible, canola oil might be your best option.
Frozen fries are easy to find in almost all supermarkets. They come already cut in different sizes and they can even have different shapes such as curly French fries. These fries come pre-cooked so you will be able to have them cooked completely a lot faster than raw fries.
All you have to do if you choose one of these types of frozen fries is to put them in the frying pan and fry them.
You want to use canola oil because with a smoke point of 400 degrees F, it will be a great choice for fries that are pre-cooked and don’t need a lot of time to fry.
Canola oil has no significant flavor, your fries will not taste any different than you expect them to as well.
Important note: Canola oil gets toxic once you used it and you shouldn’t reuse it for the second batch of fries.
What if you can’t find canola oil? Well, you can use refined peanut oil, sunflower oil, and of course, corn oil. While all these options are viable for a delicious portion of french fries, the canola oil remains the best one for these types of potatoes.
Best Oil For Deep Frying Chips
Chips are essentially fries that come in a different shapes. Usually, they are round and thin instead of looking like potato sticks.
Their shape, however, doesn’t impact the type of oil you use to fry them. So, ideally, you will be able to obtain delicious chips with peanut oil as well as the rest of the alternatives in this guide.
We pick peanut oil though because it has the ideal smoke point for thin slices of potatoes. And you have a great chance of obtaining a crispy skin on the side of each chip, while the middle can remain somewhat soft.
If you don’t have peanut oil, your next option should be a type of light vegetable oil. And if you like avocado you can give avocado oil a try.
Just keep in mind that avocado oil has a stronger flavor compared to other types of oil and your chips might not have the taste you want them to have.
We also want to include grapeseed oil as a great option for a chips recipe as it is tasty and will not burn your potatoes. Plus, grapeseed oil has a lot of nutritional benefits.
Best Oil For Deep Frying Chicken
One of the most popular combinations when it comes to comfort foods is fried chicken with a side of fries. We established what types of oils you can use to get delicious fries but should you use the same types of oil for your fried chicken? Absolutely yes!
Even when it comes to fried chicken, we tend to have preferences. You want your chicken crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
So, peanut oil is ideal for such a task. Avocado oil is also a great option thanks to its high smoke point that accommodates fried chicken perfectly.
But what to do if you don’t either one of these types of oil? There is no need to panic as you can still end up with delicious fried chicken even without avocado oil or peanut oil.
You can ultimately use any vegetable oil or even corn oil to end up with a tasty and tender fried chicken made right in the comfort of your house.
Conclusion
As popular as French fries are, not everyone knows that a big part of their success stays in the oil that they are fried in. So, don’t neglect this aspect if you want to enjoy some crispy fries with a creamy, soft middle part.
Also, make sure you get creative when it comes to seasonings. Fries taste great with herbs, chili, as well as different sauces, so there is no need to limit yourself to just salt.
There are also a variety of fries mixes on the market that you can use to boost the flavor of your food. Pair your fries with your favorite meat or fish or simply eat them plain and you will have a tasty meal every time!
