No more compromising texture for the sake of making baked French fries healthy. Pull out the spuds and get your dip ready! While I’m no stranger to oven fries, up until now I hadn’t found a from-scratch recipe that I considered a legitimate alternative to the real-deal, deep-fried French fries you’d find at a restaurant. Most baked fries I made at home became soggy quickly after emerging from the oven, a problem I assumed was unavoidable…and that I easily mitigated by smothering the fries in all manners of cheesy deliciousness (reference: Mexican Chicken Enchilada Fries; Chicken Bacon Ranch Fries). Or, if the oven baked fries were crispy on the outside, the tradeoff was that the insides would be dry and caky. No thank you. Still, other methods for homemade oven fries, while effective, were too fussy. I’ve read all about the crispy oven fries cornstarch trick (an extra step in which the cut potatoes are carefully tossed in cornstarch prior to baking), but after trying it once, I decided that it was too much of a hassle and too messy to be worth it. I wanted crispy baked fries that were golden on the outside and tender on the inside, all for a minimum amount of effort. Goldilocks much? These five-star baked French fries exceeded all my wildest dreams, and I’ll never make them any other way.
How To Make Homemade French Fries
Learning how to make French fries from potatoes is an important life skill that you’ll be happy to have in your arsenal. After extensive experimentation with different varieties of potatoes, baking times and temps, and seasonings, today’s easy homemade fries are the BEST of them all! My homemade French fry secrets come down to four basic tips:
Use Yukon Gold Potatoes
I tested baked fries with both russet potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes, and while both do work, I preferred the final texture of the baked fries made with Yukon golds.While both potato varieties crisped nicely on the outsides, I found the insides of the russets to be drier, while the oven fries made with the Yukon golds were more tender and creamy.You may also see Yukon gold potatoes labeled simply “gold” or “yellow” potatoes at the grocery store.A potato labeled “Idaho” typically refers to russet.
Soak the Potatoes Prior to Cooking
I tested all of the popular cooking methods to making oven fries, and the one that yielded the best results with the least amount of effort was soaking the potatoes in water prior to baking them.
If you’ve ever had double-fried French fries (HEAVEN. It’s how the Pioneer Woman does hers. Could there be a better endorsement?), the concept is the same. Cooking the fries once at a lower temperature than again at a higher temperature creates the ultimate inner and outer texture, whether the fries are deep fried or oven baked.While the potatoes soak in very hot water, they cook just enough to ensure the insides become nice and tender, while the outsides crisp but do not burn. (I bake my fries at 450 degrees F; I found oven fries at 475 degrees burned before they were finished.)Some recipes may call for you to soak the potatoes in salt water instead. When you soak potatoes in salt water, the moisture from inside the potato is pulled out, resulting in a mushy, unappealing result. Stick with unsalted water for the best baked French fries.
Don’t Skimp on the Oil
To make crispy French fries from scratch you need oil to help the potatoes crisp up in the oven and give them a hint of that familiar French fry flavor. For this recipe, I use a basic, extra-virgin olive oil.I don’t have a recommended method for making French fries in the oven without oil, but you can use grapeseed oil or canola oil instead of olive oil.
Season, Season, Season
A critical component to perfect baked fries is seasoning.
Basic salt and pepper will do, but feel free to vary it up.I spent my entire life dipping my fries in ranch dressing, so for this recipe I used a blend of spices inspired by ranch flavors. Dill weed, combined with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt give the fries a zesty, herby flavor that makes them impossibly addictive. Feel free to experiment with your favorite spices to find your perfect French fry flavor or keep it classic.Season both before the potatoes go into the oven, then after they come out to taste. An under seasoned potato is a bland potato, even in fry form.
Recipe Step Overview
Are Baked Fries Healthy?
I wanted to address this question, because I feel like there has been a good amount of potato shaming in recent years. In moderation and with the right cooking method, the answer is YES baked fries are healthy!
While white potatoes often receive a bad reputation, much of that has to do with how we typically prepare potatoes (ahem, deep fried instead of baked), as well as the quantity in which we eat them.Potatoes contain fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. All good things our bodies need!
Baked French fries are not bad for you, especially when compared with traditional French fries. In the battle of baked fries vs fried fries, baked fries win every single time. Here’s why healthy baked French fries are better for you than fried:
Less Oil. During frying, French fries soak up excess oil, making them greasy. The baking method used in this recipe allows you to control the amount of oil and use far, far less.Less Fat and Calories. Because of the decreased amount of oil, baked French fries calories and fat are lower than their fried counterparts.
Another healthy cooking method is grilling potatoes. See it in action with my favorite Grilled Sweet Potato Fries.
How to Make Your Fries Crispy Again
In the unlikely event of leftovers, you can reheat the baked fries by preheating your oven to 400 degrees and placing an empty baking sheet in the oven while the oven preheats.Spread the leftover fries in a single layer on the hot pan, then pop the pan into the preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes. Watch the fries carefully the last few minutes to make sure they do not burn.If you’ve ever reheated French fries from a restaurant, you know nothing replaces the just-cooked taste (the fries will dry out a bit), but they did at least perk up somewhat.
Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Tips
To Refrigerate. Place leftover fries in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat using the method for How to Make Your Fries Crispy Again above.To Freeze. Spread the fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and place them in the freezer until solid. Transfer the frozen fries to an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen as directed above, adding about 3 or so extra minutes to the cooking time. How long you bake frozen French fries can vary, so keep an eye on them.
Recipe Variations
Parmesan Baked Fries. A delicious recipe option is to toss the finished baked fries with a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.Chili Fries. Season the fries with chili powder and a pinch of cumin.Oven Baked Steak Fries. If you are looking for baked steak fries, I’d suggest the fries from this Baked Fish and Chips recipe, as the method and cooking time/temps below are more suitable for thinner, quick homemade French fries.To Make Vegan. This recipe is vegan as written (as long as the optional Parmesan isn’t added; try swapping it for nutritional yeast if you like).To Make Dairy Free. Omit the optional Parmesan topping or use nutritional yeast, which has a similar “cheesy” flavor.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Rimmed Baking Sheets. With these in your kitchen, you’ll be ready for baked fries anytime.Non-Slip Cutting Board. My favorite cutting board. It won’t slip away from you while you’re cutting the potatoes.Mixing Bowls. Stackable and easy to store.
If you try this recipe for ranch-inspired crispy baked fries, I’d love to hear what you think. Your comments mean so much to me!
