Crispy Oven-Baked French Fries

Ingredients

Servings

4 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16

US / METRIC

2

Potatoes

up to 4 potatoes, about 1 1/2 lbs total

1/4 cup

Olive Oil

1 tsp

Kosher Salt

to taste

Sea Salt Flakes

I used Maldon®, for finishing

Cooking Instructions

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Step 1

Wash the Potatoes (2) and cut them, lengthwise, small, even wedges or sticks.

Step 2

Adjust an oven rack to the lowest position (or any rack — every oven is different) and preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (250 degrees C).

Step 3

Place the sliced potatoes into a large bowl and cover them with hot tap water. Let them soak for 10 minutes.

Step 4

Spread Olive Oil (3 Tbsp) over a rimmed baking sheet.

Step 5

Drain the potatoes and dry them thoroughly with a tea towel. Dry out the bowl they were just soaking in. Put the potatoes back in and toss with Olive Oil (1 Tbsp) and Kosher Salt (1 tsp) .

Step 6

Arrange the fries in a single layer on the baking sheet and cover the sheet tightly with foil. Bake for 5 minutes, then remove the foil.

Step 7

Continue to bake for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes to ensure even browning.

Step 8

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and, using a firm spatula, loosen the fries from the bottom of the pan. I find flipping the potatoes at this step to be problematic, so I just gently jostle the fries, trying as best I can not to break any and to shake them up a bit so that they will brown evenly.

Step 9

Continue to bake until the fries are golden and crisp, about 5 to 10 minutes longer. Rotate the pan as necessary to help them brown evenly.

Step 10

Remove from the oven, and season with more Sea Salt Flakes (to taste) and/or any other seasonings you wish. Serve immediately or as soon as they are cool enough to eat.