French fries don’t need to be fried; in fact, they are just as good baked and a much healthier alternative. Beer and fries are a match made in heaven. Beer and anything is heaven (I’m a bit of a craft beer nerd).
Soaking Fries in Beer Instead of Water
A few years ago I found a recipe for homemade baked french fries that were soaked in water. The water is supposed to add moisture and make the fries ‘fluffier’ on the inside. So why not try this with beer for added flavor? The beer flavor, in general, is very subtle, so don’t be afraid to experiment with more hoppy beers.
My craft beer fries are soaked in an ale of your choice for at least one hour (I prefer IPA’s or pale ales but any beer will do), seasoned in olive oil and spices, and baked until golden and crispy. If I didn’t tell you these fries weren’t in fact, fried you wouldn’t second-guess.
How to Season French Fries
The secret to delicious baked fries is in the spices (and olive oil). Garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and olive oil offer a lot of flavors that make your homemade fries taste like rustic hand-cut French fries and not baked sliced potatoes. Obviously frying adds loads of delicious flavor, but the spices tend to help make up for it.
How to Bake Fries in the Oven
Be sure to thoroughly drain and dry the fries with paper towel before seasoning. Toss presoaked fries in a bowl with olive oil and spices. Bake at 450° F for 25-30 minutes until golden and crispy. I usually leave the skin on but you can peel the potatoes if you really prefer.
Now enjoy the subtle taste of beer and fuller flavors in your homemade fries.
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PinDescription
Baked craft beer fries are soaked in beer, seasoned in olive oil and spices, and baked until golden and crispy.
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes, hand cut into fries
- 1 12 ounce beer (IPA, pale ale, or lager)
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut potatoes into ¼ – ½ inch thick cut fries. Do not remove the skin. Soak in a medium sized bowl for 1-2 hours, fully submerged, in beer of your choice. Hoppy beers will add more flavor
- Preheat oven to 450° F.
- Remove fries from beer, shaking off any excess, and move to another bowl. Toss in garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil until evenly coated. Transfer to a greased baking sheet and spread evenly with the least amount of overlap possible.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and crispy. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. They will continue to crisp up as they cool.
Keywords: oven-baked fries, homemade baked french fries
how long on grill direct or indirect
Why you grillin fries!?
We all modify recipes, so here’s my take. I minced up a large garlic clove and put that in with the potatoes and beer. After the soak I followed your instructions (only without the garlic powder) up to the bake. Instead of baking, the fries went into a grill basket and onto my grill. Turned out crispy and fluffy.
Good idea. Never tried that before but I’ll have to look into it. Glad you liked it!
Great idea. I’m going to give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Nicole!