Soaking Potatoes for Fries
The whole reason for soaking potatoes before you bake them into fries is to help pull out some of the starch. You can actually see the water get starchier as they soak. In doing this, we can make sweet potatoes in the oven and they will still come out crisp. I have made this recipe about a billion times, first to perfect it, and then to accompany another set of photos for a different recipe . . . and then just because I can’t get enough. Each and every time I have to remind myself that it’s probably not great to eat the whole batch myself. And each and every time I fail. These Baked Sweet Potato Fries are exactly what you want them to be. They are easy to make, crispy on the outside, and soft and tender on the inside. All of that and they have the best flavor. You and your family will love them. If you love the idea of crispy baked fries at home, but you are more of a traditional fries person, try my Easy French Fries.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
If you love the idea of these, but would rather make them in your air fryer that works too. Please note that these are a bit easier to make in the oven because they really do need to be in a single layer. Do your best to keep the fries consistent in size. This will prevent the smaller fries from burning. Some recipes suggest that you preheat the baking sheet with the oven before cooking. I don’t think this is a necessary step. It doesn’t change the crispiness of the exterior more than soaking the fries does. It also is a great way to burn your wrists if you are clumsy like me. Follow the preparation exactly as has been written here, first soaking the potatoes, then patting them very dry, and finally tossing them with oil and seasonings. Then cook them in your preheated air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook them for 20 minutes, tossing them half way through. You will likely need to cook them two batches so they are in a single layer.
Seasonings
I kept the seasonings of this recipe really simple. We are using three plus oil.
Kosher Salt Ground Black Pepper Cayenne Pepper
In my humble opinion, the cayenne pepper is a must. It is what takes these over the top. It makes them delicious without being spicy. But, if you are worried it will be too much for your family, leave it off. As mentioned above, this is just a starting off point. You could really season these with any of my many seasoning mixes.
What to Serve Sweet Potato Fries With
As I said, these are right up there on my final meal list, so I think they go with just about anything. But here are a few things that I like them with best: These would also be amazing dipped in my BBQ sauce or my very favorite fry sauce on the planet, Chick Oil A Sauce.
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If you make this sweet potato fries recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
