The One Thing You Need To Know To Make Crispy Oven Fries
A while back, I was hung up on the idea of figuring out how to make oven fries crispy so I could avoid the hassle of deep frying them. It’s something I’d never quite been able to master, but I never knew what exactly I was missing.
Luckily, I eventually learned the secret of how to make french fries in the oven that turn out deliciously crispy every time! The most surprising thing about the “secret” to making crispy oven baked fries is that it’s something you do before you do any cooking at all!
The Secret To Crispy Oven Baked Fries
The “secret” to deliciously crispy oven fries turned out to be quite simple: you just soak them in salted water. Soaking potatoes in salt water helps to draw out a lot of their moisture before cooking, so they can crisp up nicely in the oven without getting overcooked.
Here’s one of my favorite recipes for oven baked fries, so you can put this method to the test for yourself!
Italian Crispy Oven Baked Fries
adapted from Martha Stewart
Ingredients:
- 6 russet potatoes, peeled
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp dried Italian herbs
- 2 cups grated Romano cheese
- 1/4 cup parsley leaves, finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Slice your potatoes into sticks that are about 1/3″ thick. Place the potatoes into a bowl of cold water, along with a couple of tablespoons of salt. Allow the fries to soak in the salted water for about 15 minutes.
When you’re ready to cook the potatoes, drain them and pat dry.
Place your fries into a bowl and pour the olive oil over the top. Toss the fries with your hands to ensure that they are all coated with oil. Then transfer the oiled fries to a couple of baking sheets. (I used my oven mats on my baking sheets, because they make clean-up so easy!)
Spread the fries into a single layer on each baking sheet. Then sprinkle the dried herbs evenly over the potatoes, followed by the cheese and parsley.
Bake until the potatoes are golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes, rotating the pans after 30 minutes to ensure they bake evenly.
Removed the finished fries from the sheets and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, along with your favorite dipping sauce. Yum!
Related: The Secret To Making The Best Utah Fry Sauce
More Ideas You'll Love
More Tasty Tater Tips
Do you cook french fries at home?
Italian Oven Baked Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 russet potatoes peeled
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 Tbsp dried Italian herbs
- 2 cups Romano cheese grated
- 1/4 cup parsley leaves finely chopped
- Kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the potatoes into sticks that are about 1/3” thick, then put them in a bowl of cold water with a couple of tablespoons of salt and allow them to soak for 15 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and pat them dry.
- Place the fries in a bowl, drizzle the olive oil on top, then toss the fries with your hands until evenly coated.
- Spread the fries into a single layer across two baking sheets, then sprinkle the dried herbs, cheese, and parsley evenly over the top.
- Bake at 400°F until the potatoes are golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes, rotating the pan after 30 minutes to ensure they bake evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Oh Great – Now my mouth is watering for french fries! Lol.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My son worked at a chicken wing restaurant where they prepped everything in house, including their fries. He stated that this is exactly how they prepped their french fries. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I discovered this works with fried potatoes, too! I slice my unpeeled potatoes CAREFULLY on a mandolin and put them in a pot with ice for about 30 minutes. I drain them and roll them on a white kitchen towel them fry. They get so good and crispy! I will surely try this recipe for seasons fries. I have used more savory spices, but I like the idea of the cheese and parsley! Thank you for this post and all the great ideas you share with your readers!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How would you use these in an air fryer?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A good rule to follow when converting an oven recipe to an air fryer is to lower the temperature by 25 degrees and decrease the time by 25%. Example: 400 degrees would be 375. One hour would be 45 minutes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Cant wait to try these for dinner tomorrow..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love this method! I also had an old American Heart Association cookbook recipe that called for tossing the fries before baking in egg white before baking. The eggs were mixed, but not whipped, if I remember correctly. No taste and a very crisp finish.
Love your posts! I’ve followed many of your recommendations and come to your site before Googling anything DIY.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Mine came out soggy esp after coming out of the salt water. The only thing I did different was leave out the cheese and used nutrtional yeast.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You have a great way of explaining how to do quick, easy and economic cooking of food! I’m glad I signed into your site and will continue to follow …God Willing! I also love all the super ideas you put forward for everyday use! In fact, it’s good of you to share your knowledge with everyone!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Bless You!
Thank you, Liz!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you freeze oven fries? At what stage?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I haven’t tried freezing them before – let me know how it turns out!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Had seen this recipe awhile back and finally got to try tonight. Everyone LOVED them. Definitely a keeper ! Don’t think I would change anything except make a larger batch of them! Thanks for the helpful hints, soaking in salt water was a great idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just made these and they are definitely the easiest, best tasting, crunchy french fries made at home.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks so much for the idea!!!!
I would love to try these. I wanted to let you know that I love your site, so inspiring for every day items that can save time or money or both! Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you Marsha!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very Incrispy-oven-baked-frieseresting – I will try it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My partner and I stumbled over here from a different website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking at your web page again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Why not season the fries while still in the bowl?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That should work just fine! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m waiting on the oven to heat Yum!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you!!!!! I love fries, but hate the grease of frying them. These look amazzzzzing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee…! your fries is too crispy and so yummy, i will make it like you in upcoming weekend. Thanks for sharing and keep shared your amazing ideas and recipe…!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee….! your oven backed fried looks so good and crispy and i also read your recipes, post but this is one of the best dish and thanks for this post and keep shared your new ideas or recipes….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you place a cooling rack (for baked goods) on cooking sheet then place fries on top the heat will circulate around fries more evenly and there’s no need to flip it over. Plus it will cook faster. Learned from high carb Hannah on YouTube.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Your tips are amazing. So innovative.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just tried this for dinner. Amazing! Zero work, zero smell, zero oil and great taste! My two boys (4 and 7) and my husband loved it! Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Any idea if this technique would work for sweet potatoes?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.They won’t be quite as crispy, but it will still work :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m pinning this. I love fries, but I rarely make them because it seems like a lot of work. I had no idea that soaking them in salt water was the secret – yum!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does it work the same if you don’t peel the potatoes? I love them with the skins on.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yep!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you share the sodium level…how many mg per serving…important for everyone to know….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Depending on the cheese you use, it will have about 330 mg sodium per serving :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Looks yummy. But, it’s a lot of cutting the fries. I do love Martha Stewart , though.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tip on the soaking. I will be giving that a try. Because I am dairy, gluten & refined sugar free I think I will give it a shot with nutritional yeast & seasonings, always happy to find new ideas & you have a ton of them. Thanks again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.sounds good. Does this work with sweet potatoes?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not exactly – they don’t have quite as much starch as russets. But it will turn out similarly, just not quite as crispy. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Definitely going to try this! We love oven fries but it IS hard to get them crispy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.i just put all my fries in a plastic bag and put some oil in the bag and shake them around to coat.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.then in a dif bag have all my dry ingred. after they are coated w the oil, i throw them in the other bag w the dry ingred. no greasy hands, no extra bowls to clean.
Great idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you stir them when you rotate the pans?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Nope!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a air fryer, I’m going to soak first in salt and try shaking them with arrowroot starch and a tiny amount of oil and see if they get more crispy. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yum! And no deep frying!
Thank you, Jillee.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s not deep frying, but you are still adding a lot of oil onto them. I tried making them without the oil and it is not necessary :) Woohoo less fat on them and still delicious!!! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.