Craving warm, crispy fries? No need to order takeout. We know that perhaps one of the best ways to ensure you get the deliciousness of a potato is to order it from a fast food restaurant, but you don’t have to put up with an expensive fast food meal once you’re done . Everything you need is at home. Just add fries to the air fryer. You can do that too.
Sure, you could preheat the oven, but it feels like a pain to just make fries, especially in the summer when the kitchen is already hot. You can also bake them little by little in a toaster oven, but you won’t get the crispiness you want. Fortunately, the purpose of an air fryer is to transform humble frozen foods like French fries into hot, crispy, delicious dishes with minimal effort and fuss.
All you need to make fries in the air fryer is a bag of frozen fries. This is a staple in my freezer and perfect for busy weeknight dinners or late night cravings. You can use crinkle cuts, shoestrings, waffles, curlies, or any shape you like.
Look at this: Best air fryer: cheap vs expensive
When you make fries in the air fryer, they come out perfectly crispy every time.
Air Fryer French Fries Tips and Tricks
Several techniques can help you get the most out of your air fryer when cooking frozen foods such as fries. chicken tenders And tater tots.
1. Preheat for best texture
There is no need to preheat the air fryer, but it will result in crispier fries.
The hotter the air fryer gets when you add the fries, the more golden and crispy the fries will be. Not all air fryers have a preheat feature, but you can let it run at your desired temperature for about 5 minutes to get it hot enough before adding food.
2. Add a little oil to make the fries crispy.
A light drizzle of oil will keep air fryer fries from drying out.
Some people spray a small amount of a standard cooking oil, such as canola, olive, or avocado, inside the basket and then spray it on the frozen fries before air frying. The idea is that the extra oil helps brown and crisp the food. It doesn’t need to be oiled, but a light coating will seal the potato strings in a divine crispy skin.
3. Don’t overfill the basket
Be careful not to overcrowd the basket with fries.
Air fryers use a fan (the sound you hear when you turn on the machine) to create convection heat, which circulates air around the food, cooking it faster and creating that crispy look we want. Masu. For convection cooking to work well, you need to expose as much surface area of ​​the fries as possible. This means loading the fries together in one layer, leaving just a little space between each piece if possible. The result is tastier fries with shorter cooking time.
4. Shake for even cooking
Shake several times during cooking to ensure even browning.
Halfway through the cooking time, remove the air fryer basket and shake well. This will ensure that the fries are evenly browned. Make sure to fold the fries back into a single layer before replacing the basket to finish the process.
What you need for air fryer fries
- frozen french fries
- Edible oil such as olive or canola
- salt (optional)
How to make air fryer fries
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
- Add frozen fries to the basket and arrange in a single layer. If using oil, drizzle the oil over the fries.
- Cook the fries for 10 minutes.
- Pull out the air fryer basket and shake it.
- Arrange the fries in a single layer, replace the basket and cook for another 5-7 minutes. The exact time will depend on your airfryer, the size and shape of your fries, and your desired doneness.
- If using fries, season with salt and serve immediately.
what to serve with air fryer fries
You can make equally great burgers in the air fryer.
In my world, if you serve a heaping pile of fries with a salad drizzled with vinaigrette, no other accompaniments are needed (aside from a glass of wine). If you want to round out a meal or feed a crowd, serve air fryer fries with this easy 45-minute roasted chicken or this 10-minute salmon recipe (both made in the air fryer, natch) Please consider.
You can also cook air fryer bacon cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken thighs, and more to accompany your fries. air fry and add vegetables to the plate Brussels sproutscauliflower steak, broccoli florets, or shishito peppers.
Frequently asked questions about air fryer fries
How long does it take to make fries in the air fryer?
The cooking time for air fryer fries varies depending on the temperature. At 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it usually takes 15 to 20 minutes to cook fries.
Can I put frozen French fries in the air fryer?
Yes, you can air fry frozen French fries directly from the bag. For best results, preheat the basket and avoid overcrowding.
