Buying guide for best french fry cutters
If you love French fries, you can skip the drive-thru and the frozen food aisle with a home French fry cutter. These appliances can cut up an entire potato in a matter of seconds, so you don’t have to waste time painstakingly slicing potatoes with a knife. Just send them through the French fry cutter, and throw them in the fryer. You’ll have crunchy, delicious French fries in no time.
Have we sold you yet? Good, but now comes the tricky part – choosing the right French fry cutter. There are many factors to consider, including the type of fries you want, how often you’ll be making fries, and how much you want to spend. With so many French fry cutters on the market, how do you find the right model for your kitchen?
Types of French fry cutters
One of the first things you need to ask yourself is how often you intend to make French fries. That will play a big role in the type of French fry cutter you need.
Standard vs. heavy-duty French fry cutters
French fry cutters come in two varieties: standard and heavy-duty, which is also referred to as commercial. If you’re looking for a cutter to help you occasionally make French fries at home, you’ll probably be just fine with a standard model. But if you plan on making French fries often, you’ll want to make sure that the appliance you choose is durable enough to stand up to regular use. In that case, a heavy-duty French fry cutter would probably be a better fit.
The exception to this basic rule is if you plan on making sweet potato fries. Sweet potatoes are harder than regular potatoes, and if you try to force them through a flimsier French fry cutter, you may end up bending the blades. It’s usually best to use a heavy-duty French fry cutter for sweet potato fries to make sure you don’t end up damaging the appliance.
Manual vs. automatic French fry cutters
Most French fry cutters for home use are manual. You place the potato in the slot, and then push it through the cutter by pulling a manual lever. Manual French fry cutters require a little more work on your part, and they take a little more time, but they’re also more affordable than automatic cutters. If you only plan on making small batches of fries, a manual French fry cutter is probably all you need.
Automatic French fry cutters push the potatoes through the appliance without your assistance. All you have to do is turn on the machine, put in the potatoes, and then sit back while the cutter does the work. Automatic French fry cutters work quickly, but they also tend to be more expensive than manual French fry cutters, so they make the most sense if you’re going to be churning out a high volume of French fries.
Features to consider for French fry cutters
Type of French fries
Many French fry cutters come with multiple blades, so you can choose the type of fries that you want. For example, there may be one blade that cuts straight fries and another that cuts wedge fries. Or there may be several different blades for straight fries, with each one producing fries of a different thickness.
Think about the type of fries you plan on cooking, and make sure that the French fry cutter you choose includes the appropriate blades. If you’re not sure what kind of fries you’ll want or you plan on making a variety, it’s best to select a French fry cutter that has multiple blades to choose from.
Size and storage
Most French fry cutters are relatively compact and can be stored easily in a cabinet when not in use. Automatic French fry cutters are usually slightly larger because they also house electrical components. However, these French fry cutters are still fairly compact as far as kitchen appliances go.
Most French fry cutters are meant to be portable so they can be stored in a cupboard when not in use. Some high-end models come with special equipment to mount the cutter to the countertop. Of course, this permanent placement isn’t ideal for most homes, but it might be useful if you have a restaurant and regularly make a lot of French fries.
If you find that your French fry cutter is prone to sliding around on the countertop, a more reasonable alternative may be to look for a model that has suction cup feet to hold the unit in place while you’re working.
Ease of cleaning
A good French fry cutter will have removable blades that you can easily clean in the sink and no hard-to-reach areas where food can fall and accumulate. It should also be made of a stainless metal to prevent rusting or a durable plastic. If you’re using an automatic French fry cutter, you should be able to either remove or carefully wipe clean all the important components without getting the electrical components near the sink.
Prices for French fry cutters
French fry cutters range widely in price from around $20 to over $1,000. If you spend $30 or less, you’ll end up with a small, manual French fry cutter, usually made of plastic. Basic French fry cutters usually come with a couple of different blades so you can choose your fry thickness.
If you’re interested in a stainless steel French fry cutter, you can expect to spend between $35 and $70. These appliances are usually sturdier and more durable, and they also come with several different blades so you can choose the type of fries you want to make. Some of these French fry cutters also have suction cup feet to hold the unit in place.
You can expect to pay a lot more if you’re interested in an automatic French fry cutter. The cheapest automatic cutters start at around $500, and it’s not uncommon for them to cost over $1,000. While automatic French fry cutters are more efficient, the added cost means these machines probably aren’t worth it to the average homeowner who just wants a side of fries with dinner.
Tips
Plastic French fry cutters usually require a little more effort on your part because they’re not as sturdy as their metal counterparts.
You’re not limited to just French fries. If you want to cut up fruits or other vegetables, you can put these through the French fry cutter as well.
Once you’ve cut your potatoes, they will quickly oxidize, so it’s a good idea to keep the cut potatoes in water to preserve their taste and crunchiness until you’re ready to fry them.
Be careful not to force too much potato through the French fry cutter’s chute. If it’s a particularly large potato, it’s a good idea to cut it in half first.
- With a French fry cutter, you can make healthier fries by controlling the amount of salt and the type of fat you use for frying.
FAQ
Q. Can I purchase additional blades for my French fry cutter?
A. Some brands have additional blades available for separate purchase so you can make different types of fries. However, it’s important that you only purchase blades for your brand of French fry cutter, otherwise they may not fit your appliance.
Q. Are there French fry cutters that make curly fries?
A. Yes, but don’t expect to find curly fry blades included with your standard manual French fry cutter. French fry cutters that can make curly fries usually have a different design, and they tend to be more expensive than a standard French fry cutter.
Q. Are French fry cutters dishwasher-safe?
A. That all depends on the model. If your French fry cutter has any electrical components, the answer is no. Some manual French fry cutters claim to be dishwasher-safe, but they may not last as long if you wash them in the dishwasher. Consult your owner’s manual to see if your model can be used in the dishwasher.
