Microwaving Your Fries Start to Finish

• Create crisp french fries by cooking them in the microwave oven from start to finish, rather than using the microwave only to reheat left-over fries. Peel a raw potato and carefully slice it length-wise several times before drizzling with vegetable or olive oil in a microwave-safe dish. Cook the fries using the oven's highest power setting. Check them regularly and stir occasionally until the slender fries are cooked thoroughly and become crispy. Thinner french fries will cook more quickly. Microwaving in multiple batches will help avoid uneven cooking. Season with salt, garlic, or chili pepper to taste.

Arranging Your Fries Just Right

• Arrange the fries in a single layer, leaving room between each piece so they're not crowded on the plate. Cut thick fries or "wedges" in half, to increase the surface area being exposed. This will hasten the drying process, which helps ensure crispiness.

Making a Crust on Your Fries

• Toss your fries in a small amount of oil or lard before microwaving. Cook them on high for three minutes, adding one minute at a time after that. This crisps the potatoes by browning, rather than dehydration, with the oil "frying" the potatoes just as it would in a skillet. Stir and turn fries midway through the cooking process, to help them brown and crisp evenly.

Using a Gadget for Microwave Fries

• Consider using a microwave french fries maker. These relatively inexpensive plastic gadgets hold individual fries upright as they cook, maintaining space between them and keeping them in place for maximum surface exposure to heat. This will help facilitate crispiness by dehydration. Though limited to cooking small batches at a time, microwave fries makers ensure that the fries have optimal placement to assure crispy reheating. They are also seen as a healthier alternative to deep frying.