Air Fryer French Fries

Air Fryer French Fries ~ the BEST hand cut fries start with fresh potatoes hand cut, air fried to crisp outside, fluffy potatoes inside and uses just one teaspoon of oil! Less fat, less calories, more flavor.

Do you have a special fondness for French fries from the fair or amusement park? Crispy, golden outside, fluffy inside, salty. Mmmm.

This post is about how to make French fries in an air fryer including how thick to slice the potatoes, how long to cook them and tips for getting the golden, crispy fries we crave. 

Air Fryer French Fries cook in just a few minutes in just one teaspoon of oil. I seasoned mine with ranch aka magic seasoning, but if you’re going for a classic taste, just season with salt. 

Read on for all this must-have kitchen appliance can do! From French Fries to Chicken Taquitos to spicy wings and lots of other game changing meals, party snacks and even desserts.

Air fryers are easy to use, quick to clean afterward and imitate the taste of all kinds of deep fried foods with very little oil, less fat and fewer calories.

Air Fryer French Fries Tips:

1. Use russets for classic French fry flavor.
2. Cut the potatoes as equal in size as possible for even cooking.
3. Soak the fries in cold water for at least 20 minutes to remove some of the starch and help crisp them.
4. Make sure your fries are VERY dry (see above).
5. Pause the cooking process about every 5 minutes and toss the fries in the basket.  

Can I use sweet potatoes instead?

Yes, you can use sweet potatoes, but they don’t crisp as well as russets. 

Do I need to cook in the fries in a single layer?

Let’s dispel this myth. No, the fries don’t have to be in a single layer. That said, there’s a balance ~ you don’t want to jam the air fryer with potatoes either. Add enough potatoes so there’s space to gently shake them in the basket. 

Air Fryer French Fries ingredients:

• russet potatoes
• olive oil
• dry ranch seasoning (optional for ranch seasoned fries)
• salt (only if you’re not using ranch seasoning)
• Air fryer

How to make air fryer French fries:

Peel and cut the potatoes (you can also leave the skins on if you prefer) into about 1/2″ sticks. Add the fries to a bowl of cold water so they’re completely covered and let them soak at least 20 minutes. 

Drain the water and dry the potatoes thoroughly. It’s important that the potatoes are VERY dry before air frying

After drying the potatoes, drizzle one teaspoon of olive oil over the potatoes then gently toss with your hands. If you’re making ranch seasoned fries, sprinkle one tablespoon of dry ranch seasoning over the fries, again tossing to coat them.

Preheat the air fryer to 400° for 3 minutes then add the fries to the basket. Cook a total of 15 to 20 minutes, pausing to toss the fries every 5 minutes until the fries are the golden color you like. Check for doneness more frequently in the last few minutes of cooking so they don’t overcook. If you didn’t season with ranch, lightly season with salt instead and serve right away with ketchup or other condiments. 

After using your air fryer a few times, you’ll get more comfortable with how it works, similar to your oven or stove.

I made these fries and they weren’t crispy:

If your fries weren’t crispy, they still had some moisture on them. I can’t stress enough to thoroughly dry the fries. This may be the most important step. Otherwise they’ll steam instead of crisping. I use a clean muslin towel then go back over them with paper towels.

What do I eat with these fries?

Pretty much anything starting with a cheeseburger! They’re even delicious as a light snack or appetizer. Get creative with the dipping sauces. 

Enjoy!

If you tried this Air Fryer French Fry recipe or any other on the blog, I’d love to hear from you with a comment or star rating in the recipe box!

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