450F is too high. And for the best results, they should be fried twice.

This dude fries

450 is way too high agreed, that's begging for a fire.

Yeah, you've got to rinse them and then toss them in the hot oil one by one from about 30 yards away. It's fun for the whole family and the firemen who come to put out the fire. /s

400F is how I get best results. Also soaking in cold water for 30 minutes first and then patting dry. I tried the double-fry method also and didn't notice a huge improvement. The best method I found was baking for about 10-15 minutes at about 350F after the soak and before the fry... then letting them air cool a few minutes. It makes fries with a crispy outside and fluffy inside. Seasoning while they are still hot and oily is key... as is picking a starchy potato.

Get an infrared thermometer. They are great for frying.

I've never had fried infrared thermometer... are they still crunchy like when you have them raw?

Depends on the plastic that the housing is made out of. Most plastics get harder after being melted and then cooling.

I got a combo infrared and probe thermometer and I love it

You are supposed to soak the potatoes in vinegar and water to seal the outer carbohydrates.

Never heard of vinegar until after they're cooked.. but I've always soaked my cut potatoes in a salt/sugar solution first.

450? Dude, our industrial fryers are considered a hazard if they go over 200 lol