A few months ago, my husband and I threw out our outdoor grill, and though it was a sad, sad loss it was a necessity. We’re moving soon, and since the thing was rusty, crusty and all kinds of beat up after years of use, we decided it would be less of a burden to toss it and buy a new one later. But, the time to move came, went and became delayed, and without a grill we were itching every hour for a juicy grilled burger and an excuse to make the crispiest, most delicious oven-baked potato fries ever to go with it.
With our tiny, shiny new grill, now we have that excuse and can enjoy the spring and summer grilling that has become synonymous with this time of year. Hooray, huzzah, rejoice!
Thanks to Annie at Annie’s Eats, the perfect potato fry became a reality with this simple recipe she shared from Cook’s Illustrated. First, cut your potatoes into wedges (see this quick video on how to do it right), soak them in hot water and pat dry. Then, coat your baking sheet with oil, salt and pepper and bake for a little over half an hour, flipping once. Drain the grease with a paper towel, plate and enjoy these perfect fries – Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and great with a burger!
Now that I know how to do potato fries the right way, I’ll never be going back to the less-than-crispy burger companions that I used to make. Try these for yourself and I’m sure you’d agree!
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Crispy Oven-Baked Potato Fries
Yield: Makes 3 servings
Ingredients:
3 russet potatoes (about 24 oz. total), peeled and cut lengthwise into even sized wedges
5 tbsp. vegetable, canola or peanut oil, divided
¾ tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 475˚ F. Place the potato wedges in a large mixing bowl. Cover with hot water; soak for 10-30 minutes. Put 4 tablespoons of the oil onto a heavy, rimmed baking sheet. Tilt the sheet side to side to evenly coat the pan with oil (a pastry brush can also help with this). Sprinkle the pan evenly with the salt and pepper. Set aside.
Drain the potatoes. Spread the wedges out on layers of paper towels or on clean kitchen towels. Pat dry with additional towels. Wipe out the now empty bowl so it is dry. Return the potatoes to the bowl and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Arrange the potato wedges on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the bottoms of the potatoes are spotty golden brown, 15-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet after 10 minutes. Using a metal spatula and tongs, flip each potato wedge keeping them in a single layer. Continue baking until the fries are golden and crisp, 5-10 minutes. Rotate the pan as needed to ensure even browning.
When the fries are finished baking, transfer to a paper-towel lined plate to drain some of the grease. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Enjoy!
Adapted from Annie’s Eats
Is there anything better than a crispy fry?? I think not! These look great!!
Can’t wait to try these. I made sweet potato “fries” this weekend but they definitely aren’t crispy! Looking forward to these! :)
These look perfect! I love anything potatoes :)
An easy, handy recipe to have on hand. Thank you!
I make them,too, I use olive oil and sprinkle them with 2 teaspoons of sugar(depending on how many are in the pan). I cook them at 425 for 25 minutes, turning once halfway through. They don’t need to be covered either!
Georgia – this is thrilling. Those look like the perfect fries & healthy too. Must try them over here. The color of the fries against the blue tea towel is gorgeous!
Wow, your pictures are worth a thousand words here, Georgia! I can just tell how cripsy and delicious these fries are. So glad you guys made the plunge and decided to buy a new grill even though the move hasn’t happened yet. A summer season just wouldn’t be the same without!
I love oven baked fries… yours look perfectly delicious Georgia!
French fries are one of my favorite comfort foods! These looks yummy!!
These look amazing! I can’t wait to try them!
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Hi Georgia, how are you?
Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your nice comment. I am so glad you found me and then I found your beautiful and delicious blog. I just had a quick glimpse and all the pictures are so beautiful.
The fries look so yummy and crispy. I just need ketchup :)
I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Have a nice day.
Michael
Love your blog,recipes, photos, just took a look at it (discovered you through the comment you left on my blog for the vanilla cream pie) and I’m so looking forward to following your work! :)
my daughter would be in tater heaven, I think I would add some heat too! Nice.
When Hubby and I moved where grills are not allowed…I was secretly thrilled. I quite frankly do not miss it one bit.
