Yes, you can absolutely make sweet potato fries using a mandolin! A mandolin is a handy kitchen tool that makes quick work of slicing vegetables and fruits into uniform thin slices, wedges, or julienne cuts. Using a mandolin to make sweet potato fries results in perfectly cut fries that cook up crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Benefits of Using a Mandolin for Sweet Potato Fries
There are several advantages to using a mandolin versus hand cutting when making sweet potato fries:
- Uniformity – The blades on a mandolin will slice the sweet potatoes into even shapes and thicknesses, resulting in fries that cook evenly.
- Speed – A mandolin is much faster than hand slicing all of those sweet potato fries! You can prep them in just minutes.
- Less waste – The uniform cuts mean you’ll have fewer oddly shaped leftover sweet potato pieces.
- Adjustable blades – Mandolins allow you to adjust the blade thickness to customize the fries.
- Safety – The hand guard and holder keep fingers safe from the sharp blade.
So if you want sweet potato fries with consistent sizes and shapes that cook evenly, a mandolin is the way to go!
Choosing a Sweet Potato Variety
When making sweet potato fries, choose a firm, starchy sweet potato variety such as:
- Jewel
- Garnet
- Oriental
These types hold their shape better during slicing and frying. Avoid soft, moist sweet potatoes like the orange-fleshed varieties, which may fall apart when cutting into fries.
Preparing the Sweet Potatoes
Start with fresh, firm sweet potatoes. Give them a wash and use a vegetable brush to scrub off any dirt. Remove any stubs, sprouts, or blemishes with a paring knife.
Pat the sweet potatoes dry before slicing. Any moisture on the exterior can cause them to steam rather than fry.
If the sweet potatoes are very large, cut them in half lengthwise first to give you a stable flat surface for mandolin slicing.
Using the Mandolin
Mandolins have straight slicing blades, adjustable thickness settings, and platforms to hold the food stable as you slice. They also come with a hand guard to protect your fingers.
Here are some tips for using a mandolin to slice sweet potato fries:
- Secure the mandolin to your work surface or place it over a large bowl.
- Adjust the blade to the desired thickness, such as 1/8 inch.
- Place the sweet potato half on the platform and slide it back and forth to slice.
- Use the hand guard as you get close to the blade.
- Rotate the sweet potato 90 degrees and slice again to make fries.
- Repeat with remaining potato halves.
Go slowly and use caution as the mandolin blade is extremely sharp!
Fry Seasoning and Cooking
After slicing the sweet potatoes into fries, you need to season and cook them. Here are some tips:
Seasoning
Toss the fresh cut fries in a bowl with:
- 1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil or Avocado Oil
- 1⁄2 tsp Salt
- 1⁄2 tsp Pepper
- 1⁄2 tsp Paprika
- 1⁄4 tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional)
The oil helps the seasoning stick and adds flavor. Cayenne pepper adds a kick of heat – leave it out for mild fries.
Baking
For crispier fries, bake them in a hot oven:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Place fries on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake 15 minutes, flip fries, then bake 10-15 more minutes until crispy.
Air Frying
An air fryer also makes fabulously crispy sweet potato fries:
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Cook fries 8-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.
Pan Frying
You can also pan fry in 2 inches hot oil:
- Heat oil to 350-375°F in a heavy pan.
- Fry fries in batches 3-5 minutes until browned and crispy.
- Drain on a paper towel lined plate.
Fry in small batches so the oil stays hot. Let the oil reheat between batches.
Dipping Sauces and Seasonings
Sweet potato fries are also delicious with any of these quick dipping sauces or extra seasonings:
Sauces:
- Honey mustard
- Ranch dressing
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- Sriracha mayo
Seasonings:
- Cinnamon sugar
- Parmesan cheese
- Spicy dry rub
- Cajun seasoning
Get creative with the dipping sauces and seasonings! The sweet potato fries will soak up all the flavors.
Storing and Reheating
You can store leftover sweet potato fries in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days. Reheat in a 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes until warmed through and crispy. They may lose some crispness but will still taste delicious.
You can also freeze baked or fried sweet potato fries up to 3 months. Reheat frozen fries straight from freezer in a 425 degree F oven about 15 minutes.
Making Sweet Potato Fries with Kids
Making homemade sweet potato fries is a fun cooking project for kids. Here are some tips for getting kids involved:
- Have kids help wash and dry potatoes.
- Supervise mandolin use – hand guard is a must!
- Let kids toss fries with oil and seasonings.
- Older kids can take turns watching oven or air fryer.
- Allow kids to pick dipping sauces.
- Kids can help shake air fryer basket.
Kids love customizing their fries with fun dipping sauces. Making and eating sweet potato fries is a tasty way to get them engaged in cooking and try new foods!
Tips for Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Here are some top tips for getting crispy sweet potato fries every time:
- Pick firm, starchy sweet potatoes.
- Cut into even sizes and shapes.
- Dry potato surface thoroughly before frying.
- Use hot enough oil for pan frying – 350-375°F.
- Spread in a single layer on baking sheet.
- Bake or air fry at 400°F+ for maximum crispness.
Crisp exteriors and tender interiors make for the perfect sweet potato fry!
Common Sweet Potato Fry Problems
Here are some common issues and how to avoid them:
Not Crispy:
- Fries were overcrowded on baking sheet
- Oven temperature too low
- Raw potatoes not dried thoroughly
- Thick cut fries cooked too briefly
Burned:
- Oven temperature too high
- Left in oven or fryer too long
Undercooked Inside:
- Fries too thick
- Cooking time too short
- Oven temperature too low
Falling Apart:
- Sweet potato variety was too moist
- Fries soaked in water after cutting
With the right techniques, making perfect sweet potato fries is easy with a mandolin!
Sweet Potato Fries vs Regular Fries
How do sweet potato fries compare nutritionally to regular potato fries? Here is a nutritional breakdown:
| Nutrition per 100g | Sweet Potato Fries | Regular Potato Fries |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 158 | 312 |
| Fat | 4g | 15g |
| Carbs | 28g | 36g |
| Protein | 2g | 4g |
| Vitamin A | 28220IU | 0IU |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 17mg |
| Iron | 1mg | 1mg |
| Fiber | 4g | 3g |
As shown, sweet potato fries have significantly fewer calories, less fat, and over 20 times more vitamin A. They are an overall healthier option while still satisfying that fry craving!
Conclusion
Using a mandolin makes it quick and easy to slice sweet potatoes into perfect fries ready for baking or frying. The uniform cuts cook evenly for optimal crispness. Topped with spices or fun dipping sauces, mandolin-cut sweet potato fries are delicious! Nutritionally, they far surpass regular fries. For flavor and nutrition, mandolin sweet potato fries are a winning recipe.