This 1 Ingredient Is Your Secret to Crispy, Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Let's see a show of hands for anyone who has been coaxed into trying oven-fried recipes only to be left with a plate of limp, moisture-logged food that's not even close flavor- or texture-wise to its fast-food competition? ✋🏿✋✋🏽

We're right there with you, which is why we're such fans of the air fryer and its magical convection-style powers. That said, we don't always want to dig out the appliance (or, TBH, clean it afterwards)—and we know not every EatingWell reader owns an air fryer. So we're always on the hunt for new tips and techniques that might help us score that elusive and craveable crunch factor. (But if you do have an air fryer—and want to use it—don't miss our nicely spiced Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.)

Adobe Stock / monamakela.com

We've had good luck with Oven-Fried Pickles, Oven-Fried Pork Chops and Picnic Oven-Fried Chicken. But our go-to method for crispy baked fries involves an extra step of boiling in a pot of water spiked with apple cider vinegar. This totally works, but it also adds about 20 minutes to the prep time if you count waiting for the water to boil.