No matter the range you attain for — curly, crinkle, waffle or wedge — French fries are finest once they’re made in an air fryer. You needn’t fiddle with a messy deep fryer or an oven that may dry out the fries, however you do must observe a number of easy guidelines for the best possible air fryer French fries.
Making dynamite fries, whether or not from contemporary or frozen, is straightforward and painless however a number of straightforward practices will give them an impossibly crunchy exterior whereas leaving the potato inside moist and scrumptious. Master these air fryer French fry hacks and you will by no means have to barter a floppy shoestring or soggy tot once more.
Read on to learn how I make the most effective crispy, French fries within the air fryer with little or no effort.
How to make the world’s crispiest air fryer fries
A number of methods assist me get probably the most out of my air fryer when I’m cooking up frozen goodies like French fries, rooster tenders and tater tots.
1. Preheat for the most effective crunch
You needn’t preheat the air fryer however it’s going to end in crispier fries.
The hotter your air fryer is whenever you add your fries, the extra golden brown and crisp they will turn into. Not each air fryer has a preheat perform however you possibly can run yours for about 5 minutes on the desired temperature to get the chamber good and scorching earlier than you add the meals.
2. Use a lightweight spritz of cooking oil
A really gentle spritz of oil will guarantee your air fryer fries do not dry out.
Some individuals swear by spraying a bit of of your go-to cooking oil, like canola, olive or avocado, into the basket and over frozen french fries earlier than air frying. The thought is that the additional oil helps the meals brown and crisp up. You needn’t go nuts with oil, however a lightweight coating helps seal the potato strings in a divinely crispy crust.
An oil mister or spray bottle will assist with a good and light-weight coating of oil.
Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive
3. Avoid overcrowding the basket
Try to not crowd your fries within the basket.
Air fryers create convection warmth through the use of a fan (the noise you hear whenever you flip the machine on) to flow into air across the meals, cooking it sooner and creating that crunchy exterior we wish. For convection cooking to work effectively, your French fries must have as a lot floor space uncovered as attainable. That means loading up batches of fries in a single layer and leaving just a bit area between every bit, if attainable. The result’s tastier fries in a shorter cooking time.
4. Shake for even cooking
Shake a number of occasions throughout cooking for a good browning.
Halfway via the cooking time, pull out your air fryer’s basket and provides it shake. This will assist your french fries brown extra evenly. Try to get the fries again in a single layer earlier than popping the basket again in and ending the method.
What you want for air fryer fries
- Frozen french fries
- Cooking oil like olive or canola
- Salt (non-obligatory)
Weeknight dinners are easy whenever you implement the assistance of your air fryer.
How to make air fryer french fries
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 levels F for about two minutes.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with oil.
- Add the frozen fries to the basket, arranging them in a single layer. If you are utilizing oil, spritz the fries with it.
- Cook the fries for 10 minutes.
- Pull out the air fryer basket and shake it.
- Rearrange the French fries in a single layer, then change the basket and cook dinner for 5-7 minutes extra. The precise time will rely in your air fryer, the dimensions and form of your fries, and your most well-liked doneness stage.
- Season your fries with salt, if utilizing, and serve instantly.
What to serve with air fryer french fries
You could make an equally unbelievable burger within the air fryer.
In my world, a pile of fries served alongside a salad with a zippy French dressing wants no different accompaniment (besides perhaps a glass of wine). If you are trying to spherical out your meal or feed a crowd, think about serving air fryer french fries with this straightforward 45-minute roast rooster or this 10-minute salmon recipe (each made within the air fryer, natch).
You may even cook dinner up air fryer bacon cheeseburgers, scorching canine, or rooster thighs to accompany your french fries. Add some veggies to the plate by air-frying Brussels sprouts, cauliflower steaks, broccoli florets or shishito peppers.
Air fryer fries FAQ
How lengthy do fries take within the air fryer?
The cook dinner time for air fryer french fries relies on the temperature. At 400 levels Fahrenheit, fries normally take 15 to twenty minutes to cook dinner.
Can I put frozen french fries within the air fryer?
Yes, you possibly can air fry frozen french fries straight from the bag. Preheat the basket and keep away from overcrowding for finest outcomes.
Why do not my French fries get crispy within the air fryer?
There might be a number of the explanation why you are not reaching the correct quantity of crisp and crunch together with your French fries within the air fryer. For one factor, you could possibly be merely overcrowding your fries, making them fry inconsistently. You may be utilizing an excessive amount of oil, resulting in a a lot softer — even soggy — texture when you’re not cautious.
