Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Delicious Sweet Potato | So Good (2024)

I’ll admit it, I used to shy away from eating sweet potato fries. And don’t get me wrong, it has nothing to do with the flavor. It has everything to do with the texture! You know what I’m talking about. I’d buy them overpriced and frozen only to end up bathing in soggy disappointment. Nothing, not even other restaurants, could compare to the crispy, decadent fries I would order from a BBQ place by where I grew up. And after a sad attempt at homemade, whether I baked or fried them, they were always lack luster.

In one last attempt before I condemned sweet potato fries to the DNE (do not eat) pit, I gave this method a try. And let me just say, I was impressed. Sweet potato fries may have just been saved! The secret is in starch. Sweet potatoes, as you probably guessed, are packed with the stuff. In order to achieve crispy, finger-licking fries, we need to remove the starch, then put it back on. You heard me! Here’s the deal.

After you have cut the sweet potato fries, give them a good rinsing. This removes the starch on the outside of the sweet potatoes, which is where sogginess is born. So wash those little guys until no starch remains. You’ll know when they’re ready because the water you use to wash them in will eventually stay clear after swishing them around.

Next, after seasoning your sweet strips, coat the fries in a very light dusting of cornstarch. Because the cornstarch is dry, it will yield a perfectly crispy crust on your beloved sweet potato fries. And that’s it! At this point you can bake or fry the, but they will come out crispy. In my recipe, I deep fried them because, well, it tastes better.

Look no further for the path to well-executed sweet potato fries. Give this recipe a try and you, too, can save sweet potato fries from culinary damnation.

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Delicious Sweet Potato | So Good (1)

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Delicious Sweet Potato | So Good (2)

Delicately Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

2014-04-04 00:10:30

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Delicious Sweet Potato | So Good (3)

Serves 4

An easy and deliciously crispy sweet potato fry recipe. Very easy to make and mouth-watering.

Prep Time

20 min

Cook Time

30 min

Total Time

50 min

Prep Time

20 min

Total Time

50 min

Ingredients

  1. 6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch strips
  2. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  3. 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  4. 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  5. canola oil for frying
  6. salt to taste (I like flaked sea salt)

Instructions

  1. Place the sweet potato strips in a large bowl and cover with cold water.
  2. Stir them around, then remove the water and repeat the process 2 more times, or until all of the starch has been washed off the potatoes.
  3. In a colander, strain the strips and give them a good shake to remove any excess water.
  4. Place the garlic powder, and cinnamon in a large resealable plastic bag and shake to combine.
  5. Add the sweet potato strips, in batches, to the bag and shake until coated.
  6. Add the cornstarch to the bag, shake to combine, toss in the sweet potatoes back to the bag in batches, and repeat the process.
  7. Place the sweet potatoes back into your dried colander and shake them over a garbage can to remove any excess seasoning or starch.
  8. It important the the strips have only a light dusting of cornstarch or they will become soggy.
  9. Heat a large saucepan, stock pot, or dutch oven over medium heat.
  10. Add enough oil to come up 2 inches from the top of the pan and heat to 325ºF.
  11. For best results, use a deep frying thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature as you cook the fries. It’s best to stay between 325-350ºF.
  12. Fry the potato strips, in batches, until golden and crispy.
  13. Season with salt immediately after frying, then drain on a rack or paper towel-lined plate in an oven set to low.

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Danielle

Since I was a little girl, I've been all about food. As a 7 year old, my first half-baked attempt at chocolate cake was comprised of scrambled eggs and chocolate milk powder microwaved, then topped off with Red Hots. I've come a long way since then. I've been lucky enough to get to work in restaurants for 10 years and graduate from one of the best culinary schools in the country. At the moment I'm enjoying working with a killer food photographer while doing freelance food styling and writing. I'm always excited thinking about what my next culinary adventure will bring. Who knows, maybe I'll revisit that chocolate cake with Red Hots.

