How To Make Perfectly Crispy Oven Baked Fries (2024)

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

Do you cook french fries at home?