Homemade French Fries & Sweet Potato

Maybe try a higher heat. I usually do at least 400! That gives them a good crisp, otherwise it sounds like you are doing all the right things!

Good luck,
A. V.

350 is too low to get them crispy...try a higher temp, like 425, and only turn them once about halfway through the cooking time. I love sweet potatoes, too - and they are very good for you, as long as you don't drench them in oil! I like them mashed with a little pumpkin spice and OJ and just a drop of butter. And sweet potato soup is yummy, too, and very easy. Go to epicurious.com for tons of great recipies. Have fun!

perhaps try just blanching the potatos (boiling for 2 minutes or so), and then turn the oven up. any directions for fries i've seen is to cook at 400 or 450. this way, they will be done on the inside when they get cripy.

i love sweet potatoes. i have been pureeing veggies as a way to incorporate more into our diet. we love a 1/2 cup or so of pureed sweet potato in our spaghetti sauce.

Maybe a higher temperature? I would try 400 or 425 and see how that works. That is one thing I do fry in the pan when I make them, about twice a year. I never fry anything anymore, but, I have to go the real way when I make those! Lol!

As for sweet potatoes, Fitness magazine always has great recipes for those.
www.fitnessmagazine.com and then check out their recipe section.

I knew I shouldn't have opened this post up!!

I love homemade french fries :( They are a downfall...luckily I don't make them very often!

I don't have much help, but I use a deep fryer w/ canola oil or olive oil depending on whats already in there (I change it after a few uses and what was made in there last).

I have potatos, so I have to keep telling myself...I am NOT going to make french fries lol.

My cousins boyfriend makes potato chip fries things. He cuts them really really slim in the circle thing and fries them in Olive Oil...omg sooo good!

Use a higher oven temperature, I think 425 degrees. I pop mine in for about 25 minutes (I don't bother turning them), and I put them on alum foil on the cookie sheet so easy clean up!

Soak the regular fries in some cold water w/ a little sea salt for about 20 minutes and then drain. Do whatever you do with them after that. You'll find this makes them crispier.

Cut sweet potatoes (3-4 large) into large chunks. Put them into a LARGE ziploc. Drizzle w/ a little olive oil and toss to coat.
Mix 1/3 cup brown sugar, 3/4-1t sea salt, 1/8-1/4 t cayene and 1-2 t chili powder.
Pour mixture into bag, shake and coat.
Bake at 375 degrees just unitl done (length of time will depend on the size of chunks you pick.

NOTE- You can make these as spicy as you want - more cayene, more chili powder, hot chili powder, etc. I can make myself SICK on these and I can't say that about many things. PHENOM!! Let me know how they turn out.

You got some good answers, definitely you want 425 degrees for crispy fries. Also try using use an aluminum sheet pan not a nonstick or dark pan.

For russet potatoes I learned a trick from test kitchen that works well, soak the fries in really hot tap water for about 10min then dry them and toss in a couple TBL of Canola oil with salt and fresh ground pepper. Roast at 425 10 min then flip and do 10 more min. or a little longer to get them browned.

My favorite oven fries though recipe is with red potatoes.
Cut red potatoes into little wedges and half if they are the large type.
Pour a few tablespoons of olive oil over, a pinch or two of course kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, dried thyme, and about 6-7 whole peeled garlic, toss and put in oven about 10 min at 425 on an aluminum sheet pan and turn and do 10 more min or so. They are always a hit, super crispy, & flavorful.

If you like Indian food surely you will love this soup. I admit though my kids
think it's spicy so cut the Curry powder if hotness is an issue for your family.
I think 1 TBL of curry would be good. Also I have roasted the potatoes and carrots in the oven then put them in the soup and that is super good! I use an immersion blender to puree everything at the end, it's super thick and delicious with some crusty bread or Indian bread like Naan.

Sweet Potato Carrot Soup
2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tsp cumin
2 tbsp curry powder
1 pound bag of baby carrots
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 1/2 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Preparation:

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven and saute onion until softened. Stir in cumin and curry powder and cook for 1 minute. Add carrots, sweet potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

I put a cooling rack over my cookie sheet. It allows for the heat and air to flow all around the potato, and I don't have to turn them. I do this for Oven Fried Chicken too and the chicken gets real crispy. Like the other post say, you need a higher temp.

Hi K., I make homemade FF all the time. If you're going to bake them I agree with the others you need a hotter oven ,at least 400. I would also suggest soaking them in cold salt water for a half hour or so before you bake the. Just use paper towels to dry them completely before you put them in the oven. Soaking them will pull some of the starch out. Also, what kind of potatoes are you using? Russets will crisp the best, but Yukon Gold and even red which are very waxy are good, just a different texture, you know?

When deep frying, I soak them in water first, them I fry them (about 375) for a few minutes, maybe 5 mins, the take them out and cool them, then fry them again until they have the right color.

Slurp!

:)