Easy Oven Fries Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make crispy french fries in the oven? ›

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Then, spread your French fries out on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure none of them are touching (if they're too crowded, they won't get as crispy). Heat them in the oven for about eight to ten minutes, then give them a quick toss.

If the fries are crowded together on the pan, they may turn out soggy rather than crispy. Bake at 425° F. Baking fries at a high temperature makes them deliciously golden brown and crispy.

A: The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

There are many advantages of baked fries over fried fries. Baked fries are lower in calories and fat, and they're also much easier to make at home. When you fry potatoes, a lot of the potato's natural nutrients are lost in the process. But when you bake potatoes, they retain more of their vitamins and minerals.

As oil heats up it breaks down—cooking oils with a high smoke point will break down more slowly—and that creates crispier fries. The general rule of thumb is that you can reuse frying oil three or four times, or for a total of six hours cooking time.

If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

Bake fries on an open rack for optimum air flow.

"Baking frozen fries on an oven rack ensures even cooking and allows air to flow all around the fries, which increases your chances of getting golden-brown fries from the oven," Harvey said.

Blanching. Another restaurant trick is to blanch the fries in water, then freeze them, which allows more of the potato's moisture to escape, thus producing a crispier fry.

First let's talk about why cut potatoes need to be immersed in water to begin with. The reason is to prevent the potatoes exposure to air, which causes dehydration, oxidation, and discoloration. Immersing cut potatoes will also help rinse off excess starch.

When a small amount of vinegar is added to the soaking water before frying, it can help impart a tangy flavor to the fries without making them taste overly vinegary. The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying.

How long can I soak potatoes for fries? ›

Allow them to soak, 2 to 3 hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak overnight.) When you're ready to make the fries, drain off the water and lay the potatoes on 2 baking sheets lined with paper towels. Blot with paper towels to dry them.

Blanching: The Reason Why French Fries Taste Better

Your potatoes need to take two separate dips in hot oil to reach restaurant quality. Oil-blanching is a two-part process that reduces the moisture and starch content in your fries, helping them crisp up.

Preheat your oven to 230°C (conventional oven) or 210°C (fan assisted oven). Remove French fries from packaging and spread evenly on a baking tray. Place your tray of French fries in the centre of the oven and cook for 15-18 minutes (fan assisted oven) and for 15- 28 minutes if you have a conventional oven.

Bake at 450 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a spatula to flip the fries, and move them into a single layer. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the exterior is golden brown and as crispy as you like.

Roasting uses the same all-over heat as baking but at higher temperatures. Broiling uses top-down heat at high and extra-high temperatures to brown or crisp the top of food.

Long accepted as a standard deep frying oil because of its neutrality, high smoke point, and ready availability (on the bottom oil shelf of most grocery stores), peanut oil is the choice of home fryers as well as chains such as Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

Using foil sometimes causes the fries to stick to the foil and then all that amazing crispiness gets stuck to the foil! Don't overcrowd the pan. If too many fries are on a baking sheet then they'll just steam, not bake. I can normally fit the fries from 3 potatoes on a 13×18-inch jelly roll pan.

Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the salt and sumac (if using) and toss again. Arrange french fries so that they are all in a single layer. Bake for 30 minutes, checking half way through and tossing the fries to help with even browning.