• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • About Sam
    • FAQ's about veganism
    • Press
    • Contact
      • Reader Inquiries
      • Business Inquiries
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Video
  • Start Here

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • Start Here
    • Tips to Use This Site
    • Press
    • Contact me
    • FAQ About Veganism
  • Join over 500,000 followers

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Recipes
    • Start Here
      • Tips to Use This Site
      • Press
      • Contact me
      • FAQ About Veganism
  • Join over 500,000 followers

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    August 9, 2016 26 Comments

    Crispy Baked French Fries

    1.4K shares
    Jump to Recipe

    When in doubt, order fries.

    You would think as a vegan I might get sick of french fries. After all, they are the go-to order at particularly un-vegan friendly restaurants. But no matter how many plates of french fries I eat, they still woo me with their crispy, salty, golden glow.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    It could be because I don't actually eat out that often, it could be because even when I do eat out at un-vegan restaurants I don't settle for fries and demand they make me a scrumptious vegan meal (and by demand I mean ask very politely with lots of smiles and thank yous). Or it could be because they are just crispy, golden, bits of carby, salty deliciousness... yeah I am going to go with that one. I never really seem to get tired of them, and sometimes need to make them at home.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    I don't have a deep frier and I don't want one... yuck. Nor do I want to fill a pot with oil. Deep frying just isn't something I want to bring into my house.

    So the goal for these french fries was to see if I could make gorgeously crispy fries, with as little oil as possible.

    It took me several tries of messing with the oil to potato ratio, oven temperatures, and various techniques, but by golly, I eventually nailed it.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    Here are the 3 keys to making perfect Crispy Baked French Fries:

    1. Use russet potatoes. Any other kind of potatoes just ain't going to cut it. Russet is the way to go.
    2. Cut the fries nice and thin. Thinly fries = crispy, thick fries = soft.
    3. Soak the fries first! I tried skipping this process and that's just not going to work the same way. Soak the fries in a big bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight. This washes away a lot of the excess starch. Starch holds onto water, and water makes for soggy fries, so the less starch the crispier the fry.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    Now that we know the keys to cooking them, let's hop to it!

    Cut up those fries nice and thin, then soak them in a big bowl of water. If you are soaking them overnight, just cover and pop the bowl in the fridge.

    I'm a leave the skin on kinda girl. The skin is the healthiest part of the potato, and the fries with skin on are my fav, so this is a win-win for my lazy potato peeling self. But if you're anti-potato skin, then peel away.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    When you are ready to get baking, drain and rinse the fries, then dump them on a clean kitchen towel, and dry them as best as possible.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    Toss them in a clean dry bowl, and pour over the oil and salt. Toss well so that the fries are evenly coated.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    Spread in a single layer, and bake, stopping to flip the fries every now and then until they are good and crispy. Omnomnom.

    Crispy Baked French Fries! The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) tips... #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    Print Recipe
    4.91 from 10 votes

    Crispy Baked French Fries

    The key to oven crispy french fries are these 3 important (but easy!) steps. Follow this technique and get perfectly crispy fries every time. 
    Prep Time35 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Total Time1 hr 15 mins
    Course : Side Dish
    Cuisine : AmericanFrench
    Servings: 4
    Author: Sam Turnbull • It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

    Ingredients

    • 2 russet potatoes cut into very thin fries, peels left on
    • 1 tablespoon oil (olive, canola, melted coconut oil, whatever your preference)
    • ½ - 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped (optional)
    • 1 tablespoon rosemary chopped (optional)
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Put the cut fries in a big bowl of water to soak for a minim of 30 minutes and up to overnight. If you are soaking them overnight, just cover and pop the bowl in the fridge.
    • When you're ready to bake Preheat your oven to 425F (220C). Lightly grease two baking sheets.
    • Drain and rinse the fries. Dump the fires onto a clean dish towel, and dry them off as best as you can. Add the dried fries to a large bowl and toss well with the oil and salt so that they are evenly coated.
    • Spread the fries across the two baking sheets in a single layer, as evenly spread out as possible. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stopping to flip halfway through until the fries are golden. Optionally toss with the parsley, rosemary, and garlic powder.

    Notes

    Air-Fryer instructions: To make fries in an air-fryer, prep the fries as instructed above. Preheat your air-fryer to 380F. Air-fry the fries for about 25 minutes, stopping to shake the fries 2 - 3 times. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram and Hashtag #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    Bon appetegan!

    Sam.


    Crispy Coconut Eggplant Nuggets! So healthy and so yummy! #itdoesnttastelikechicken
    « Crispy & Chewy Sesame Shiitake
    30 Vegan Breakfast Recipes (that aren't smoothies, oatmeal, or energy bars) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dee says

      August 11, 2022 at 12:12 am

      Do we add the spices before or after cooking, and should we skip them if making your poutine recipe?

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 17, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        You can add them at the end if you like, but I would omit them if making poutine. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Bianca says

          January 18, 2023 at 2:18 pm

          5 stars
          Sam, I must say the spices go really well in the poutine!
          I wouldn't omit them 😀

    2. Rose says

      March 02, 2021 at 9:52 am

      Question/comment: I love crispy fries! After you dry the fries you toss with oil and salt, when do you add the other spices listed parsley, garlic powder and rosemary? It doesn' t say in the instructions about the other spices. Are they optional?

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        March 04, 2021 at 11:40 am

        They are optional, but you can add the extra spices once they are finished cooking and toss to coat 🙂

        Reply
    3. Janice A. says

      February 04, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      Best homemade fries! They came out extra crispy like my family loves and the flavor was perfect. Thank you for another family fave recipe

      Reply
    4. Yolanda Pavey says

      January 24, 2021 at 10:46 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicous! I agree with others....I will never buy frozen again!

