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User: I want to make some frozen french fries that I bought at the store in the oven or some other non-frying cooking way.

I want to make some frozen french fries that I bought at the store in the oven or some other non-frying cooking way. I want them to be crispy but not burnt. the idea is to eat them with chicken shawarma and hummus. what brand should I buy, what style, and what cooking method? I have celiac so they need to be gluten free.

Assistant: Thanks!

Thanks! To help find the best gluten-free frozen french fries to pair with chicken shawarma and hummus, could you please share the following:

1. Are there specific stores (like Whole Foods, Walmart, Trader Joe's, etc.) where you usually shop?
2. Do you have a preferred style of fries (e.g., shoestring, crinkle-cut, steak fries, waffle, etc.)?
3. Do you want options that are already seasoned, or plain fries you can season yourself?
4. Do you have any dietary preferences beyond being gluten-free (e.g., vegan, low-sodium, non-GMO)?
5. Do you have a convection oven, air fryer, or just a standard oven?

This will help me find the best-tasting, reliably crispy, gluten-free fries for your meal setup.

User: Target or Wegmans.

Target or Wegmans. I generally don't like crinkle cut. I don't know which is better for shawarma. No other dietary preferences. Standard oven and air fryer, but I'd like to use the oven.

Assistant: Great!

Great! I’ll look into the best gluten-free frozen french fry brands available at Target or Wegmans that go well with chicken shawarma and hummus, focusing on non-crinkle-cut styles and baking methods for a crispy texture in a standard oven.

I’ll get back to you shortly with the top options, including ideal oven cooking methods. Feel free to keep chatting with me in the meantime!

gpt-?

Crispy Gluten-Free Frozen Fries for Shawarma

Frozen French fries can be baked to a golden crisp texture in the oven.

Frozen French fries can be a delicious, crispy accompaniment to dishes like chicken shawarma and hummus – even when baked in the oven instead of deep-fried. In fact, in the Middle East shawarma is often served with a side of French friesen.wikipedia.org. However, for someone with celiac disease, it's crucial to choose a gluten-free fry and cook it properly. Below, we cover which brand and style of frozen fries to buy (from Target or Wegmans) and how to bake them for perfect crispiness without burning them.

Recommended Gluten-Free Brand & Style

For a celiac-safe option that turns out crispy, Ore-Ida is an excellent choice. Ore-Ida is one of the few brands that clearly labels many of their frozen potato products gluten-free, making it a top pick for those with gluten intolerancewheatbythewayside.com. Given your preference (no crinkle-cut, something that pairs well with shawarma), here’s what to look for: Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries* – These are thin, straight-cut fries (similar in style to McDonald’s fries) that come out extra crunchy and golden when baked. They’re certified gluten-free and have a crispy exterior with a fluffy interiortarget.com. Ore-Ida achieves this crunch by using rice flour and corn starch in the coating instead of any wheatwheatbythewayside.com, so they’re safe for celiacs. The classic straight-cut shape also means they crisp up nicely and are perfect for dipping or for serving alongside shawarma (thin fries are actually a traditional pairing with shawarma)en.wikipedia.org. You can find this product at both Target and Wegmans.

• Other Options: If Ore-Ida isn’t available, look for plain, straight-cut fries from brands like Alexia or the store’s own brand – but always check the label. Many unseasoned frozen fries are made with just potatoes and oil (no wheat), but some brands may process them in facilities with gluten. For example, Alexia’s potato fries generally don’t contain gluten ingredients, but the company notes there could be cross-contamination and they don’t officially label them gluten-freewheatbythewayside.com. Wegmans’ own “House Cut Fries” or similar may be gluten-free by ingredients, but if they aren’t labeled, use caution. The safest bet for celiac is to stick with fries that explicitly say gluten-free on the packagewheatbythewayside.com (which is why Ore-Ida is recommended). Also, to get the crispest result, avoid very thick-cut or steak fries – thinner fries will bake up crunchier, whereas thick-cut fries can stay soft. And since you don’t prefer crinkle-cut, the straight-cut or shoestring style is the way to go for both texture and flavor pairing.

