The Best Air Fryer Fries
This french fry recipe uses an air fryer – but is the exact same recipe as my Crunchy Baked French Fries Recipe – a top post on Sweet Cs since 2011!
These fries taste incredibly indulgent and delicious – with a fraction of the oil of regular french fries.
Were also using olive oil, for an omega 3 packed oil that is healthier than vegetable oil like a deep fryer.
Do Not Overfill Your Basket
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can usually make between one and three Russet potatoes’ worth of fries.
For the best fries, I try not to fill the basket more than ½ to of the way, even when the fill line on the basket is higher than that.
This is the most critical thing to keep in mind when you’re making air fryer french fries, y’all. A packed backed will give you some perfect, crispy fries, but the ones in the center will be alternately undercooked and mushy.
That’s because when you overfill your air fryer’s basket, you hinder the air flow, and that hot air whooshing through the fryer is the key to air fryer magic.
Do You Have To Thaw Frozen Fries Before Air Frying
Dont thaw your frozen fries.
I recommend keeping them completely frozen before using. This guarantees that the surface of the potato fries is sealed during the cooking process, resulting in a crispy, high quality fry. The exact cook time will depend on the thickness of your fries and how full your air fryer is.
Read Also: Insignia Toaster Oven Air Fryer
Top Tips For Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- You can adjust the cooking time depending on how crispy you like your fries or how thick they are. For softer or thinner fries, decrease time. For crispier or thicker fries, increase it.
- If youre using an air fryer that doesnt rotate, toss your fries very, very well midway through. Make sure the fries that are sitting on the bottom of the bowl are scooped up to the top.
- If your air fryer does rotate, be sure to check on them halfway to judge how thoroughly cooked they are.
- Do not spray too much oil, or your fries will get mushy!
- You dont have to preheat your air fryer, but be aware that your cooking time may be longer!
- Try your fries with different seasonings for a more gourmet snack. Try garlic or onion powder, seasoned salt , or chipotle powder for fries with a kick.
How To Make Air Fryer French Fries
When youre ready to cook, heres what you need to do:
First, chop your potatoes. Aim for them all to be a similar size, about 1/4-inch thick. That way, theyll all cook at the same rate. I dont recommend peeling your potatoes the skin helps them crisp up nicely as they cook. Once youve chopped the potatoes into fries, toss them all with olive oil and salt.
Next, cook the first batch. Spread the cut potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket with a little space between each one. Dont cram them in! The space allows the hot air to come in contact with all sides of the fries, which is what makes them golden brown and crisp. Air fry them at 380 for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway. Take them out when theyre crisp and brown around the edges.
Repeat with the remaining potatoes, cooking as many batches as necessary to give the fries adequate space in the basket.
Finally, toss them all in together! When you finish cooking the last batch, add all the fries back into the air fryer basket and cook them for 1 to 2 minutes to warm and crisp up the earlier batches. When all the air fryer French fries are crispy, take them out, and dig in!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Read Also: Nuwave Brio 3q Digital Air Fryer
Can You Make Popcorn In An Air Fryer
Set air fryer machine to 390F . Add the kernels to the fryer basket and lightly spray with a little avocado/coconut oil. If needed, line the sides of the tray with aluminum foil to prevent popped popcorn from leaving the basket and flying around in the air fryer. Insert the basket and set time for 15 minutes.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Fries In Air Fryer
Toss the fries with the oil in a medium bowl, then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Working in batches if necessary, put the fries in an even layer in the air fryer basket with no overlapping and cook, turning them halfway through, until golden brown and crisp, 14 to 16 minutes.
Read Also: Ninja Air Fryer For Sale
What Kind Of Air Fryer For French Fries
I have a Phillips Air Fryer I got from my parents – and were loving it!
We also have a Ninja Foodie – and I love how it acts as both an air fryer AND a pressure cooker – all in one!
The Ninja Foodi cooks more french fries at a time so it can go faster.
Additionally, you can use an Instant Pot with a broil or air fry function, along with a crisping lid!
Scroll to the next section for all the tips you need to make this recipe in an instant pot.
Air fryers are super easy, quick, and make cleanup a breeze.
I cant wait to make more recipes in it!
These healthier french fries are one of my favorite uses for this machine, ever!
