How Long To Bake Potato Wedges (Full Guide)


How Long To Bake Potato Wedges

If you are a potato lover (or even if you aren’t) potato wedges baked in the oven can be one of the greatest (and simplest) side dishes. Knowing how long to bake potato wedges is key to success, however, so you end up with crispy, salty, delicious wedges. 

Potato wedges should be baked at 400℉ for 30-35 minutes, at which time the potatoes will be soft and cooked through. For the crispiest baked potato wedges, flip over your potatoes and bake another 25-30 minutes until very crispy and golden. Make sure to bake in a single layer on the baking pan. 

Potato wedges baked right can be amazing, but potato wedges done wrong may be just so-so. Read on for all the tips you need to make crispy wedges every time (it’s easy and totally worth it!).

Ingredients for Baked Potato Wedges

Potato wedges require few ingredients and can be seasoned however you like, even with just salt and pepper.

Here is a great basic recipe for crispy wedges, which is adapted from Cookie & Kate.

2 lbs potatoes (around 4 medium potatoes)(read below about potatoes)

3 T olive oil

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 T fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

How Do I Prepare Potato Wedges?

  • Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • Cut each potato into eight wedges by halving lengthwise, then halving each section again, and then repeat one more time for 8 wedges. Try to keep them even so they cook uniformly. (You can leave skin on or peel, see below.)
  • Place potatoes in a large bowl of hot water and soak for 10 minutes. It’s best to heat water on the stove or microwave, rather than use hot tap water. (You can skip this step if pressed for time, but the potatoes won’t be as crispy.)
  • Drain the potatoes and dry off with paper towels or a cloth towel. 
  • Place potatoes on a large baking pan (you will need to be able to spread them out!) and drizzle with olive oil. Then sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
  • Toss so they are thoroughly coated. 
  • Arrange in a single layer with one cut side down. 

Read also >> How Long to Cook a Baked Potato at 400 (Full Guide)

Read also >> How Long to Cook a Jacket Potato in Microwave? (Helpful Tips)

How Long Should Potato Wedges be in the Oven?

Preferences differ on how crispy potato wedges should be. Some like to cook them until very crispy, almost as a substitute for french fries. Others prefer a softer texture, more similar to a baked potato. 

You will need to bake for a minimum of around 30 minutes to cook each potato all the way through. After that, it’s up to you! You can take them out and enjoy right away if you are pressed for time and like a softer potato wedge. 

If you want to go for maximum crispiness, follow the directions below:

  • Bake for 30 minutes, then take them out and flip each wedge over with a spatula or tongs. Make sure they are still in an even, single layer. 
  • Bake for another 25-30 minutes, until they are crispy and fork-tender. (Some may be done earlier than others–you can remove those and continue to bake the others.)
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley as desired.

At What Temperature Should Potato Wedges Be Cooked?

In order to crisp up your potatoes, they will need to be cooked at at least 400℉. This temperature allows the potatoes to cook through until tender while at the same time crisping the outsides.

How Do I Know When My Wedges are Cooked?

They will be uniformly golden brown, the outsides will be crispy, and a fork can pierce the potato easily

Don’t overcook, however. You want that inside to remain fluffy while the outside crisps up. If you cook too long, your wedges will end up dry. 

What Type of Potato Do I Use for Baked Potato Wedges?

You could technically use any type of potato you want, though Russet potatoes generally work the best for this recipe. Yukon Gold potatoes would also work well.

If you are using small potatoes, like red potatoes or yellow potatoes, you will need to adjust the cooking time. Check your potatoes after 20 minutes–they may be ready to flip and cook for another 10. 

How Do I Season Potato Wedges?

If you want to dress your wedges up a little differently, you can toss them with a little roasted garlic. Some cooks like to season with a little paprika, which adds a little zest along with a nice red hint of color. 

If you like rosemary, add a small amount of fresh chopped rosemary and a little bit of seasoned salt. For bolder flavor, drizzle with truffle oil before serving. 

Like spicy food? Add a little chili powder, or cayenne pepper

Love cheese? Add three tablespoons of parmesan cheese to your spice mix.

Want to go Greek style? Add some feta cheese seasoned with oregano on top of the cooked wedges. Pair with a gyro or souvlaki for a delicious meal.  

What Do I Serve With Potato Wedges?

If you are a true potato lover, potatoes seem to go with anything. This recipe makes a nice substitution for french fries in any meal. 

For a snack, why not try them with a variety of dipping sauces

For a meal, they go nicely alongside burgers, veggie burgers, chili, sloppy joes, and even soup and sandwiches. You can pair them with a nice steak for a take on steak frites, or place them alongside fried seafood or fried chicken

If you don’t want to do fried food at all, you can pair these baked wedges with grilled chicken, fish, or veggies

Baked potato wedges are commonly vegan and gluten-free, so they are a great option to please all your dinner guests or a variety of diets. 

Do I Have to Peel Baked Potato Wedges?

Totally up to you! You can certainly leave the peels on and the wedges will be delicious. Just make sure you scrub your potatoes very thoroughly. Leaving the peels on will give you a little extra nutrient boost if you are wanting to maximize nutrition. 

