Is there anything more satisfying than a plateful of hot, crispy, oven-baked French fries? These golden spears, crisp on the exterior and delicate on the inside, have been satisfying cravings for decades. Want to cook your own French fries without bathing them in a pool of oil? Read on.
Choose the Right Potato
For the best baked French fries, grab some Russet (also known as Idaho) potatoes. They will bake up better than other varieties since they contain more starch and less water. You’ll want to prepare one medium potato per diner.
Prepare the Chopping Block
The potatoes can be peeled after a thorough washing, or the skins can be left on for a bit of added fiber. Cut the potatoes into quarter- to half-inch thick fries. Fries that are too thin may not retain enough moisture when baking, and those that are too thick may break apart.
Soak Them
Are you prepared to learn the ultimate trick to making baked French fries crispy? This is where you can play your own drum roll. The potatoes need to be soaked. Immerse the fries in ice water for 45 minutes. Blanching is a technique used to get rid of extra starch. They can be stored anywhere, including the fridge. Fries can be dried between two clean kitchen towels after being blanched.
If you’re planning on making a lot of french fries for a large gathering, soak the potatoes for a few hours in water with a spoonful of lemon juice added to stop them from turning brown.
Season Well
Fries baked with just a touch of olive oil will crisp up nicely. Spice it up with salt, garlic powder, or herbs. Put the fries, oil, and seasoning into a resealable bag for simple cleanup. Close the container and shake it up! Again, if you’re craving something more flavorful, you could always experiment with any DIY spice combinations you’d like.
Turn up the Heat
Pre-heat the oven to between 400 and 425 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray-coated aluminum foil. To ensure that they brown evenly, the fries should not touch each other in the pan, and the pan should not be too crowded, as you will need to flip the fries halfway through the baking period. For crisp and golden results, cook for 30 to 40 minutes.
Enjoy!