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Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Delicious Sweet Potato | So Good (4)

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    Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Delicious Sweet Potato | So Good (2024)

    FAQs

    Why won't my sweet potato fries get crispy? ›

    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.

    Is sweet potato good for French fries? ›

    Sweet potato fries are a great alternative to regular potato fries because they are packed with vitamins and minerals. Use garnet yams for this dish for their vibrant orange color. They are sliced thickly, like steak-cut fries, and are coated with a lively herb and spice olive oil mixture.

    Do sweet potato fries taste sweet? ›

    They're PACKED with sweet and savory flavor. And they're crispy too! Paired with a tasty dipping sauce, these baked sweet potato fries are impossible to resist. This sweet potato fries recipe is an updated version of a baked sweet potato fries recipe I shared several years ago.

    What makes sweet potatoes taste good? ›

    Why Are Sweet Potatoes Sweet? When you heat a sweet potato, an enzyme starts breaking down it's starch into a sugar called maltose. Maltose is made up of two glucose molecules bound together, and tastes about a third as sweet as regular table sugar, also known as sucrose. Maltose contains no fructose.

    Why do you need to soak sweet potatoes before cooking? ›

    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.

    Are sweet potato fries unhealthy? ›

    And while sweet potatoes themselves can come with a few extra health benefits, this is subject to change based on how they're prepared and cooked," says Emma Willingham, clinical dietitian at Houston Methodist. If you order sweet potato fries knowing they're just as unhealthy as regular fries, carry on.

    Are sweet potatoes healthier than regular potatoes? ›

    Sweet potatoes are often touted as being healthier than white potatoes, but in reality, both types can be highly nutritious. While regular and sweet potatoes are comparable in their calorie, protein, and carb content, white potatoes provide more potassium, whereas sweet potatoes are incredibly high in vitamin A.

    Can diabetics eat sweet potatoes? ›

    You can still eat sweet potatoes if you have diabetes, assures Huff. The fiber content in sweet potatoes, especially if you consume them with the skin on, can help reduce spikes in your blood sugar. Plus, how you cook your sweet potatoes can also help reduce the extent to which your blood sugar rises.

    Why are sweet potato fries so expensive? ›

    Why do restaurants charge extra for sweet potato fries? … Sweet potatoes cost the customer more than white potatoes because the factory pays more per ton, because customers buy fewer tons of sweet potatoes than they buy of the white ones.

    Why does my sweet potato taste bad? ›

    The US Sweet Potato Council warns that keeping uncooked sweet potatoes in the fridge will give them “a hard center and unpleasant taste.” This Is the Best Scrubber for Veggies, Spuds, and Dishes Alike.

    Are sweet potatoes worth it? ›

    Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber to support your eye, digestive and heart health. They're generally safe to eat daily, especially if you eat them with calcium to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. There are so many fun and tasty ways to eat sweet potatoes.

    How can you tell a good sweet potato? ›

    If you see a tuber with orange flesh, it's a sweet potato, regardless of how it's been labeled. When buying sweet potatoes, look for small to medium sized ones that are firm and smooth with no cuts or cracks.

    Why are my sweet potato fries still soft? ›

    My guess is you aren't blanching the sweet potato fries before you are frying them. In order to get crispy fries, of any type, you need to cook them twice. You begin by either boiling them in water, or frying them at 325, until they are just cooked through, but not so much that they lose their shape.

    Why do sweet potatoes not get crispy? ›

    I've found that sweet potatoes really need space for a truly roasted, crisped-edge result. Aim for about one inch of space between pieces. This leads to good, dry, hot airflow that will let the potato pieces' moisture evaporate while letting them dry and crisp up more.

    Why are my homemade fries never crispy? ›

    If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

    Why won't my fried potatoes get crispy? ›

    This sure sounds a lot like potatoes that have been stored too long, in too cold of an environment before cooking. When potatoes are held below 41°F for too long a period, the starches convert to sugar and it changes the cooking chemistry.

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