How to Start French Fries Making Business
The French fries global market
Potatoes are very versatile and can be processed into a wide variety of products. In fact, in many advanced economies, more processed than fresh potatoes are consumed! The largest field of potato processing (both in amount and value) is the French fries industry.
The global market value for French Fries is estimated at USD 19 billion in 2016, according to the study “Frozen Finger Chips (Frozen French Fries) Market: Global Industry Dynamics, Share, Scale, Growth, Potential and Forecast 2017-2022” by the IMARC Group dated February 2017.
The study forecasts the growth of the CAGR market at 3.8% in the period 2009-2016.
The world’s largest manufacturers of French fries are:
- McCain Foods Limited
- Lamb Weston (including JVs and subsidiaries)
- R. Simplot
- Aviko
- Farm Frites International
The Production of French Fries
French Fries are made by cutting potatoes into strips and washing, bleaching, drying, frying and freezing them. But not all the potatoes are fantastic at making French fries, so let’s look at the kind of potatoes first. After that, we will go into the business aspect in more detail.
Potatoes that are suitable for the production of French fries
Potatoes need to meet specific criteria related to:
- Size: Potatoes need to be large and long oval (oblong)
- Dry Matter Content: Dry matter content of the potatoes needs to be high enough
- Reducing Sugars: Reducing Sugar content needs to be low enough.
- Discolouration: Discoloration after cooking (non-enzymatic), as well as enzymatic, discolouration, should be as low as possible
- Defects and Diseases: Within acceptable limits, as it causes waste and defects in the product
- Variability: Maybe not the primary quality criterion, but all variability in the potatoes (within tubers, between tubers, year to year) for any of the mentioned aspects makes the potatoes less suitable
Besides, some suppliers (e.g. McDonald’s) accept only French Fries made from specific potato varieties.
How to start a French fries business
There’s good news for all those trying to set up a business to make a good profit out of it. It’s not that hard to find it anymore. You’ve got a French fries lover all over the place. What is certain is that the most common and liked fast food is none other than French fries. So, why don’t you start making French fries as a business and make it your source of income? It’s also very fascinating and useful. Here are some guidelines to start with:
Search for a good location for your stand
The first and most obvious thing to do is to select a location to start your French fries business. You need to be a little smarter when making a choice and go to a busy spot, sitting areas, markets, parks, beaches, food courts and a busy street or school. You should also bear in mind that your stand is not in a position that becomes a barrier or disruption to the surroundings. Such strategies that you adopt for the position of your French fries stand will make you earn better than normal.
Develop a business strategy
Whether it’s a small startup stand for French fries or a restaurant like Mc Donald’s or something else, the business remains a matter of course. All of its expectations need to be met. You need to play smart cards and keep up-to-date with the market of your nearest competitors in the zone. You need to provide consumers with some unusual and exclusive services that your competition has never seen before. These strategic steps can be taken in the form of keeping costs down, maintaining good quality, being in the best position with the consumer, or something else with your stand.
Type of Equipment
The main investment that you need to make is the equipment needed for this business. You would surely need all the equipment and supplies necessary to ready the French fries. The equipment involves cooking and cooking machines such as a frying machine, a cutting machine (if possible), a stand, oil filters, etc. Other time-consuming supplies include potato stock, cooking oil, salt, flavours and sauces. These are readily available, and vendors are there to negotiate a deal with you at fair rates.
Quality and Hygiene
Food and hygiene are always working in harmony. If you’ve set your mind to start some food business, you can’t neglect the quality and hygiene aspect, or you’re losing your customers and your business lately. Find a clean and tidy place to set up your French fries stand and make extra efforts to keep them clean so that your fries can be hygienic and of the highest quality. Keep a regular check on the cleanliness of the stall and be consistent with that system. It’s a way to be successful in your business.
Adding of Flavors
As you become a little aware of your business in your region and begin to get a good sales result, think about making some extensions. Are you confused? It’s pretty easy. Start making flavoured French fries with all the proceeds and a little investment. There are various flavoured sauces and topping powders, such as chilli, pepper, cheese, garlic, mayonnaise and much more. French fries lovers are still searching for something new and innovative to do with their love of life. The more flavours or toppings you add, the longer the queue will be in front of your stand.
What is the cost of starting the French fries business?
French fries are popular not only with children but also with adults, so its quantity demanded is quite large. Therefore, more and more people choose to do the French fry business.
Do you know what the cost to set French fries business is?
What is necessary for the French fries business?
In the French fries business, the French fries production line is necessary. The French fries production line has a lot of advantages. First, it can reduce the use of labour, thus reducing labour costs. Second, it can produce French fries with high efficiency. The French fries produced by it taste good and are of high quality. Third, it is an intelligent machine that can produce adjustable thickness and length of French fries. Forth, it is easy to operate and clean. Fifth, it is made of stainless steel, clean and hygienic.
