Saving time is one of most important factors in preparing snacks. Because that struggle between having to quickly whip up something delicious in a short amount of time and still be able to get at least a couple of episodes on Netflix before going to bed is much too real. Which is why it’s super helpful to keep a few handy tricks up your sleeves when it comes to snack prepping.

One of my favourite snacks is French fries. You find them at the beloved diners that you go to, the random drive-through windows, and the upscale fine-dining restaurants with their own gourmet ketchup sauce. It’s no denying that French fries are a classic.

And don’t get me started on all that time spent on cutting potatoes, waiting for the oven to preheat, and finally getting to roasting them. No one has time for that after a day of work. Just give us the fries! There is one simple solution: blanch and freeze your own French fries in advance!

Here’s how you freeze your own fries:

Step 1: Rinse and Cut

I usually skip the peeling part because it’s where a lot of the nutrients are, and I actually enjoy eating it. But if you don’t like the potato skin, simply peel, rinse, then cut your potatoes into fries.

Step 2: Blanch

Drop the cut fries into a pot of boiling water with salt for about three minutes. Transfer the fries into a bowl of ice water. Strain the fries and blot them with a clean towel to get rid of excess water. Once dry, toss the fries in a bit of oil to very lightly coat them. (You can also toss on some other seasoning here, if desired.) 

Step 3: Freezing

Spread out your fries on a baking sheet evenly, making sure that the fries don’t touch each other. If your baking sheet is too small, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the first layer of fries, and continue placing your fries. Leave them in the freezer for an hour. Once they’re safe from getting stuck to each other, put them in a plastic bag. You can store them for up to six months in the freezer.

Step 4: Baking

When you’re craving some French fries, place them on a baking sheet in the middle of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes at 425°F or until they’re crispy and golden brown.

Blanching in advance gives the fries the fluffy and crispy texture. Those frozen fries you buy from the supermarket and the ones you get from a drive-through window are all blanched and frozen anyways. So why not do it yourself and keep it healthy? It’ll taste better and save you a tonne of time from making a fresh batch. Do you have any snack hacks? Let us know what we need to try!

Want to up your homemade fries game? Make some homemade ketchup for dipping!