Can You Make French Fries From Scratch In An Air Fryer
Submerge cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water and let soak for 20 minutes. When the fries are almost done soaking, preheat air fryer to 375ºF. Place a single layer of fries in the basket of the air fryer and cook for 10-15 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
Also Check: Cosori 5.8 Air Fryer Accessories
Tips For Getting The Best Crispy Fries
If you are not using a large 6 quart air fryer, work in batches for more even cooking.
If you are cooking thicker homestyle fries you can adjust the cook time as necessary.
Do not spray too much oil on the fries or they will not get super crispy like we want.
After the initial spray, do not spray the fries again.
If they are too close to being done the oil will make the fries turn soft.
If you have an air fryer that preheats, you can preheat it first. Mine does not preheat, so if yours does you will want to keep an eye out in case the fries cook faster.
These air fryer frozen french fries were just too good.
Serve them up with some copycat chick fil a sauce and some of your favorite nuggets and you have a takeout dinner at home.
These fries use a fraction of the oil of the typical deep fried ones, all while still getting those wonderful crispy edges that are so addicting!
p.s. I used this same method with frozen sweet potato fries and it worked like a charm!
Be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow for all the latest delicious recipes!
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!
How Many Minutes Do You Cook French Fries In An Air Fryer
Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees F. Place the frozen fries in the Air Fryer basket and give them a shake so they are distributed evenly. Cook fries for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket or tossing the fries every 5 minutes. Add more time depending on your desired crispiness.
You May Like: Silicone Insert For Air Fryer
What Makes Them Healthy
Air fryer fries are made with significantly less oil than the deep-fried version, so they are lower in fat and calories when compared to the traditional variety. In theory, you can even make them with no oil at all, but I think using a little oil helps with texture and mouthfeel
If you think oven-roasted potatoes are healthy, these are the same thing just crispier! In fact, you should try my crispy air fryer potatoes if you havent. They are addictive! You can also make baked potatoes in the air fryer, and baked sweet potatoes.
Why This Air Fryer Chicken Breast Is So Good
- This is the most tender, juiciest, perfectly seasoned chicken you will ever taste. Its hard to believe its made with just a few simple ingredients!
- These chicken breasts are so quick, easy, and inexpensive. Just season, pop in the air fryer, and serve.
- This recipe is not only perfect for dinner, but also for meal preps.
You May Like: Best Air Fryer With Oven
Are Shake Shacks Fries Good
In a 2019 taste test, Business Insider named the companys crinkle-cut fries the best fast food fries on the market, beating out massive chains like McDonalds, Burger King, and Five Guys. The fries are described as perfectly crispy, evenly salted, and not oily or greasy, even after being left sitting out for a while.
How To Make This Recipe
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.
Also Check: Ninja Air Fryer Grill Combo
Can You Air Fry Leftover Fries
Simply place your leftover fries in a single layer in your air fryer. Try to leave out any crumbs that may fall through into the bottom of the basket. Turn on the air fryer at 350F and air fryer for 3-6 minutes, depending on your type of fries and how crispy you want them. Most fries will be done within 5 minutes.
How Do I Cook Frozen French Fries In The Air Fryer
Believe me when I tell you that this is the EASIEST way to cook french fries!
- Step 1: Choose your favorite brand of french fries from your preferred grocer’s frozen foods aisle.
- Step 2: Pour the frozen french fries into the basket of your air fryer. Be sure not to crowd the basket so that the fries will cook evenly!
- Step 3: Give the air fryer basket a gentle shake to spread the fries out as much as possible.
- Step 4: Cook the fries in your air fryer at 400 degrees F, then serve and enjoy. It’s that easy!
Read Also: Healthy Air Fryer Recipes Vegetarian
Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Frozen French Fries:
- Frozen French Fries I used a 16 ounce bag. Any brand will work, but Ore-Ida is one of my favorite frozen potato brands.
- Non-stick cooking spray I used Pam spray . You could also use a Misto with olive oil or vegetable oil or even avocado oil.
- Salt I just used regular salt, but seasoned salt would work as well!
Learn How To Make Air Fryer French Fries Using Frozen French Fries These Will Be Crispy And Golden Perfect With A Hamburger
One of the first things youll probably want to make in your air fryer is Air Fryer French Fries, thats because they turn out so nice and crisp, but you want to find the perfect time for your french fries. Thats the key.
We love to pair these french fries with Air Fryer Cheeseburgers. This particular recipe is going to focus on using frozen french fries, not fresh.
