Oven-Baked French Fries

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you bake French fries in the oven? Gather your ingredients. Choose potatoes of similar size so the fries look nicer and cook evenly. Use a refined oil with a high smoke point, since the potatoes bake at a high temperature. I didn't add any spices besides salt, but feel free to season yours however you like.

2. Step 2:

   

   Wash and peel the potatoes well. Pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels — excess moisture keeps a crisp crust from forming.

3. Step 3:

   

   Cut the potatoes into sticks. I recommend cutting lengthwise so the pieces are long, like store-bought fries. Try to keep all the sticks the same thickness.

4. Step 4:

   

   Put the cut potatoes in a plastic bag and pour in the vegetable oil. Shake the bag well so the oil coats every piece. You can do this in a bowl instead, but the bag means fewer dishes to wash. Important: don't add salt until the very end of baking — salt keeps the crust from getting crispy!

5. Step 5:

   

   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and tip the potatoes onto it. Spread the pieces out evenly in a single layer so they cook uniformly.

6. Step 6:

   

   Preheat the oven to 445°F (230°C), conventional (top-and-bottom heat). Put the sheet on the middle rack and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Keep an eye on the fries — they should brown but not burn. Mine took 40 minutes. Notice how my thin pieces got very dark, which is why the cut should be uniform.

7. Step 7:

   

   Take the fries out of the oven. Only now salt them and add spices if you're using any. Toss with a spatula. Serve the fries right away, while they're still crispy. Enjoy!