Oven Cooking Method for Perfectly Crispy Fries

Using your oven is a great way to get crispy fries without frying. The key is to bake them hot enough and give them proper space and time to crisp. Follow these steps for best results:

1. Preheat the Oven (and the Baking Sheet): Begin by preheating your oven to about 400°F (200°C). It’s important to fully preheat – starting fries in a cold or underheated oven can make them soggyallrecipes.com. For extra crispiness, place your baking sheet in the oven while it preheatsallrecipes.com. A hot pan helps start crisping the fries on contact.
2. Arrange the Fries in a Single Layer: Once the oven is ready, carefully take out the hot baking sheet and line it with parchment paper (this prevents sticking and helps with even browningallrecipes.com). Spread your frozen fries out on the sheet. Do not thaw the fries first – cook them straight from frozen for the best texture101cookingfortwo.com101cookingfortwo.com. Make sure the fries are in one layer with a bit of space between them. Do not overcrowd the pan, or the fries will steam instead of crisping upallrecipes.com. If you have more fries than one pan can handle in a single layer, it’s better to use two pans or cook in batches.
3. Bake at High Heat and Flip Halfway: Put the tray of fries into the preheated oven. Bake for about 18–25 minutes (the exact time can depend on the fry thickness and your oven; check the package for their recommended time as well). About halfway through the cooking time, take the fries out and flip them or give the pan a good shakeallrecipes.com. This rotation helps all sides get exposed to heat so the fries brown and crisp evenly (fries “need to be rotated often to ensure even crisping” as one chef notesallrecipes.com). If your oven has a convection setting, use it – the fan circulation will mimic an air fryer and yield even crispier results. (With convection, you may not need to flip, or the fries might cook a bit faster101cookingfortwo.com, so keep an eye on them.)
4. Watch for Golden-Brown Crispness: As the end of the bake time approaches, keep an eye on the fries. You want them to turn a golden brown with a crisp exterior. Remove the fries once they are nicely golden and crispy on the outsideallrecipes.com, but not yet browning too far or burning. Every oven is different, so use the visual cue of color and the texture when you prod them (they should feel dry/crisp on the outside) rather than strictly the clock. If you find they are getting brown too fast before the insides feel hot, you can lower the oven to 375°F for the remaining timeallrecipes.com – but in most cases 400°F and a watchful eye does the job.
5. Season Immediately and Serve: As soon as you take the fries out of the oven, season them while hot. Sprinkle some salt (and any other seasonings you like) over the friesallrecipes.com – the heat will help the seasoning stick. Since you’re serving these with flavorful items like shawarma and hummus, a simple sprinkle of salt or perhaps a dash of paprika or garlic powder can complement them well, but that’s up to your taste. Finally, serve the fries right away while they’re hot and crispy. Oven-baked fries are at their crispiest immediately after cooking, so timing it to your meal is ideal.

Tip: For even crispier fries or when making a smaller batch, you can consider using your air fryer (since you have one). All four chefs in one test agreed that the air fryer produces the crispiest frozen fries fastestallrecipes.com. In an air fryer, you’d cook the fries at 400°F for roughly 12–15 minutes total, shaking the basket halfway throughallrecipes.com. The hot circulating air makes fries ultra-crunchy without added oil. That said, you can absolutely get great crispy results in the oven by using the method above – it just might take a few more minutes than an air fryer, but you’ll still have delicious fries with a fluffy center and crunchy edgestarget.com.

By choosing a quality gluten-free fry and following these steps, you’ll end up with fries that are crispy (not burnt!) and a perfect side for your chicken shawarma and hummus. Enjoy your meal, and dig in with confidence knowing everything is safe for your diet and cooked to crispy perfection!

Sources: Gluten-free fry brand recommendationswheatbythewayside.comwheatbythewayside.com; Ore-Ida product detailstarget.com; Shawarma serving traditionen.wikipedia.org; Chef tips for crispy oven friesallrecipes.comallrecipes.comallrecipes.com; Oven vs. air fryer insightsallrecipes.comallrecipes.com.