Perfect Homemade French Fries | Super Easy Baked Fries Recipe! (2024)

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By Melissa

on Mar 21, 2019, Updated Feb 26, 2020

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The best oven french fries you’ve ever had made from potatoes and baked crispy in the oven. Who doesn’t love great homemade french fries?

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect oven fry recipe for years now. I’ve made many, many batches and tested many techniques. The ingredients don’t often change but the method does vary. After trying gobs and gobs of recipes, it is safe to say that America’s Test Kitchen has the perfect method. Of course there are more steps than others, but that my friends, is why the end result is perfect.

The key to these oven fries is soaking your potatoes in water before using and cooking them on a well-greased pan. The end results are homemade french fries that are light and fluffy in the middle and perfectly crispy on the outside.

Dip them in some homemade nacho cheese and you really have yourself an enjoyable meal. I served these with yesterday’s amazing chicken legs and some steamed broccoli. No one left the table hungry that night. Such a good meal.

Tips for making amazing homemade french fries:

  • If you like pepper, add some of that to the baking sheet with the salt.
  • Covering the pan for the first few minutes in the oven almost steams the potatoes. This is how you get the middle to cook perfectly without over cooking the outside. Don’t skip that step.
  • Be fussy about turning the potatoes, one at time, in the middle of the cook time. This will make sure that each side of the fry is perfectly crispy. It’s a hassle, but worth it.

Can you freeze baked french fries?

Yes! You can make this recipe ahead of time. Remove the hot fries from the pan and let them cool on a paper towel. Once the fries are cool, place them in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. Reheat them in the oven for 25 minutes at 400 degrees or until they are hot and crispy. You can also throw the homemade fries in your air fryer if you have one (I’m new to the game and it’s awesome for this kind of thing).

Perfect Homemade French Fries | Super Easy Baked Fries Recipe! (2)

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Perfect Homemade French Fries | Super Easy Baked Fries Recipe! (3)

Perfect Oven French Fries

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5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6
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Description

The best oven french fries you’ve ever had made from potatoes and baked crispy in the oven. Who doesn’t love great homemade french fries?

  • 4 or 5 russet potatoes
  • 5 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • additional salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 8 long wedges. Make sure they are all close to the same thickness.
  2. Put all of the potatoes in a medium bowl. Fill the bowl with hot tap water and let the potatoes soak for 10 to 30 minutes.
  3. Drain the potatoes and then pat them dry with a clean dish cloth or paper towels.
  4. Wipe the bowl out so there is no water left in it. Put the dry potatoes back in the dry bowl and toss them in 1 tablespoon of oil.
  5. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. On a large, rimmed baking sheet add the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil and spread it all over the pan until it is completely coated (a pastry brush works well here).
  6. Sprinkle the salt on the oiled pan. Lay the potatoes out in even rows with one side against the pan.
  7. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 5 minutes.
  8. Remove the foil and continue baking for 15-20 minutes.
  9. Using tongs or a metal spatula, flip all of the potatoes over so that the other side is now against the pan. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are crispy and starting to brown.
  10. Remove hot fries from the pan onto paper towels to drain some of the grease, add additional salt to taste, and then serve warm.

Notes

  • If you like pepper, add some of that to the baking sheet with the salt.
  • Prep Time: 45 min
  • Cook Time: 45 min
  • Category: side
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: American

Perfect Homemade French Fries | Super Easy Baked Fries Recipe! (4)

What can I serve with homemade french fries?

  • Crispy Panko-Crusted Baked Chicken Legs
  • Garlic and Herb Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot
  • Garlic Herb Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

Love oven baked french fries? You might also love these awesome side dishes:

  • Twice-Baked Potatoes with Bacon
  • The BEST Crispy Homemade Sweet Potato Fries
  • Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower
  • Simple Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
  • The Perfect Steakhouse Baked Potato

My kids love this recipe, and I feel like it can go with just about any meal. I mean, hello homemade french fries! So delicious. I can’t wait for you to make these at your house.

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Perfect Homemade French Fries | Super Easy Baked Fries Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak fries in water before baking? ›

This step is commonly missed in making homemade fries, but it might be one of the most important! Soaking your fries in cold water helps remove excess starch, which allows for crispy, golden fries! The cold water bath also helps the french fries retain their shape and contributes to a fluffy inside.

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.

Why my french fries are not crispy in the oven? ›

Keep the oven shut as much as possible to reach cooking temperature faster. Use a perforated sheet tray. This helps hot air circulate more easily among the fries, increasing crispness. Don't thaw your fries before baking.

Is it better to fry or bake French fries? ›

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.

What happens if you don't soak fries before frying? ›

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.

Why add vinegar in water for french fries? ›

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.

Why won t my home fries get crispy? ›

The secret to getting a crispy surface on home fries is to make sure the potatoes aren't warm when you pan-fry them. In this recipe, we precook the potatoes and let them cool to room temperature before they hit the buttered pan, ensuring perfectly crusty and crispy edges.

Why are my baked french fries soggy? ›

If you wash potatoes and don't give them enough time to dry, the excess moisture on their surfaces will lead to the fries steaming rather than browning and crisping.

How to know when homemade fries are done? ›

Look for a golden brown exterior to know they're finished. Season the fries: Be sure to season your fries while the oil is hot. The hot oil will help your seasonings stick to the fries. Use salt, spices, fresh herbs, or even oils to flavor your fries.

How do you make oven fries taste better? ›

Add herbs and spices for extra flavor.

"Add a bit of gourmet flair to your fries by sprinkling them with some garlic powder, fresh rosemary, seasoned salt, or fresh virgin-olive [oil] or truffle oil," Koeppe said. As well as adding flavor, a drizzle of oil can also help keep fries from sticking together in the oven.

How long should you soak potatoes for fries? ›

Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water. 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.

Why do french fries taste better at restaurants? ›

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.

What does cornstarch do to french fries? ›

russet potatoes – These have less moisture, yielding a crispier fry. cornstarch – Aids in crisping the fries when baking. kosher salt – Enhances the flavors of the fries. garlic powder – Adds flavor that's sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.

How long can you soak french fries in water? ›

Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Allow them to soak, 2 to 3 hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak overnight.)

Do you rinse fries after soaking? ›

Soak, rinse, and pat.

Soaking them right after cutting minimizes oxygen contact and keeps the fries looking fresh and appetizing. After slicing all the potatoes, rinse them with cold water multiple times until the water runs clear. This process helps remove excess starch and sugars from the potato surfaces.

How long should you soak potatoes in water before baking? ›

2. Give them a cold water bath: Once your potatoes are chopped, toss them into a large bowl. Then cover the potatoes completely with cold water and let them soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight). This will help to rinse off the excess starch and help the potatoes crisp up beautifully in the oven.

What happens if you don't soak potatoes before air frying? ›

I wouldn't bother doing potatoes from the raw state, without soaking. It will take about a half an hour and the texture won't be nearly as rewarding. They just don't get very crispy without that cold soak.

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