Ultimate Guide to Achieving Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

These Crispy Air Fryer French Fries are a nutritious alternative to standard deep-fried fries, showcasing a tender interior enveloped by a crunchy shell. They burst with flavor while minimizing the extra grease.

Recipe Highlights

French fries hold a timeless appeal! There’s nothing like enjoying a crispy fry that doesn’t leave your fingers oily. This quick and straightforward recipe is enjoyable to make and suitable as either a side dish or a snack, complementing a variety of meals!

• FLAVOR: With a simple seasoning of salt and black pepper, the inherent flavor of the potato is highlighted.
• TEXTURE: These Air Fryer French Fries are delightfully crunchy on the outside while remaining soft and tender on the inside.
• TIME: You can prepare these fries in around 30 minutes.
• EASE: This recipe is quite simple, requiring only four ingredients.

What You Will Need

Notes on Ingredients

• Potatoes- Opt for Russet potatoes for the ideal fry due to their high starch content and sturdiness.
• Olive oil- This enhances the crispiness on the outside.
• Salt- Not only adds flavor but also draws out moisture from the potato strips, which is key for achieving a crisp finish.
• Black pepper- This amplifies the flavor profile.

Additions and Alternatives

• Frozen fries option- You can utilize frozen fries without oil if they’re pre-seasoned. Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes, ensuring to shake the basket halfway through for even browning.
• Alternative seasonings- Consider experimenting with various seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, paprika, cumin, chili powder, thyme, basil, oregano, or garlic salt.
• Sweet potatoes- This recipe is just as effective using sweet potatoes.

Steps to Make Air Fryer French Fries

• Prepare the potatoes.  Begin by peeling the potatoes and thoroughly rinsing them. Cut them into fry-like strips.
• Soak them.  Submerge the uncooked fry strips in a bowl of cold water with a few tablespoons of salt for 10-15 minutes. This helps remove excess starch and moisture, resulting in crispier fries.
• Rinse and dry.  Rinse the fries under cold water to wash off starch and then dry them as much as possible.
• Oil and season the fries.  Arrange the fries on a baking sheet and drizzle with avocado oil (or use corn or vegetable oil). Season them with salt and pepper.
• Cook.  Place the fries into the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, giving them a shake every 5 minutes for uniform cooking.

Pro Tip: Ensure the fries are as dry as possible using paper towels or a kitchen towel. Excess moisture can impact their crispiness.

Useful Cooking Tips

• Soak in saltwater – This method extracts extra moisture from the potatoes more effectively than using plain water.
• Rinse thoroughly – Eliminating all starch from the potatoes ensures a crispier fry.
• Dry them well – Ensuring that the fries are dry before adding seasoning helps the oil stick better, leading to crunchier fries in the air fryer.
• Avoid overcrowding – Keeping fries spaced allows for better airflow, preventing moisture buildup that can compromise crispiness.

Common Questions

What exactly is an air fryer, and how does it work?

An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it using a convection process. This technique allows for even cooking from all sides, unlike traditional ovens, where food often requires flipping. It uses minimal oil, similar to a convection oven.

Why should potatoes be soaked in water before frying?

Soaking sliced potatoes in saltwater removes surplus moisture and starch, leading to crisper fries during cooking. Just be sure to dry them afterward.

to remove any excess moisture from the surface.

Serving Suggestions

This healthier variation of French fries is a perfect complement to sandwiches and burgers, can be enjoyed as a snack with your preferred dipping sauce, or paired with fresh vegetables.

• Dipping Sauces: Enhance these fries with Fry Sauce, Buttermilk Ranch dressing, homemade BBQ Sauce, a copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce, homemade Tartar Sauce, or Herbed Dipping Oil.
• Burgers: These fries are an excellent side for a Homemade Burger Patty on a Brioche Bun (VIDEO) with your favorite toppings, or alongside Chipotle Burgers topped with Avocado Sauce.
• Sandwiches: Enjoy these Air Fryer French Fries with a Brisket Sandwich, Classic BLT, Turkey Croissant Sandwich, or Grilled Cheese.
• Veggies: Pair them with a side of Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Green Beans, or Asparagus cooked in the air fryer.

Make Ahead Instructions

Prepping Ahead: You can prepare these fries in advance and store them in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to reheat, the optimal method is to place them back in the air fryer for about 5 minutes at the same temperature, shaking halfway through. Alternatively, reheat them in the oven on a baking sheet.

Storage: Keep these Air Fryer French Fries in a sealed container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezing: Once they’ve cooled, these fries can be frozen in a ziplock bag for up to 3 months. They can be reheated directly from the freezer in the air fryer.

More Delicious Fries and Fritters!

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  Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
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  Course:
  Appetizer, Side Dish Cuisine: American Diet: Gluten Free Preparation Time:
  20 minutes minutes Cooking Time:
  15 minutes minutes Servings:
  2 Calories:
  438kcal Author: Dina

  Ingredients

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    3 large russet potatoes
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    3 tbsp olive or avocado oil (or any other high smoke-point oil)
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    1/2 tsp salt
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    1/8 tsp black pepper

  Instructions

  Peel, cut, and soak the potatoes

  • Begin by peeling and rinsing the potatoes. After that, slice the russet potatoes into thin fry shapes.
  • Soak the sliced potatoes in a bowl filled with cold water, adding several tablespoons of table salt. Allow them to sit for 10-15 minutes. This step helps draw out excess starch and moisture, leading to crispier fries.
  After soaking, rinse the potatoes again in cold water, making sure to scrub off any leftover starch. Lastly, dry them thoroughly with a towel.
• Arrange the fries on a baking sheet with raised edges, drizzle with avocado oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If you don’t have avocado oil, use a high smoke point oil like corn or vegetable oil instead. It’s best to avoid olive oil for this step.
• Put the seasoned fries in the air fryer basket and cook them at 400°F for 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
  

Notes

Reheating Homemade Fries

To reheat, simply return them to the air fryer for about 5 minutes, stirring them halfway through. This will heat the fries through and help them regain their crispiness. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the oven using a baking sheet. However, avoid using a microwave, as it will heat the fries but make them soggy.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal
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Carbohydrates: 58g
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Protein: 7g
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Fat: 21g
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Saturated Fat: 3g
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Sodium: 597mg
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Potassium: 1332 mg

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Dietary Fiber: 4 g

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Total Sugars: 2 g

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Vitamin C Content: 18 mg

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Calcium Amount: 42 mg

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Iron Content: 3 mg