Learn how to make perfect air fry French fries with recipe and tips!
I recently added an air fryer to my kitchen and of course, the first thing I made was fries. Who doesn’t want perfect fries without the guilt of deep frying?
The first thing I learned is that air-fried fries are not necessarily quicker than deep frying. Fries will still take 24 minutes to cook. There was no denying though, that I definitely didn’t miss the smelly deep fryer and having to use a whole bottle of oil in it!
The second thing I learned is that even air fryers require a little oil – about a tablespoon or so. I made a few batches to get the hang of it, but after just a bit of experimentation, these beauties emerged from my air fryer.
They were both beautiful and delicious. Perfectly satisfying. Done right, with the right potatoes, they definitely rival deep-fried fries. No kidding!
Tips for the best air fryer fries
I found I got the best air fryer fries using the following tips:
- Use Yukon Gold or other yellow-fleshed potato. White potatoes would be a close second choice. Russets were good, but took longer to cook and produced a more limp fry.
- Soak the raw cut fries in cold water for 30 minutes and then dry well.
- Sprinkle about 1 Tbsp. of oil on the fries before putting in the air fryer and toss well to coat. Sprinkle with some salt before frying as well, to flavour fries as they cook.
- Toss fries well a couple of times during cooking to ensure even browning.
- Don’t make too large a batch (don’t over-fill the basket). While it’s tempting to want more, the more you fill it, the less they will crisp.
I love fries and frankly, I was in love with the idea of easy, delicious and relatively guilt-free fries. Clean-up of the air fryer is also dead easy and the cooking basket can even go in the dishwasher. I kept thinking that for fries alone, this device would be perfect for any household with kids (young or old).
That said, there are so many more uses for the air fryer. I highly recommend exploring different ideas and recipes.
Get the Recipe: Simply Perfect Air Fryer Fries
Ingredients
- 5 Yukon Gold Potatoes
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, or other neutral tasting oil
- Salt
Instructions
- If you like, you can peel your potatoes, or just leave the peel on. Cut your potatoes into fry shape and place in a large bowl of cold water for 30 minutes. Drain and dry well.
- Set your air fryer to the recommended temperature for fries. Add the potatoes to the fry basket. Drizzle with oil and generously salt. Cook for about 10 minutes. Stop air fryer, remove basket and shake well to re-distribute the fries. Return basket to air fryer and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove and shake again. Cook another 5-10 minutes, or until fries are deep golden.
Do the fries (made by fresh cut potatoes) actually turn out crispy? I tried frying them in the air-fryer and only the surfaces were crisp, the interiors were all soggy. Any suggestions as to what I might be doing wrong? Thank You!
Hi Puja. My fries do. Here’s my method: yellow-fleshed potatoes, cut into fries. Soak in cold water 30 minutes. Drain and dry well. Place in bowl. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt. Toss well to coat. Add to air fryer at 160. Cook for 30-35 minutes, tossing well at 10 minute intervals. Don’t fill the basket too fill either, so that the air can circulate better. Cook until deep golden colour. Hope that helps.
I have one for a few years now(live in Europe and they were on the market earlier). Just like you I started with fries, but have moved on to meats (great for meatballs!), pastries, stuffed peppers and mushrooms, you name it. Both on Pinteres and FB there are loads of recipes and since the thing is sold all over the world, the recipes are just as international.
I use it almost on a daily basis. I love it. The only things that do not come out as delicious as in fat are items with breaded crusts like croquettes. Enjoy your airfryer!
Hi Esther! Thanks so much for the ideas. I hadn’t thought about meatballs (adding them to my list :) I’m anxious to experiment and I think I will use it a lot as well.
Say whaaaat?! I’ve never heard of such a thing! So cool – though I definitely have zero room for a new kitchen appliance. Love the photos!!
Thanks Katie. Definitely cool. I’m having fun with it!
Wow! Girl! The pictures are absolutely gorgeous!! And yes, I’d definitely want to try something like this out – home frying…I’d be making all sorts of fun things- waistline watch out :)
Thanks so much, Phi. Yes, it’s certainly making “frying” super easy, for sure, so I’m going to try to give vegetables a go to, to give my waistline a break :)
Never heard of this method before. The fries look delicious, would like to know how the sweet potato fries turn out as they are my favorite. Thanks!
I’m a sweet potato fries lover too, Cheri so will definitely be experimenting with them next. Will let you know, for sure!
Jennifer, how large is the fry basket? As in, how many chicken wings do you think would fit in the basket? I’m intrigued by the idea of this.
Hi Gail. I went and measured it. It’s 8-inches x 8 inches and about 3 inches deep, which doesn’t sound huge, but I’d guess you’d get 25-30 wings in there easily.
The fries look great! And I love the new site design!
Thanks so much, Liz!
I’ve never heard of this method, and I seriously need to try it out… my guilty pleasure is fried food, and this fryer would be soooo good for my conscience!
Apparently air frying is very popular in Europe and is just starting to gain popularity in North America. I’m with you … the thought of less-guilt fries was a huge appeal!
Your fries look great, it’s amazing that all you need is a tablespoon of oil!
Thanks Laura. I was really impressed with how they came out!
I STILL CAN’T FIND OUT AT WHAT TEMPERATURE TO COOK THE FRIES – MY INSTRUCTION MANUAL DOESN’T EVEN MENTION FRIES – GET THE TIMING BUT AT WHAT TEMPERATURE?????
I cook them at 160 Kris.