The fries are addictive made in this way. Since I had seen the segment on Cook’s Country, I too gave them a try. I also enjoy adding extra spices ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
These fries look splendid! My kids love fries and this is a much healthier way to make it for them:)Happy Monday, Georgia:)
OH, I love these. I have no idea why people buy the fast food version when you could have these! mmm, and they end up so much healthier AND taste AMAZING.
Hmm, they look good and crispy!
My father makes so good oven potatoes. I love oven potatoes!
I add some spices like rosemary and the rest, I don’t know…
gosh, I love potatoes!
wow these look so good can’t believe they are baked thanks for visiting my blog and the sweet comment I am already following your lovely blog, love the design by the way
I LOVE your site and am so glad to “meet” you here! Your recipes look amazing and your blog is beautiful. Looking so forward to being a regular reader and trying lots of your recipes in my own kitchen. Have a super night!!!
I have never made a successful oven baked fry…but I’ve also never used this recipe before! Thanks for sharing…now I am ready for a burger and fries too :)
Huzzah is right, you gotta love potatoes in any shape or style, but your oven baked fries sound delicious! I have to make these next time I grill!
I have major issues with getting my fries to be crunchy. This is a new method, I’m gonna give it a try :)!
these look like pure bliss. I will definitely be making these up. So much healthier than deep fried junk!
xo
ooh! i make these alll the time at home, ahhh they ARE sooo delicious (:
I have been searching for the perfect french fry recipe! Can’t wait for a night to try this one out!
Oh my goodness those fries look perfect!! I love how crispy they look and that they’re baked. :)
They are so delicious and so much healthier!
Those look incredibly, Georgia!! You can come to my house and I’ll grill up burgers if you make the fries!!!
oh wow! what a beautiful blog you have! everything looks amazing, i would love a big plate full of those fries! delicious!
Yum! These fries look so tasty. I love the photo of the potatoes and the flower, it’s so cute! :)
Love that they’re oven-baked! Thanks for sharing :)
Awesome! I’ve had bad luck with oven fries in the past so I will have to try your technique…these look fantastic!
YUM! I’m going to have to try these. They look perfect!
Oh wow, Georgia these are the best looking oven fries I have ever seen! The picture with the ketchup makes me want to eat my laptop… :-)
Now I’m craving burgers and fries! These look so yummy!
Never had luck with oven baked being crunchy so thanks for the tip.
I’ve tried a similar recipe, you’re right…they are delicious!
Oh my goodness these look so good…love that they are baked :)
My internet is back on track and I am SO SO glad b/c I get to check out these tasty looking fries!! Looks great…and baked, you truly are awesome! Can’t wait to hit burger season around here, we are def. putting this on the list for this summer! :)
I totally need to make these! I can never get my fries to crisp in the oven, so I’ll definitely be trying this next time I make them.
These look fabulous Georgia! Being from Idaho means I make potatoes almost daily. I think I will make these tonight.
Oh thick wedge fries, I wish I could resist you!
I use olive oil and garlic power. I have my students “design their own” with a combination of herbs and spices and very very little oil – but enough and they love them.
Yours look CRISPY!
:)
Me too!
I am slowly catching up….
I hope to catch up soon!
:)
Valerie
These really do look divine! Plus your description and photos make me absolutely sure I need to try them soon.
Hi there. I must say that I’ve bookmarked this page and come back often for your recipe for oven baked fries. It is the best recipe I’ve found so far! these are delicious! thanks!
This was great – although I still managed to set off my smoke detector – EVERY time that I make oven fries… guess I just keep trying (oh darn, have to make more fries!!).
The comment I received when I put this on the table was “I don’t think you made enough – and not because you used too few potatoes but because you made them taste too good”!! :-)
I loved this delicious delicacy, it was so tasty that the very next day I had to make it again. Thanks so much for the recipe
What temperature does the oven have to be at?
Georgia — March 25th, 2013 @ 7:15 pm
Sorry, in the new site transition the recipe didn’t copy over fully! It’s been updated now. :)
My husband and I just came across this recipe and thought we’d give it a try. Now we are OBSESSED with them! They were SO good! I have to agree way better than deep fried fries. I think we will just have to have them every night with dinner! Thanks for posting!!
Just tried this tonight, turned out lovely!! Thanks for sharing :)
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing. These were awesome. I didn’t change a thing
Whoa! These were freaking awesome.