Baking frozen french fries is a must in K-12 foodservice. (Can you think of anything your students love more?) But transforming frozen potato strips into crispy, golden fries isn’t always simple in ovens. Little things make a big difference. And, let’s face it, not every fry was designed to be baked.
In this article, you’ll learn how to make frozen fries crispy in the oven in a way that rivals the best your K-12 students have enjoyed in restaurants. And we’ll share some of our favorite bakeable french fry recommendations.
Baking frozen french fries: 8 steps to better results
Deep fryers have one advantage over ovens: when the boiling oil heats the potato strips, the water inside the fries evaporates, rises into the air and dissipates, or is whisked away by the hood over the fryer.
During baking, the frozen fry moisture also evaporates. However, much of it remains trapped inside the oven. And that elevated humidity plays havoc with texture, reducing crispness. So baking frozen french fries is really about managing and mitigating the moisture generated during cooking.
Here are eight tips for the best possible baked french fries:
- Preheat your oven. Keep the oven shut as much as possible to reach cooking temperature faster.
- Use a perforated sheet tray. This helps hot air circulate more easily among the fries, increasing crispness.
- Don’t thaw your fries before baking. We get it: you’re trying to shorten cook time. But thawed fries turn into soggy fries. For best results, keep your frozen fries frozen until you’re ready to cook them.
- Bake two bags or less per tray. Remember, fries are full of water. The more fries you add to a tray, the more steam they’ll be releasing in your oven, reducing crispness.
- Load the oven quickly. This prevents heat loss that can result in soggy fries.
- Place trays on every other rack. Airflow is the key to maintaining cooking times. Too many trays in the oven reduces air circulation. Instead, only load fries on every other rack.
- Use heat lamps or holding cabinets with vents that release moisture. Humidity is the enemy of crispy fries!
- Use shallow holding pans for serving to disperse moisture after cooking. Shallower holding trays promote greater air circulation, helping disperse the steam from cooked fries better than deeper pans.
Only use fries that are specifically designed for baking
Of all the best practices, this is the most important: only use fries designed to be baked. Bakeable french fries (sometimes called “ovenable” fries) are specially made to deliver great results whether baked or fried.
Here are our favorite frozen fries for baking in ovens:
Unseasoned Bakeable Fries
Simplot Tater Pals® unseasoned fries bake up crisp and golden every time. These Grade A ovenable fries never disappoint!
Simplot Tater Pals® Ovenable Shoestring Fries
Simplot Tater Pals® 1/2” Ovenable Crinkle Cut Fires
Seasoned/Battered Bakeable Fries
Seasoned with paprika, onion and garlic, Simplot Tater Pals® savory fries deliver bold flavor with far less sodium than regular seasoned fries.
Simplot Tater Pals® Savory Reduced Sodium 10-Cut Wedges, Skin-On
Simplot Tater Pals® 5/16" x 3/8" Savory Reduced Sodium Fries, Skin-On
Simplot Tater Pals® Savory Reduced Sodium Loops
Baking frozen french fries: The crisp is worth the effort
Fries are undoubtedly one of the most popular items on any K-12 menu. And thanks to fast-food restaurants, your students are experts on how great fries look and taste. Now that you know how to make crispy fries in the oven, you can ensure they live up to student expectations—and keep kids coming back.
FAQs
Place fries in a plastic bag and spray thoroughly with cooking spray. Shake for a minute or so to distribute the oil. Place on baking sheet (I find a baking stone works best) and sprinkle lightly with chili powder, salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake at 400 until slightly brown and sizzling.
How to get frozen fries crispy in the oven? ›
Place fries in a plastic bag and spray thoroughly with cooking spray. Shake for a minute or so to distribute the oil. Place on baking sheet (I find a baking stone works best) and sprinkle lightly with chili powder, salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake at 400 until slightly brown and sizzling.
How long to cook frozen fries in the oven at 350 degrees? ›
Bake for 10 minutes at 350° F and start checking them every 5 minutes when you increase the oven temp to 450°. Keep baking until the fries turn golden brown and are tender.
Are baked frozen french fries healthy? ›
The problem is that these packaged fries have already undergone a process that makes them unhealthy and baking them does not necessarily mean you are eating a healthy food. However, it is true that frying makes packaged fries even unhealthier. Most packaged fries are pre-fried in partially hydrogenated fats.
How do you keep fries crispy in the oven? ›
Oven-warming for long-lasting crunch: To keep crispy dishes warm in the oven without compromising texture, place them on a wire rack and bake at 170 to 200 degrees. This method preserves the crunch for about 15 to 20 minutes, ensuring no crispness is lost when served.
Why won t my fries get crispy? ›
If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.
How do you make frozen fries taste good in the oven? ›
Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the salt and sumac (if using) and toss again. Arrange french fries so that they are all in a single layer. Bake for 30 minutes, checking half way through and tossing the fries to help with even browning.
What is the best temperature to cook frozen french fries? ›
Preheat your fryer to 345˚F. It may be tempting to turn up the temperature to cut cook times. But fryer oil breaks down faster at higher temperatures. For example, at 369˚F, the oil breaks down 2-3 times faster than at 345˚F.
Why are my frozen fries soggy in the oven? ›
When the fries cook in direct contact with the tray, the heat can cause the frozen fries to steam which ultimately turns them soggy.
How long do I bake frozen french fries for? ›
How long do I need to bake frozen french fries in the oven? The cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the fries and your desired level of crispiness. As a general guideline, bake the fries for 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking.
In moderation and with the right cooking method, the answer is YES baked fries are healthy!
Why aren't my oven baked fries crispy? ›
Skins On: Leave the potato skins on before chopping – this will give your baked fries a crispier texture. Plus it saves some prep time. Cut Evenly: Having even strips of potato will ensure all of your fries cook at the same time and prevent burning.
What makes fries so crispy? ›
As oil heats up it breaks down—cooking oils with a high smoke point will break down more slowly—and that creates crispier fries. The general rule of thumb is that you can reuse frying oil three or four times, or for a total of six hours cooking time.
Why are my frozen French fries soggy? ›
Is your policy one basket at a time? Dropping two baskets at once is sure to drive down the oil temperatures, making the fries absorb too much and turning limp or soggy.
How long to crisp up fries in oven? ›
Fries / Tots / Brussels: Heat oven to 350F. Spray or lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil. Remove your side from its container and spread evenly across a baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes and remove.
How do you make frozen fried food crispy? ›
Many frozen, fried foods will benefit from a good stir or flip during cooking. That's because each side benefits from some heat from the pan, but also a bit of air. Set your timer to go off at least once during the cooking time so that you don't forget.
