# Square Off?

> What it means to "square" a potato for perfect french fries, with a video walkthrough and America's Test Kitchen's demonstration of the technique.

Published: 2022-01-16
Posted by Suzanne Lejeune

As much as I think I have explained how to cut potatoes into the perfect size for french fries like the ones in the [Fish and Chip recipe](/blog/fish-and-chips-with-tartar-sauce), it may be hard to visualize exactly how to do it. There are plenty of videos that will show you how. Below is a good video that shows exactly what I mean by square a potato. Now it goes further and actually takes all the skin off and then proceeds to dice the potato.

Watch on YouTube: [How to "Square" a Potato](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9nQFhrzOZk)

For making great french fries, you just need to cut the 4 sides off, then proceed to make the cuts for the fries. Leaving some peel on the ends of the potatoes still makes a tasty fry. ATK is just one of those resources that I rely on if ever I need to learn tried, tested and true cooking techniques. Below is how they demonstrate the skill. As usual, it's bang on!