Extra Crispy Baked Fries
So maybe you’ve tried it – slice up some potatoes, coat in a little oil, pop them in the oven and when you take them out they’re limp and soggy? Yep, we’ve all been there. But fear not. There’s hope! If I do say so myself, these will truly be the best homemade fries you’ll ever taste. Here’s why you’re going to LOVE them:
Flavoursome – Seasoned with Rosemary and Garlic. Few Ingredients – Most of which you’ll have knocking about in your cupboards. CRISPY – Most importantly, these beauties are gorgeously crispy!!
These fries are perfect as a side for a main meal or just as great as finger food with a dip!
Preparing French Fries
There’s a few tricks to ensuring your fries come out crispy, which we’ll get to in just a sec, but first you need to start with the perfect potato.
What kind of potatoes are best for fries?
Maris Pipers and Russets work the best for their shape (easy to slice into fries) and their floury interior. They tend to hold less water than waxy potatoes, which makes them nice and fluffy when turned into fries.
How to cut potatoes for home fries
You want them sliced skinny. Obviously the skinnier they are the crisper they’ll be, but 1/4″ is what you’re aiming for. To do this I first slice the potato into 1/4″ discs, and then slice those discs into 1/4″ fries. I always keep the skin on for extra flavours and less hassle. Next up, soaking the fries in cold water.
What does soaking potatoes in water do?
Potatoes are packed full of starch, which when subjected to intense heat makes the potatoes go gloopy. Because we want fries that are fluffy in the centre, we want to remove as much starch as possible before we bake them. The best way to do this is to blanch them in cold water. 30 minutes will do the trick, but the longer the better. After, drain the fries and we’ll continue.
Baking French Fries
Once drained, make sure you completely dry them. Any water lurking on the fries will increase the chance of them steaming instead of baking, which in turn will increase the chance of them being soggy. Next up, seasoning.
French fry seasoning
There’s so many different variations of seasoning, but personally I love the combination of rosemary, garlic and salt. I use garlic powder as it’s less likely to burn than raw garlic, I also add the rosemary half way through the cooking process for the same reason.
What oil to use when baking fries?
You want to roast your fries at a high temp and olive will simply smoke up. I always use vegetable oil as it’s relatively flavourless and has a much higher smoking point. Sunflower oil & Canola oil always work well.
Can I use Olive Oil?
Step away from the olive oil, It can’t take the heat (literally). Whilst it’ll add flavour, we’re going to be roasting the fries at a high temp, meaning the olive oil is likely to just smoke, instead of crisp up the potatoes.
How to bake fries (quick summary)
Serving French Fries
Once they’re out the oven, I recommend sprinkling with a little salt – this will help drawer out any final moisture.
Dips for fries
Sweet Chilli Mayo Cheese and Chive Garlic Aioli Sriracha Mayo Sour Cream and Chive
Also just FYI I’m ‘that guy’ who has mayo and ketchup side by side. Judge me as necessary 😂
Can you freeze homemade fries?
You absolutely can yes. Just pop them in a zip lock bag and chuck them in the freezer. When reheating, place them in the oven at a slightly lower temp for a little less time. I find 200C/390F for 15-20mins (depending on size) works well. Okay guys, let’s grab the recipe shall we!?
How to make Crispy Oven Baked Fries (Full Recipe & Video)
If you’re looking for more crispy baked potato recipes then definitely check out my Oven Baked Potato Wedges, Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Crispy Roasted Baby Potatoes! If you’re looking for more fries I’ve got you covered as well!
Different Fries Recipes
Avocado Fries Sweet Potato Fries Halloumi Fries Tornado Fries
If you loved this Baked French Fries Recipe then be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a burning question? Give me a shout in the comments below and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
