These Crispy Air Fryer French Fries offer a healthier alternative to conventional deep-fried fries, boasting a tender interior and a crispy outside. They are packed with flavor and free from excessive oil, making them utterly delicious.
Recipe Highlights
French fries are a timeless favorite! There’s nothing quite like enjoying a crisp fry that doesn’t leave your fingers greasy. I love making this quick and simple recipe, which is ideal for either a side dish or a snack. They complement nearly everything!
- FLAVOR: Lightly seasoned with salt and black pepper, allowing the natural potato flavor to come through.
- TEXTURE: These Air Fryer French Fries are wonderfully crunchy and firm on the outside while being soft and tender within, creating a delightful experience.
- TIME: You can prepare these fries in about 30 minutes.
- EASE: This recipe is straightforward, requiring only four simple ingredients.
What You Will Need
Notes on Ingredients
- Potatoes- For optimal results, use Russet potatoes because of their high starch content and toughness.
- Olive oil- This aids in achieving a crispy exterior on the fries.
- Salt- Enhances flavor and draws moisture from the potato strips, helping to create a crispier finish.
- Black pepper- Adds an extra layer of flavor.
Additions and Alternatives
- Frozen fries option- Feel free to use frozen fries, omitting the oil if they are pre-seasoned. Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking, until they turn golden brown.
- Alternative seasonings- Experiment with a variety of seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, paprika, cumin, chili powder, thyme, basil, oregano, or garlic salt.
- Sweet potatoes- You can also make this recipe using sweet potatoes in the same manner.
Steps to Make Air Fryer French Fries
- Prepare the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and give them a good rinse. Cut them into fry-like strips.
- Soak them. Place the uncooked fries in a bowl with cold water and several tablespoons of salt for 10-15 minutes. This removes excess starch and moisture, leading to crispier fries.
- Rinse and dry. Rinse the fries under cold water, scrubbing off the starch, then dry them as thoroughly as possible.
- Oil and season the fries. Spread the fries on a baking sheet, drizzle with avocado oil (or corn or vegetable oil), and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cook. Place the fries in the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking them every 5 minutes for even cooking.
Pro Tip: Ensure the fries are thoroughly dry with paper towels or a kitchen towel. Extra moisture will hinder crispiness.
Essential Cooking Tips
- Soak in salted water – This technique removes even more moisture from the potatoes compared to soaking in plain water.
- Rinse well – Washing away all the starch from the potatoes ensures that your fries will achieve a crispier texture.
- Ensure they are completely dry – Drying the fries thoroughly before seasoning helps the oil stick better, yielding crunchier results in the air fryer.
- Avoid crowding the basket – If the fries are packed too closely, moisture can accumulate, preventing the air fryer from crisping them evenly on all sides.
Common Questions
What 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 convection technology. This method ensures the food is cooked evenly from multiple angles—unlike a conventional oven, which often requires flipping the food. It accomplishes this task with minimal to no oil, similar to a convection oven’s approach.
Why do you need to soak potatoes in water before air frying?Soaking the cut potatoes in salted water aids in removing excess starch and moisture, resulting in fries that are extra crispy when air-fried. Just be sure to dry them properly afterwards.
to remove any extra moisture from the surface.
Serving Suggestions
This healthier alternative to traditional French fries pairs wonderfully with sandwiches and burgers, serves as a tasty snack with your favorite dipping sauce, or can be accompanied by fresh vegetables.
- Dipping Sauces: Enjoy these fries with Fry Sauce, Buttermilk Ranch dressing, Homemade BBQ Sauce, a duplicate version of Chick-Fil-A Sauce, Homemade Tartar Sauce, or Herbed Dipping Oil.
- Burgers: They are a fantastic side for a Homemade Burger Patty on a Brioche Bun (VIDEO) with selected toppings or with Chipotle Burgers garnished with Avocado Sauce.
- Sandwiches: These Air Fryer French Fries go well 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 made in the air fryer.
Making in Advance
Prepping Ahead: You can prepare these fries ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator. When you are ready to reheat, the ideal method is placing them back in the air fryer for around 5 minutes at the same temperature, shaking them halfway through to ensure even heating. Alternatively, you can rewarm them in the oven on a baking sheet.
Storage: Keep these Air Fryer French Fries in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: After cooling, you can freeze these fries in a ziplock bag for up to 3 months. They can be reheated directly from the freezer in the air fryer.
Discover More Tasty Fries and Fritters!
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
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Appetizer, Side Dish Cuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten FreePreparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Servings: 2Calories: 438kcalIngredients
- 3 large russet potatoes
- 3 tbsp olive or avocado oil (or any other high smoke-point oil)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Peel, cut, and soak the potatoes
- Begin by peeling and washing the potatoes. Then, cut the russet potatoes into thin fry shapes.
- Soak the sliced potatoes in a bowl filled with cold water, adding a few tablespoons of table salt. Allow them to sit for 10-15 minutes. This process helps extract excess starch and moisture, leading to crispier fries.
- After soaking, rinse the potatoes once more in cold water, ensuring to scrub away any lingering starch. Lastly, make sure to pat them completely dry.
- Arrange the fries on a rimmed baking sheet, then drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If avocado oil is unavailable, you can use a high smoke point oil like corn or vegetable oil. Refrain from using olive oil at this stage.
- Transfer the seasoned fries to the basket of the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 15 minutes, turning them every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
Notes
Reheating Homemade FriesFor reheating, just return them to the air fryer for about 5 minutes, stirring halfway. This technique will heat the fries through and help regain their crispness. Alternatively, you can also reheat them in an oven on a baking sheet. However, using a microwave is not advisable, as it may heat them but will lead to a soggy texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 438kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 58g
|
Protein: 7g
|
Fat: 21g
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Saturated Fat: 3g
|
Sodium: 597mg
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Potassium: 1332mg
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Dietary Fiber: 4g | Total Sugars: 2g | Vitamin C Content: 18mg | Calcium Amount: 42mg | Iron Content: 3mg
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