What is the cost to set French fries business?
French fries production line is very popular in the food industry in most countries. Many factors determine the cost of an automatic French fries production line:
- The cost of different outputs. First of all, we need to know how many products you need to produce at a time, what is the output requirement. The scale of mechanical production is very large. Still, it is unnecessary, which will cause waste, the larger the machine, the higher the cost of the French fries production line.
- Actual material cost: the commercial French fries line is mainly composed of stainless steel plate, the internal groove is ordinary 304, and the special requirements are to use 316L. The machine material is good, the cost is naturally high, and the price will be higher.
- Labour cost: a sophisticated machine usually has a long service life, consumes more labour and has a high labour cost, and the price of French fries production line is also high.
- Time cost: the manufacturing of a successful machine typically takes more time, which would be part of the cost of the chip production line.
- Technical cost: technical cost is an important aspect of modern machines, since the output of high-tech machines now relies more on technology, so the technical output of the machine often defines its cost.
- Transportation costs. The cost depends on the mode of transport and the country of the customer. Generally, the option of shipping is the distance between ports that defines the rate.
How about the profit of French fries processing plant?
For those people who have an idea for the French fries processing business, the most relevant issue is always the income of the industry. Many factors have an impact on the income of the French fries manufacturing plant.
The first is the state’s power. If your country is rich in potatoes, congratulations, you can buy raw potatoes at a low price; the first consideration to create a factory is resolved.
Secondly, the production of French fries has been determined. The main objective is to decide how many potatoes are to be processed each day or how many French fries are to be processed every hour. These variables will decide the machine you are purchasing, and the size of the output, the different machine has a different price, the higher the output, the more costly the machine.
Third, the scale of the farm. This depends, to a certain degree, on the size and nature of production that determines the income generated.
The three factors listed above are those that we would consider affecting the benefit of the French fries processing plant.
Types of equipment needed for starting a French fries business
Many people only have French fries business ideas, and then need to find knowledge for this business, but if you want to start this business, you should learn equipment for French fries business production. The frozen French fries production line uses the whole production line to produce a large number of French fries and then to sell them. The bags of frozen French fries that we usually see in the supermarket are handled in this way. What kind of efficiency characteristics does the French fries development line have? Please see the details here.
- Potato washing and peeling machine: The use of gold steel sand lining cleaning peeling machine or brush cleaning machine, can complete cleaning, peeling work.
- Potato cutting machine: Cutting size can be adjusted.
- French fries blanching machine: Rinse and blanch the cut French fries, colour protection.
- Water removing machine: Using centrifugal force dehydration. Dehydration before frying can greatly shorten the frying time and improve the taste of French fries.
- Oil-water mixed frying machine: This equipment is the most advanced frying equipment. Due to the different proportions of water and oil, the water is on the bottom, and the oil is used for frying French fries on the upper layer. The residue is directly deposited in the water. The oil does not emit black smoke, which greatly prolongs the life cycle of the oil and causes the cost to drop significantly. The precise control of the oil temperature guarantees the quality and taste of the French fries. After the work is completed, the water is released, and the residue flows out with the water.
- French fries deoiling machine: Centrifugal deoiling, only fried nice French fries deoiled, to overcome the high oil content of the fries, tired of mouth defects and enhanced the flavour of French fries.
If you want to do the French fries business, this French fries production line is ideal for small and medium-sized French fries production, the production process is simple, and the equipment is easy to operate. Processing is strictly in line with national guidelines for manufacturing processes. The final result meets the hygienic criteria of the food GMP. The packaging of the finished product can be designed according to the retail requirements of the mall.
French Fries Equipment Tips
Raw materials: Fresh potatoes
- End products: Potato French fries
- Processing capacity: 100-1000 kg/hour.
- Return cycle: This line has less investment, and relatively large lines can recover costs in a relatively short period.
- Frying method: Normal frying, oil-water frying
- Terminal packaging: Composite bags
French fries equipment have many models for selection, good helper for you to do French fries business. The French fries processing equipment of French fries are fully automatic, and the technology is exquisite, which saves a lot of operation time.
Beat your competition with these French frying tips
The trick to the perfect French fries is to fry them twice. You are eliminating much of your potato moisture before the final frying process is essential to creating a crispy, golden brown product. To help you better your restaurant’s fries, we’re sharing the best-fried potatoes, how to pick the best oil, tips on making potatoes, and how to season your French fries with the best taste.
The Best Potatoes for French Fries
- Crisp French fries
The following varieties are some of the best potatoes for making French fries:
- Russet
- Katahdin
- Norkotah
Choose a Starchy Potato with Low Moisture
The best frying potatoes have a high starch content and low moisture content. Starchy, low-moisture potatoes will yield the crispiest French fries. Once you choose a starchy variety like the ones above, you can test the moisture content of each potato with a saline test.
