While I love a side of french fries as much as the next, I don’t love how they make me feel. Fries are often deep-fried in vegetable oil making them highly inflammatory. My homemade Crispy Baked French Fries (oil-free!) are a healthier version of the popular fried food you know and love. And quite honestly, these taste just as good, if not better! Serve these fries with Grillable Black Bean Burgers. If you love fast-food but are trying to eat healthier, make my Healthy Happy Meal, Crispy Chickpea Nuggets, Vegan Sesame Tofu Tenders, and Air-Fried Pickles.
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Notes on Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes: Any kind of potato works (sweet potato included), but I prefer russet potatoes to keep this recipe classic.
- Salt: Critical for making the fries flavorful and extra crispy! I like to use a high-quality mineral salt.
- Ice Water: The secret to making these fries super crispy is soaking them in an ice bath. Fill up a bowl with water and ice cubes.
Please take note that this is important information about the ingredients used in this recipe and the FULL recipe with measurements and details can be found DOWN BELOW (scroll to it) in the recipe card.
How do you make Crispy Baked French Fries?
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut up your potatoes and while the oven is preheating, soak them in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. Drain water, pat dry, then add onto baking sheet.
- Sprinkle on the spices.
- Bake for about 30 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Serve + enjoy!
- Step 1: First, preheat the oven and prepare a pan. Cut up the potatoes and soak them in ice water.
- Step 2: Then, drain the water, pat them dry, line them on the baking sheet and sprinkle with spices.
- Step 3: Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Step 4: Finally, serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Commonly Asked Questions
These fries are best eaten hot and fresh! If storing, they will last up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. To reheat, put them back in the oven or in the air-fryer for a couple minutes.
Soaking the fries in an ice bath before baking hydrates them and allows them to get crispy in the oven at a high temperature. If you want them even crispier, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil before baking.
Definitely! An air-fryer is amazing for making crispy homemade French fries. Keep the temperature the same. They will probably cook in less time, closer to 10-15 minutes.
I love making my Grillable Black Bean Veggie Burgers or Vegan Sesame Tofu Tenders.
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Extra Helpful Tips
- Use water with lots of ice in it, not just cold water from the tap.
- Use any seasonings you like on fries like smoked paprika or onion powder.
- Drizzle the fries with olive oil before baking to make them even crispier if you’re not oil-free.
- These fries are best eaten day-of. If you need to reheat them, I recommend putting them back in the oven or the air-fryer for a couple minutes.
How to Store
While fries are best eaten hot and fresh, if storing, they will last up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. To reheat, put them back in the oven or in the air-fryer for a couple minutes.
If you tried these Crispy Baked French Fries (oil-free!) or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 5-star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Crispy Baked French Fries (oil-free!)
Equipment
- 1 oven
- 1 knife
- 1 mixing bowl for ice bath
Ingredients
- 2 russet potatoes large
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- garlic powder to taste
- 1 bowl of ice water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut up your potatoes and while the oven is preheating, soak them in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. Drain water, pat dry, then add onto baking sheet.
- After lining your fries on the baking sheet, sprinkle on the spices.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Time varies depending on oven so keep an eye on them.
- Serve + enjoy!
Kylie says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing vegan recipe! I have been looking for great recipes and alternatives to oily foods since going vegan.
Ian Mckay says
Very nice
Katrina White says
Perfect fries
Tony Chen says
Thanks so much for the recipe Danielle! Too much oil is not really good for health. I’ve been trying to make French fries, but I couldn’t find the right recipe. This is a really healthy alternative 🙂
Danielle Keith says
I am so glad you made them and liked them. Nothing like some good ol’ crispy fries (that are also healthy!)
Hannah Faith Reynolds says
Looks so tasty! I have been looking for a way to do this and cut out the harmful toxins that come with cooking with excess oil in our food. I love fries so seeing that crispy is still possible without all the added oil is amazing!! I am wondering if this technique works well with sweet potatoes? Thanks for letting me know, again so neat 🙂
Danielle Keith says
They don’t get as crispy with sweet potatoes!
Werner says
Can you explain the physics of soaking them in ice water? Why would that make a difference?
Danielle Keith says
Soaking them rinses off some of the starch which then makes them crispier!
Karen says
I’ve always made my oven fries with a generous amount of olive oil because I never believed that oil free fries were tasty. But I was wrong because these were fantastic! I cut them up really thin because I love the crispiness! Thank you so much for sharing this method!
Tanya B. says
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!! I have just started on my Vegan journey and love fries and have to cook oil free. I have failed so many times trying to get my fries to taste like fries! I followed your recipe and it came out so delicious! Thank you and I look forward to following your other recipes!
Michelle says
Recently started oil free diet to help reverse heart disease. I’m so thankful for your recipies….going to make fries tomorrow! Happy Thanks Giving..
Danielle Keith says
OMG SO GLAD!
Cezary says
Danielle,
Sounds like a great recipe- I’m planning on implementing it tonight but I have one question. Oven temperature at 475 F? Is that a typo? That’s extremely hot! Isn’t this supposed to be 375? 400 max? Please let me know ASAP. Thanks.
Cezary
Excellent says
This is the only method that works for me
Excellent says
Outstanding. Really crispy! It was fabulous with russets. Im trying it tonight with sweet potato and purple potato! Thanks for the water bowl; it makes all the difference. 🙂
geraldine klimaszewski says
will this recipe work with sweet potatoes? Love everything you make !!!
Danielle Brown says
Yes! Might not be AS crispy but you can definitely can do it.
Lydia says
Before using parchment paper in a 475 degree oven, be sure to check the parchment paper container as most are only for up 425 degrees and some may be 450 degrees. I just baked at 475 degrees for a longer time.
Daniella says
This helped with my 8th grade P.E project, but it doesn’t say the total fat, calories or total sugars which is what I need to do. So, if you could please reply with the total fat, calories and total sugars that would be awesome thanks!
Taylor From HealthyGirl Kitchen says
Hi! If you’d like to know the nutrition facts, I suggest using an app like My Fitness Pal.
Laura says
I have a big bag of yellow potatoes, do you think those would work as a sub for russets?
Taylor From HealthyGirl Kitchen says
yellow potatoes will be softer with thinner skin but should still be okay!
Barb Meahan says
How do you cut your fries so right?? Mine never look like that!
Taylor From HealthyGirl Kitchen says
I cut the potato into slices first, then once I have the “ovals” I slice into the fry shape!
AW says
it works
Judy Dominguez says
These fries are outstanding…love the no oil baking. I made these exactly as you have written with russet and sweet potatoes cutting them super thin as I usually do potato wedges…these both came out crispy even the sweet potatoes. Thank you!!!
GMBM says
My husband has switched to an extremely restrictive diet for health reasons. No added oils are allowed. These were not bad, but the seasoning don’t stick to them. They are easy enough to make and pretty close to what I expect french fries to taste like.
Jordan Stacy says
These homemade French fries are so crispy, you’d never guess they are healthy and oil-free!!!