      Reply
    5. Karen says

      August 19, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Which brand of air fryer do you use?

      Reply
    6. Pauline says

      September 09, 2018 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      These are my go to french fries, perfect every time! Your advise to cut them thin and soak them in water for up to 24 hours are definitely keys tips. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 13, 2018 at 9:37 am

        Wonderful!! So happy you love them, Pauline 🙂

        Reply
    7. Melanie Davis says

      May 23, 2018 at 6:29 pm

      I look forward to trying these! I assume the Russets you used are medium in size, but I'd love to know an approximate weight, as size can vary so dramatically. In fact, I hope you'll consider adding food weights to all your future recipes. That info can be so handy! 🙂

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        May 24, 2018 at 11:03 am

        Hi Melanie, yes medium sized, but for this recipe, it really doesn't matter too much if they are a little larger or a little smaller. You can always add more oil or salt to taste. For recipes where it's much more important, I would include precise measurements. Enjoy!

        Reply
        • Melanie says

          May 24, 2018 at 12:28 pm

          5 stars
          Thank you, Sam! I made these last night using a sweet potato, and it worked great! As you say, slicing thin is key. Also, I find that sweet potatoes need more tending toward the end of baking; the difference between "brown and crispy" and "black and ruined" happens very quickly. 😉

        • Sam Turnbull says

          May 25, 2018 at 8:33 am

          That's awesome! So happy you enjoyed them, Melanie 🙂

    8. Kristi says

      April 30, 2018 at 4:53 pm

      Bumping an older recipe that I followed over from the corn dogs. Sam, what time of kitchen towels do you use? I have the regular terrycloth kind I guess, from Target. But they get linty, so I can't use them to dry food.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        May 02, 2018 at 8:51 am

        I use plain cotton or linen dish towels like these ones. I don't find they leave any lintiness behind. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Shivani says

      September 01, 2016 at 6:41 pm

      4 stars
      These were tonight's inspiration for dinner! First burger and fries of September! This is the first time I made homemade fries (vs. wedges or roasties). They were delicious and easy. But as usual, I made too many and crowded the baking sheets a bit too much. It didn't take anything away from the fries, except maybe a bit of crispiness on some sides/fries. And of course, the 3 year old loved them. And I didn't mind giving her more since they are only potatoes, some oil and salt. Thanks for helping make dinner planning easy, Sam.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 02, 2016 at 11:15 am

        Yay! So happy you liked them. Can't go wrong with crispy fry goodness, and homemade is so much better in taste and in health! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Katie | Delightful Vegans says

      August 13, 2016 at 1:42 am

      Never get sick of french fries! - we are literally eating potato fries right now - so crispy and delicious!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 13, 2016 at 10:53 am

        Right!? So happy you are enjoying the fries Katie 🙂

        Reply
    11. Bethery says

      August 09, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      Gonna have to call you Crispy Girl. I've been seeing a lot of references to air fryers on Facebook, but this shows I don't need another appliance.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 09, 2016 at 1:41 pm

        haha! I like all things crispy and all things creamy... two of my favourite words to use on this blog! I have heard of these air fryers too... I hate clunky appliances but am intrigued. I do like my oven a lot tho. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Angie S says

      August 09, 2016 at 12:31 pm

      I've been making oven fries for years and they are so much tastier than the frozen bagged stuff. Plus, there are so many ways to customize them. I use a bag to do the oil S/P step and ALWAYS throw some nooch in there, along with various other seasonings.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 09, 2016 at 1:38 pm

        Yes! So much better, cheaper, and no weird preservatives! Adding your own seasonings is perfection!

        Reply
    13. Patunia says

      August 09, 2016 at 11:53 am

      Have you tried this recipe with sweet potatoes? Looking forward to trying this recipe. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 09, 2016 at 1:37 pm

        I haven't yet myself, but it should work just fine. If you give it a go let us know how they turn out 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Sam Turnbull

    Hi Friends!

    I'm Sam. Bestselling cookbook author and full-time vegan recipe creator! I LOVE vegan food, but it didn't start that way. As someone who comes from a family of hunters, butchers, and chefs I'm the last person I thought would go vegan. Here's My Story →

    Join over 500,000 followers

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Amazon.com • Amazon.ca • Barnes & Nobel • Indigo • Kobo • Book Depository

    Amazon.com • Amazon.ca • Barnes & Nobel • Indigo • Kobo • Book Depository

    Footer

    Stay Connected

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Copyright

    I love when you share! All of the images and text on this site is the property of It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken. Feel free to share photos and quotes with a link back to my original post. Do not share entire recipes, large bodies of text, or edit my photos in anyway without first obtaining permission from me. Social media shares are always welcome. Thank you!

    Affiliate Link Disclosure

    On this site, I sometimes use affiliate links. This means that if you were to make a purchase through one of these links, It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken would receive a small cut, at no cost to you.

    Privacy Policy

    Footer

    COPYRIGHT

    I love when you share! All of the images and text on this site is the property of It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken. Feel free to share photos and quotes with a link back to my original post. Do not share entire recipes, large bodies of text, or edit my photos in anyway without first obtaining permission from me. Social media shares are always welcome. Thank you!


    AFFILIATE LINK DISCLOSURE

    On this site, I sometimes use affiliate links. This means that if you were to make a purchase through one of these links, It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken would receive a small cut, at no cost to you.

    Privacy Policy | Contact | About | Sponsor Newsletter

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 - IT DOESN'T TASTE LIKE CHICKEN