How to Bake Healthy French Fries

Starchy, salty, crispy…French fries are a popular and widely consumed food in America. Unfortunately, despite being tasty and delicious, fries are incredibly unhealthy. Calorie laden and loaded with fat and sodium, even a small portion of fries can wreak havoc on any diet. To eat well, and still enjoy fries seems like an oxy moron, but, it can be achieved! Bake your own French fries to cut out the fat, sodium, and excess calories. Oven baked fries are simple, quick, and even more flavorful than their greasy counterparts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potatoes
• Parmesan cheese
• Salt
• Cooking spray

1. 
    
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   Wash potatoes thoroughly and slice into ¼” to 1/2'” julienned strips.

2. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread potatoes evenly across pan. Very lightly spray potatoes to help seasonings adhere.

3. 
    
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   Sprinkle a smidgen of salt over potatoes, then dust evenly with parmesan cheese.

4. Bake at 400F for about 1 hour. To speed up the baking time, microwave potatoes until soft before seasoning. This will reduce the baking time to 15 to 20 minutes.
   
   Broiling potatoes for 2-3 minutes at the very end of baking produces golden, crispy fries.

Tips & Warnings

• For variety: Add Italian herbs, garlic salt, or rosemary (or any other herb) to the parmesan. Substitute paprika and garlic salt for the parmesan.
• One potato equals about 2 servings.

[lynnp]

on 11/17/2009 Good article on a new way to make good fries. I bake a lot of stuff on the stove in a nonstick pan that has a vented lid. Saves heating up the oven for small pizzas and other "baked" items. 5*

[konakai]

on 7/17/2009 Will have to give these Healthy Baked French Fries a try. Thanks! 5* and Rec'd.

[FacePro]

on 7/9/2009 Sounds like the cheese would give them some added flavor. I'll try this new way to cook fries! 5* & Recommend

[Merriment]

on 7/9/2009 Very good information for making delicious, crispy and healthy french fries. I now know I need to back mine for longer. That's great to know!

[bwood]

on 7/8/2009 Wow excellent recipe for healthy french fries! I will certainly try. 5*