are great Oven Baked Fries a possibility?

[Tom P]

Just checking to see if anyone has a way to do good fries in the oven. Thanks!

[Norm Man]

I soak the raw cut fries in warm water to remove some of the starch. I then dry them, coat in oil and bake until crisp and brown. Removing some of the starch helps the fries get crisper.

[EmmaFrances]

I've had good luck with a recipe for "San Francisco Garlic Fries" from Bon Appetit: http://prod.bonappetit.com/recipes/qu...

[bythebay]

I cut them fairly thick and use olive oil and bake for about 40 minutes and 400, comes out great. I think maybe olive oil isn't supposed to be used at that temp, but this has always worked for me. I put them in a stainless steel roasting/lasagna pan and leave them till done. Sometimes I'll turn the pan once partway through. Super easy and comes out great.

[1POINT21GW]

To mimic the best french fries cooking method of blanch-then-fry, microwave cut potatoes in a bowl tightly wrapped with plastic wrap until they're translucent around the edges, about 3 - 5 minutes, stirring halfway through. Place them on the cooling rack fitted in a sheet pan you're going to bake them on and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Then, proceed with baking as normal.

[escondido123]

When and how does the oil get applied and what temp/time? Sounds interesting.

[1POINT21GW]

After "blanching" (steaming) them, remove the cooling rack with the potatoes from the sheet pan. Pour about a 1/4 cup of vegetable oil onto the sheet pan and heat it in a preheated oven at 450 degrees until it just starts to smoke.

Meanwhile, toss the potatoes with a few tablespoons of vegetable oil and season with salt.

Place the potatoes on the preheated sheet pan in a single layer and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 25 - 35 minutes, flipping halfway through. Drain and pat with paper towels and serve.

[escondido123]

My husband makes great ones. Fairly thick cut Russets allowed to soak in water for a good hour and then rinsed. All are dried thoroughly and then tossed with olive oil in a plastic bag until coated. Laid out on heavy pan one by one, not touching, and put into 450 oven with convection on. Turn after 20 minutes, should be done in 20 more (add at least 5 minutes without convection.)

[ciaobaby]

I think the other key is not to crowd too many potato wedges/fries on to the pan together. If they're too tightly spaced, they will steam rather than crisp up.

[christy319]

And, don't flip them before they're nicely browned. They could stick if you try to flip too soon (kind of like when you brown chicken).

[cleopatra999]

I agree with all of the above. I have one roasting pan that is old, really old and well seasoned. My new roasting pan doesn't do them right, they totally stick. Let them cook longer than you think too.

I have tried many different potatoes and find a yukon gold works better than russet. The larger red work too, and I always leave the skin on.

Make sure you use an oil for high heat or it will just smoke and burn away. Canola works great for me.

[travelerjjm]

I have had success cooking them on a rack placed in a sheet pan. Also check other Fires threads here recently and blanch them before cooking.

[jo_jo_ba]

That's what I do!! Plus by placing on a rack you don't have to fiddle with flipping. Also, soak in vinegar water, not just plain cold, then dry completely and mist with spray oil.

[tommy]

silpat.

[cleopatra999]

I do them all the time. I cut them fairly thick, a healthy glug of canola to coat them all thoroughly and cook at a high heat (425 or 450). they take about 20 mins, make sure you give them a flip a few times.

[Tom P]

Thanks, Cleo. How do you keep them from sticking? Or is it not a problem?

[fourunder]

My experience is you need to use a shallow metal pan and decent amount of oil ...... make sure you allow them to brown or crisp sufficiently before attempting to turn.

I cut in the shape of style of Steak Fries, i.e. length wise in a triangle shape, 3-4 per depending on size. I only turn twice....Start on the skin side, then once each on the flesh sides. I also season with Kosher Salt and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper prior to placing in the oven......

[cheesecake17]

Sheet pan, lined with foil, then covered in parchment paper. I leave the skins on, cut into "steak fries" and soak in a bowl of cold water.