Learn how to make from scratch baked french fries with simple, healthy ingredients. They come out perfectly crispy and seasoned every time and are very easy to make.
Fries. Who doesn't love them? There's nothing better than biting into a crispy potato that is salted and seasoned to perfection. The combination of warmth, crunch and flavor sends me to heaven every time.
Many members of my family would call my husband "The Potato Connoisseur". They have always been a favourite food of his and he enjoys finding new ways to make them delicious. From mashed to baked to fried to "smashed", they just don't get old.
I made some tweaks to his method for making homemade fries and this was the result! They had always turned out tasty, but we finally found what was missing and the PERFECT fry was born! He (and I, honestly!) was amazed that I was the one to discover these changes. All we did was add 15 minutes of cooking (making a total of 45 minutes) and cut thicker fries than we did before.
Potatoes are an easy side dish that goes well with almost any meal (don't forget potatoes at breakfast, right?!). We cook them a few times a week since they are just so simple and delicious!
Are Baked French Fries Healthy?
Homemade baked french fries are made with simple, wholesome ingredients!
Potatoes are full of good carbs (excellent for boosting energy), Vitamin C and potassium, along with decent amounts of Vitamin B6, fiber and thiamin.
The oil you use will make a huge difference in the nutritional value of your fries! I recommend using unprocessed, heart healthy oil such as avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil. If you use refined vegetable oil such as canola or grapeseed oil, this recipe won't be healthy for you!
Did you know that cooling cooked potatoes increases the amount of resistant starch in them? Resistant starch is a "prebiotic" and provides food for the good bacteria in your gut and can also reduce inflammation. It also helps reduce blood sugar spikes after meals. So really, the leftovers are healthier than the fresh potatoes! Read more about thishere. It's so interesting!
FAQ
WHAT TYPE OF OIL SHOULD I USE?
When cooking at high temperatures, it's ideal to use an oil with a high smoke point that is also unrefined. Toxic substances form when you heat an oil past its smoke point and these are very harmful to the body. This is why you want an oil with a high smoke point! Refined (highly processed) oils have unhealthy additives and can cause inflammation in your body which can have a multitude of damaging effects. Some of the most common are canola, corn, peanut, palm, cottonseed, grapeseed and safflower oils (there are more!). Avoid these!
Avocado oil is a much healthier alternative! It is pure and unrefined, is extracted by a mechanical process (instead of a chemical process) and has a smoking point of 520°F! Therefore, you don't have to worry about any harmful effects. But again, you could use any cooking oil for this recipe, and of course, I highly recommend avocado oil!
I've also used extra virgin olive oil and feel more comfortable doing that than using refined vegetable oils.
WHAT TYPE OF SALT SHOULD I USE?
As with the oil, any type of salt would do, as long as it's a fine grain size. Pure sea salt is my go-to salt in the kitchen since it is basically unprocessed. Table salt usually has additives to lessen the chance of clumping, and I do my best to avoid unnecessary additives like that. For this recipe, I usually use Hy's Seasoning Salt. I am not sure what kind of salt is in this mix, but the seasoning blend is delicious and adds layers of flavour to the fries. Since this is the only recipe we use it for, I'm not stressing about if the salt is refined or unrefined.
HOW LONG DO THE FRIES NEED TO COOK?
After 30 minutes at 415°F, the potatoes will be cooked through. However, if you cook an additional 15 minutes, you get much crispier fries! So, in my opinion, always cook for 45 minutes! Crispy french fries are where it's at.
HOW LONG DO OVEN FRIES KEEP IN THE FRIDGE?
Crispy baked french fries are best when consumed immediately, however, they will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 2 days.
They will soften and dry out somewhat over time, so when you go to reheat, I recommended heating some oil in a cast-iron skillet and frying them until warm. This will bring some of their crunch and moisture back! You can also reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5 minutes, or in a toaster oven.
Can Baked French Fries Be Frozen?
Freezing potatoes changes their texture quite a bit, so I don't recommend freezing baked french fries.
TIPS FOR MAKING CRISPY OVEN FRIES
- Use red or Yukon gold potatoes! We've tried all sorts of potatoes with this method and while they all turn out great, these potatoes definitely come out on top. They crisp up on the outside while remaining soft and moist on the inside. We found that russet potatoes become quite dry on the inside when baked this way and sweet potatoes won't get very crispy using this method.
- Experiment with your favorite seasonings because the possibilities are truly endless. You could make garlic rosemary fries by adding some fresh, minced garlic or garlic powder with some rosemary. Another option would be chili powder, oregano and a pinch of cayenne for a spicy fry! Don't be afraid to come up with new and exciting flavor combinations.
- You can always salt after cooking if you find the fries need some more!
- Dip in some delectablehomemade BBQ saucefor an extra special treat.
- You can make potato wedges and follow the same cooking method, however you may need to lessen the cooking time. Check at 30 minutes and continue to cook if you want them crispier.
Tools You May Need
Parchment paper
How to Make Baked French Fries
Ingredients:
7-8 small / medium potatoes (red or yellow are best)
1½ teaspoon sea salt or seasoning salt (I recommend Hy's since it contains no MSG! Get ithere)
½ teaspoon ground black pepper (optional)
2 tablespoon avocado oil (can use any oil: olive oil, grapeseed oil, etc)
Optional: garlic, rosemary, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, nutritional yeast, etc. Have fun experimenting!
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 415°F and line a 9×13 cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Wash potatoes thoroughly in cold water or peel them. Cut off any black spots (bruising of the potato). Cut potatoes into ½ - ¾ inch strips (you really don't need a french fry cutter!). Place in a large mixing bowl.
Add oil and seasonings to a large bowl. Toss well to coat.
Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and distribute so the potatoes are in a single layer. This is ideal, but it's okay if there is some overlap.
Bake for 45 minutes or until a deep golden brown, turning every 15 minutes.
*Note: If the fries aren't salted to your liking, you can always add more salt after cooking.
HOW TO STORE BAKED FRENCH FRIES
French fries are best when consumed immediately, however, can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes. Reheated fries will be dry, so add some oil to them before reheating.
Did you try this recipe? If so, I would really appreciate a 5-star rating and your comments below! Thanks!
MORE SIDE DISH RECIPES
- ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR
- ROASTED CAULIFLOWER FLORETS
- INSTANT POT MUSHROOM RICE
- SAUTÉED KALE AND SPINACH
- OVEN ROASTED CARROTS AND ASPARAGUS
📖 Recipe
Crispy Baked French Fries
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
From scratch baked french fries with simple, healthy ingredients. They come out perfectly crispy and seasoned every time and are very easy to make.
Ingredients
- 7-8 small/medium potatoes
- 1½ teaspoon sea salt or seasoning salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil (any other oil would work too)
- Optional: garlic, rosemary, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, nutritional yeast, etc. Have fun experimenting!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 415°F and line a 9×13 cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash potatoes thoroughly in cold water or peel them. Cut off any black spots (bruising of the potato). Cut potatoes into ½ - ¾ inch strips. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add oil and seasonings to a large bowl. Toss well to coat.
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and distribute so the potatoes are in a single layer. This is ideal, but it's okay if there is some overlap.
- Bake for 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 340Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1017mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 8gSugar: 3gProtein: 9g
This nutrient calculation is done by an automated calculator and may not be accurate.
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