Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 2 pounds baking potatoes (this is about 4 large potatoes, cut lengthwise into ¼ to ½ inch sticks)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher or sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (grated or shaved, optional garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped, optional garnish)

Instruction

  • Clean potatoes well and cut into sticks. You can peel the potatoes if you want but honestly, the crispy skins are the best part! Aim for ¼ to ½ thick sticks or anywhere in between. The more uniform your french fries, the more evenly they'll bake.
  • Place cut potatoes in a bowl filled with hot water. Doesn't need to be boiled or anything, just really hot tap water will work. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes to remove some of the starch.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Remove potatoes from water and drain well. Dry potatoes thoroughly. My favorite method is with a salad spinner and really absorbent towels. The more moisture you remove, the crispier your oven baked french fries will be. (The salad spinner also works great for quickly drying freshly rinsed herbs!)
  • Place dry potatoes back into a dry bowl and add olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss potatoes with tongs until the ingredients are evenly distributed and each French fry is coated with oil.
  • Spread French fries evenly on prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
  • Bake for 45 to 60 minutes until browned and crispy. After about 25 minutes you'll want to gently turn the oven fries over and then again every 10 minutes after that for even browning.
  • Test for seasoning and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper if needed. Toss with Parmesan and parsley just before serving.