Many recipes call for soaking the sliced fries in cold water before they are cooked to help draw out excess starch. This process is supposed to help prevent the fries from sticking together when fried. I've never had this issue when oven-frying potatoes as long as they are well coated in oil and tossed with a spatula throughout the cooking time. Skipping this step means you can decide to add French fries to your menu anytime with minimal prep time. I've included optional instructions in the recipe card for soaking the potatoes in advance, if you'd like to give it a try.