The SECRET to Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries | Say Goodbye to Limp & Soggy Fries (2024)

FAQs

How do you make sweet potato fries not soggy in the oven? ›

The secret to crispy (instead of soggy) sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don't touch. This is especially important if you're making a big batch of fries. Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches.

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

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.

A standard sweet potato has a lot of moisture, and its structure makes it behave less like a starchy potato, and more like a vegetable like squash or rutabaga. To make a sweet potato crispy, you have to choose the right sweet potato.

Blot as much moisture as possible from the fries, and heat your oven to 400°F. Very lightly oil a baking sheet and heat the fries for five minutes, check them, and heat in five minute increments until they're crisped to your liking.

It's best to keep sweet potatoes in a cool, dry area that gets good ventilation, according to the U.S. Sweet Potato Council. You really shouldn't store sweet potatoes in the fridge if you plan to eat them within a month or so, as refrigeration can bring on an unpleasant taste and a hard center.

Long accepted as a standard deep frying oil because of its neutrality, high smoke point, and ready availability (on the bottom oil shelf of most grocery stores), peanut oil is the choice of home fryers as well as chains such as Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

When they are left out to cool, the starches secrete moisture, which eventually makes the fries' crust soggy. How do you make sure your fries stay crisp? Opt for clear-coated ones. A clear starch coating keeps your fries' exterior crispy and interior fluffy for much longer.

Because our coated fries are covered in a very thin, practically invisible, layer of potato starch, they're transformed into what you could call 'super-fries'. Firstly, they benefit from a longer holding time as the batter acts as a 'protective jacket' that keeps them warmer for longer.

Many readers ask if they really need to soak the sweet potatoes before baking to get that great crunch. I've tried it both ways and found that soaking the sweet potato fries for about 30 minutes or so in plenty of cold water does help them crisp up a bit more.

Why are my sweet potato fries soggy in the air fryer? ›

Banish Soggy Sweet Potato Fries.

If your air fryer fries are soggy, it is likely because you over-crowded them in the basket.

If your air fryer fries are turning out soggy it is likely because you are over-crowding your air fryer basket or using too much oil. For the best results, use just ½ Tablespoon of oil per sweet potato and cook your fries in a single layer so that the air has room to circulate.

Don't overcrowd the baking sheet!

This is an important one! If the baking sheet it too crowded, the sweet potatoes will not crisp.

Don't overfill your baking tray and rack

Frozen fries are full of water so you definitely don't want too much steam in the oven which makes your fries soggy and limpy. Too many trays on the oven racks decrease airflow essential for crispiness, too!

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.