Here is how to test the moisture content of your potatoes:
- Dissolve 1 cup of salt into 8-10 cups of water.
- Place each potato individually into the saline solution.
- Look at the potato in the solution. If the potato floats, it has high moisture content. If it sinks or is suspended in the middle, it has low moisture content.
- Sort your potatoes, setting aside the high moisture potatoes to be used for another dish that isn’t fried.
The Best Oil for Deep Frying French Fries
The best oil for deep French fries is any neutral oil with a high level of smoke. Canola and peanut oil are two common choices. Neutral oil will not influence the taste of your fries, and a high-smoking oil (the point at which the oil begins to dissolve when it is heated) will stay stable during your frying process.
How old should the oil be for Frying French Fries?
Ideally, you can use oil that has been used a few times and has had a chance to break down. Since they haven’t broken down at all, the molecules in brand new oil might not be bonding well with your French fries. As a result, the fries aren’t going to be as crispy. On the other hand, the oil that is in your fryer at the end of its life may have some leftover flavours from other menu products, or it may start to smoke as a result of too much breakdown.
How to Deep Fry French Fries
The best method for achieving perfect, crispy French fries is to deep fry your potatoes twice. Below, we’ll explain the best way to prepare potatoes for frying, how long to fry French fries, and how long you can hold fries before serving.
- Wash the potatoes.
- Optional: Peel the potatoes.
- Cut the potatoes to your desired size. You can cut them by hand or use a French fry cutter for maximum efficiency and uniformity.
- Soak the potatoes for 3 to 24 hours in a water and vinegar mixture. Soaking them will help to remove the excess starch and promote crispness. To make the mixture, put one tablespoon of vinegar into a gallon of water. This vinegar will help to keep the potatoes from oxidizing and discolouring.
- Dry the potatoes. It is important to dry your potatoes before frying them to prevent spattering. Use a clean towel to pat them dry on a sheet pan or put them into a salad dryer to remove the excess moisture. If you store the potatoes uncovered in your cooler overnight, this will help to dry them further out.
- Blanch the potatoes by frying them at 325 degrees for 3-6 minutes. The time can vary depending on the size of the fries. Smaller cuts like 3/8 inch can take about 2-3 minutes. Larger cuts, including 1/4 or 1/2 inch, take 4-6 minutes. You’re done whitening the potatoes when you can bend them without splitting them.
- Cool the fries a second time before frying them. For quality, you can whiten a few batches of potatoes and let them cool in your refrigerator or cooler. When it’s almost time to eat them, remove them from the cooler and fry them a second time.
- Fry a second time at 375 degrees for 2-3 minutes. Since you’ve already whitened the potatoes to cook them partially, this second round in the fryer will make them crispy. Look for a golden brown exterior to know it’s done.
- Season the fries while the oil is still hot. The hot oil will help your seasonings stick to the fries. Use salt, spices, fresh herbs, or even oils to flavour your fries.
- Serve your fries within 10 minutes of completing them. The ideal holding time for French fries is no more than 5 to 10 minutes. After that, the fries will lose some of their crispiness and become cold.
Creating the perfect French fries takes time. This process will help you to achieve the crispiest final product, but you can always adjust the frying time if you prefer soft fries. Experiment with seasonings, cuts, or even frying oils to create the best signature fries for your establishment.
Three things to know about French fries
- French Fries goes by several names
In America, you refer to French fries as either “French fries” or simply “fries.” But if you want a plate abroad, you might have to use a different name. In the United Kingdom, they’re called “chips,” and in France, they’re called “Frites.”
- French fries may not be French.
French fries have quite a complicated origin story. The French, Spanish and Belgians all claim to have invented them — and no one knows whose story is true. Those who believe they originated in France say that they were first sold in 1789 by street vendors on the Pont Neuf Bridge in Paris. Those who believe fries are Belgian say that they are called “French” because Belgian food and culture was often appropriated by the French due to their proximity.
- French fries were introduced in America by Thomas Jefferson.
French fries have become a quintessential part of the American diet, but who brought them here? It turns out, presidents have had lots of interesting food preferences, and President Thomas Jefferson is responsible for Americans’ fry consumption. He brought them to public awareness after discovering them while working abroad as American Minister to France. His chef (and slave) James Hemings continued to make them for the president when they returned to the United States.
Conclusion
Starting a French Fires business could prove to be difficult and time-consuming if you do not know and understand the basics of the business. In this post, we have detailed all the first-hand information required to make this business a reality and a profitable one for you. However, we strongly advise making your research coupled with what we have here for you as state laws differ from region to region.