That said, if you don’t like peels on your wedges, you can definitely remove them. 

Why Aren’t My Potato Wedges Crispy?

You may be baking them at too low a temperature. You will need to bake potato wedges at 400℉ (at least) to make them crispy. 

It also helps to soak and dry your wedges before baking. Soaking them in hot water removes some of the extra starch from the potato. Removing the starch means your potatoes will retain less water, which means crispier wedges. 

Removing starch also helps baked or fried potatoes stay slightly more rigid, which makes them the perfect texture–crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. (This is true for french fries, as well.)

Since you are removing the starch to dry out your potatoes, remember you need to dry them off thoroughly after soaking to get the best outcome. 

Can I Make Potato Wedges Ahead of Time?

You can prep the potatoes, which means peeling them (if desired), cutting them, and soaking them. Then you can store overnight in the fridge in an airtight container, or freeze in a freezer bag for up to 6 months

When you are ready to bake, let them defrost in the fridge overnight for best results. If you are baking thawed potatoes, cook for 5-10 minutes LESS time than you would for raw potatoes. Thawed potatoes take less time to cook.

How Long to Bake Frozen Potato Wedges?

Frozen wedges will take longer to bake through, and you may want to bump up the temperature a little to achieve the best crispiness if you aren’t soaking first. Bake at 450 for 30-35 minutes

How to Store Leftover Potato Wedges

I know, you are wondering when are there ever leftover potato wedges? So true. And for sure these crispy noshes are best coming fresh from the oven.

If you do need to store them, you can keep cooked wedges in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Just like with raw potatoes, you can freeze cooked wedges in airtight containers or bags for up to 6 months. 

Read also >> When To Add Potatoes to Slow Cooker Stew (Overcook, Setting)

Read also >> When Do I Add the Vegetables to My Slow Cooker (Helpful Tips)

Tips for Baking Potato Wedges

  • If you can’t fit all your wedges onto one baking sheet in a single layer, you will need to use two sheets. You can bake them at the same time, just make sure you rotate the pans halfway through baking. 
  • Want to add cheese? Transform these into cheesy fries by adding your favorite cheese after they are done cooking. Pop them back into the oven to melt the cheese, around 5-10 minutes more.
  • Use good potatoes. Choose organic if you can, for better flavor and a healthier option. Make sure your potatoes don’t have dark or rotten spots. That said, you can trim off black spots in potatoes and still use them–you don’t have to toss the entire potato if you can salvage some of it. 
  • Line your baking pan. To make cleanup easier, you may want to add some foil or a pan liner.
  • If you have trouble mixing in your seasonings on the pan, just add your potatoes and seasonings to a plastic bag, seal it tightly, and give it a shake until your potatoes are totally covered. 

Are Baked Potato Wedges Nutritious?

Since baked potato wedges are not fried in oil, you will definitely find they contain less fat and calories than deep fried french fries. Using healthy oils like olive oil also keeps them on the healthier side. 

A serving of the recipe above is around ¼ of the recipe. One serving contains around 279 calories, 10.7g fat (of which 1.6g are saturated fat), 0g cholesterol, 544.2mg sodium, 43.3g carbs, and 5.3g protein. 

Potatoes are packed with nutrients, so you are also getting a good amount of Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Thiamin (Vit. B1), and Niacin (Vit. B3). 

Potato Wedges FAQ

How long to cook potato wedges at 400℉?

For soft-cooked, tender potatoes, bake for at least 30-35 minutes. Make sure they are in a single layer on the baking sheet. 

For crispy potatoes, you will need to cook them in a single layer on a baking sheet for 30 minutes, and then turn them over and bake for another 25-30 minutes. (Yes, this is almost an hour of baking time, but it’s worth it.)

How long do I cook potato wedges at 425℉?

If you are using medium potatoes, most recipes call for 25-30 minutes of cooking time. For smaller potatoes, your cooking time may be less. Check your potatoes after 20 minutes.

If they are not cooked until tender and browned, bake for another 10 minutes. 

You can also turn them over and bake for another 15 minutes to crisp up both sides.

How long to cook potato wedges at 375℉?

Wedges baked at 375 may not crisp up as well as those baked at slightly higher cooking times. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 375. If you want crispier potatoes, bump the temperature up to 425 for the last five minutes. 

You can also flip them over halfway through baking time to help crisp. For the crispiest potatoes, you will need to cook longer: 35 minutes on one side, then flip and bake for another 30 minutes.

How long do I cook potato wedges in the air fryer?

Cook potato wedges in an air fryer at 400℉ for 10 minutes, then flip with tongs and cook for 5 minutes longer. 

Conclusion

You don’t need a deep fryer or an air fryer to make crispy potato wedges! You can do it right in your oven.

You will need to know how long to bake potato wedges, how to soak off that pesky extra starch and make sure you flip them halfway through so they brown up evenly on both sides.

That’s it! 

Season them up however you want, and watch them disappear. 

References

https://cookieandkate.com/crispy-baked-potato-wedges-recipe/

Lindsey

Lindsey graduated with an MBA in 2009. Since then, Lindsey has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Lindsey is also the head writer and Co-founder of Rvandplaya.com. Lindsey is based in Morgantown, West Virginia.

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