Crispy Oven Baked Fries (Printable)

Golden, crunchy fries baked to perfection and lightly seasoned with sea salt.

# Ingredient List:

→ Potatoes

01 - 2.5 lbs russet potatoes

→ Seasonings & Oil

02 - 3 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1.5 tsp sea salt, plus additional for finishing
04 - 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
05 - 0.5 tsp garlic powder (optional)
06 - 0.5 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Wash and peel potatoes if desired. Cut into 3/8 inch thick sticks to ensure even cooking.
03 - Submerge cut potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain and pat dry thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel.
04 - In a large bowl, toss potatoes with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until evenly coated.
05 - Spread fries in a single layer on prepared baking sheets, ensuring pieces do not touch for optimal crispiness.
06 - Bake for 20 minutes. Flip fries with a spatula, rotate trays, then bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crisp.
07 - Remove from oven, immediately sprinkle with extra sea salt, and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that satisfying crunch without a drop of deep-fried oil—just the oven doing all the work.
  • They're so simple that even on a chaotic weeknight, you can have golden fries on the table in under an hour.
  • The starch-soaking trick makes them crispy outside and fluffy inside, which sounds like magic until you try it.
02 -
  • Do not skip the water soak—it sounds like an extra step, but it's literally the difference between crispy and soggy.
  • Your oven's heat matters enormously; if these aren't crisping up in the time listed, your oven might run cool, so add five minutes and keep watching.
  • Wet fries will never crisp, so take the extra moment to pat them dry after soaking; it genuinely changes the outcome.
03 -
  • Use convection or fan setting on your oven if it has one—it circulates heat more evenly and can reduce cooking time by a few minutes.
  • Cut your potatoes as uniform as possible; even thickness means even cooking, which is the unsexy but essential foundation of crispy fries.
  • Don't be afraid to let them get dark golden; they're more likely to be undercooked and pale than overdone in a 425°F oven.

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