Recommended Reading: Best Air Fryer Amazon Prime
Do I Need To Defrost Frozen French Fries Before Frying
When frying French fries, do not let them thaw before using. This guarantees that the surface of the potato is sealed during the frying process, resulting in a crispy, high quality fry. Some operations do thaw potatoes before cooking. This results in an excess absorption of fat and an undesirable greasy flavor.
Layering Food In The Air Fryer
One of my biggest frustrations with the air fryer is that, despite the baskets large overall volume capacity, in order for certain foods to crisp properly, they need to be cooked in a single layer.
Since the surface area of the basket is small, that means you end up making a lot of batches, taking away from the air fryers quicker cook time.
To determine whether or not you could fit more fries into the air fryer at once, I tested a few different methods. Here is what I found:
- Single Layer of Potatoes. Cooking just one layer of potatoes at a time resulted in the best, crispiest fries. The downside was that I needed to make at least 4 batches, which extended the recipes total time.
- Double Layer of Potatoes. My next test was to see if I could stack the potatoes in two layers. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the double-layer fries, while not *as* crisp as the ones I cooked in a single layer, were still delightfully crispy and very satisfying. This approach also cut my number of batches in half.
- Three Layers or More. When I stacked the potatoes in three layers or more, they were noticeably less crisp and representative of fried fries. I would not recommend this method.
Ultimately the number of layers of fries you air fry at once depends upon how picky you are about the fries being maximally crispy and how much time you have for multiple batches.
For us, the double layer was the perfect balance between crispiness and faster recipe time.
Recommended Reading: Amazon Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
Rest Fries In Hot Dry Air
I line a baking sheet with paper towels and place a cooling rack over it. When each batch is done from the air fryer, I toss them on the cooling rack and pop the baking sheet in the oven.
I set the oven as low as possible – about 200-250 degrees at the most- to keep the fries warm.
This also lets any excess oil drip off, and prevents fries from becoming cold or soggy.
Air Fried French Fries
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer here.
Sharing is caring!
Theres nothing I love more about a homemade air fryer french fries recipe that actually makes the fries crispy. These air fried french fries do just that.
Ive even included directions on how to make frozen french fries with no oil in your air fryer too!
I remember when I bought my first air fryer. The only thing I wanted to make was air fried french fries. I had no idea how they would taste, but I was confident they would taste good. They werent.
I burnt half of the fries and the other half were barely cooked.I thought I could put the fries in and then in 20 minutes they would be done.
Ive learned a lot about air fryers since then and I can tell you, there is a learning curve. There are even genius articles like this one that tells you what mistakes most people are making with their air fryer. I fell victim to #4.
This recipe has been tested in and out with my current air fryers. It even includes suggestions on how to cook the air fried french fries in a small air fryer or larger air fryer, like the Power Air Fryer Oven.
Don’t Miss: Power Xl Air Fryer 6 Qt
What Do You Serve With Tater Tots
Tater Tots are a classic side dish or party food. You can serve these with a meat main course as a potato side dish, or serve to a crowd of people as a party appetizer along with your sauces of choice.You can also add various toppings to your cooked tots cheese, sriracha, salsa and guacamole all work amazingly well!
Do Not Skimp On The Liquid
You can technically make air fryer french fries with no oil or other liquid, but I don’t recommend it. I like to toss my cut potatoes together in a bowl with a little bit of salt, seasoning, and a tablespoon of oil before placing in the basket.
If you absolutely do not do oil, toss your potato pieces with soy sauce or a fat free salad dressing or with a tablespoon or two of aquafaba .
That little bit of moisture will help you avoid dry fries. No one wants a dry fry!
You May Like: Gowise Usa Gw22956 7 Quart Electric Air Fryer
How Long Do You Air Fry Arbys Curly Fries
Air Fry at 400°F/205°C for 10 minutes. Shake and gently stir about halfway through cooking. If cooking larger batches, or if the curly fries dont cook evenly, try turning them multiple times on following batches. If needed air fry at 400°F/205°C for an additional 1-4 minutes or until crisped to your liking.
Storing Air Fryer French Fries
French fries are best served fresh out of the air fryer, but if you have some leftovers or want to freeze a batch for later use, follow the simple steps below.
- Refrigerating Leftovers: Place leftover fries in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freezing: Freeze leftover fries by placing them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Pop in the freezer. Once completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe plastic bag.
Reheating Tip: Whether youre reheating refrigerated or frozen fries, nothing compares to using the air fryer to return them to a crispy state. Never, ever use a microwave. Your fries will always turn out soggy and inedible.
You May Like: Philips Digital Air Fryer Xxl
