Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for french fries? ›

1.Baked Potato

If you have an intense potato craving but don't want to indulge in french fries, the baked potato is a great substitution. Baked potatoes offer more nutritional value than fries because they still have skin. Potato skins are the most nutrient-dense part of a baked potato.

The Bottom Line. Sweet potato fries are slightly higher in calories and carbs than French fries but also high in vitamin A — giving them a nutritional edge. Still, deep-fried fries of any kind served in over-sized portions — as in many restaurants — may increase your risk of weight gain and related health problems.

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.

There are many advantages of baked fries over fried fries. Baked fries are lower in calories and fat, and they're also much easier to make at home. When you fry potatoes, a lot of the potato's natural nutrients are lost in the process. But when you bake potatoes, they retain more of their vitamins and minerals.

They totally deserve a place within a balanced diet. These sweet spuds are also rich in potassium and fiber — antioxidant vitamin A too. And they have comparable calories to regular potatoes at 183 calories. Yes, sweet potatoes are more nutritionally dense but not by much.

If you want to eat your potatoes deep-fried, potato chips are a healthier choice than french fries. They are lower on the glycemic index, so they will have a minimal effect on your blood sugar. Avoid potato chips with added ingredients, and look for chips cooked in olive oil or avocado oil.

“Both potatoes clock in around the same calories (100 to 120 calories) and carbs (25 to 30 grams) for a small to medium potato,” says Moskovitz. “Both contain around 4 g of fiber and contain less than 1 g of fat before any butter or oil is added.”

Sweet potato is also higher in potassium, which can help restore electrolyte imbalance and prevent muscle cramping and soreness," explains Willingham. In addition, sweet potato, depending on how it's prepared, can also have a lower glycemic index than white potato.

They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.

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.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes in water? ›

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.

To help the flavor pop, sprinkle the fries with a pinch of additional kosher salt immediately after removing them from 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.

Both potatoes and sweet potatoes are healthy foods that can fit well into most diets. However, if you are looking for extra health benefits like regulating blood sugar and more vitamin A and antioxidants, sweet potatoes are a better option.

You are better off baking, roasting, grilling or steaming your food instead of frying it. Frying food increases your fat and calorie intake, especially if you bread foods before you fry them, fry at too low of a temperature or put too much food in the pan at once.

An Idaho® baked potato can be very healthy to eat by itself, especially with a squeeze of lemon or some salt and pepper. However, it can have even more calories than an order of French fries when the topping portion sizes or choices start getting piled on.

McDonald's says it will start giving customers the choice of a salad, fruit or vegetable as a substitute for french fries in its value meals.

By using heart-healthy olive oil and baking your hand-cut fries, you'll be getting all of the nutrients potatoes naturally have to offer, according to the USDA, without all of the unhealthy fats and preservatives so common in fast food fries, per McDonald's.

Burger King specifically markets its onion rings as an alternative to the classic french fry. "There's more to sides than fries. Just ask fans of our famous Onion Rings, bursting with refreshing onion goodness inside! Perfect snack on its own or with a meal," the company shared on its website.

Cauliflower is probably the most common substitute for potatoes. Many people singing the praises of cauliflower mash and even cauliflower rice. It's easy to fry and roast cauliflower or throw into soups and stews. And it's the one vegetable that's most likely to pass as potatoes.