These Air Fryer French Fries are crispy, golden, and ridiculously easy to make! With just a few simple steps and some simple ingredients, you can enjoy these perfectly cooked fries that are a lot healthier than deep frying your homemade fries. They’re the perfect side dish for any meal, and they’re so good, you might even want to eat them on their own! So grab some potatoes and let’s get cooking!
😋 Why You’ll love these French fries!
- Easy and Hands-Off: These air fryer fries are super easy to make, perfect for when you are cooking other things at the same time.
- Amazing Taste and Texture: You’ll get perfectly crispy french fries with a fluffy interior, just like the ones from your favourite restaurant.
- Healthier Than Deep-Frying: Get that perfect crispiness with less oil than deep-fried french fries.
📝 Ingredient notes
- Large Floury Potatoes (700g): It’s worth getting the right potato for this recipe, as they’re basically the only ingredient! Floury potatoes, like King Edwards or Maris Pipers, are perfect for making fluffy, crispy fries. If you’re in the U.S., Russet potatoes are what I would go for.
- Neutral Oil (1 tbsp): A little oil goes a long way in the air fryer! I used sunflower oil, but avocado oil, canola oil for any vegetable oil really would work well. Just be careful with extra virgin olive oil, as its smoke point isn’t ideal for air frying at these temperatures.
- Salt: A sprinkle of salt just makes everything taste better, doesn’t it?
🍟 How to make Air Fryer Fries
- Slice those spuds: Grab a sharp knife and, leaving the potato skins on, slice the potatoes into thin slabs about 1/4 inch thick (around 6mm). Then, slice those slabs into fries, also about 1/4 inch thick.
- Soak ’em good: Now, pop those cut potatoes into a large bowl and cover them with just-boiled water. This helps to remove some of that excess starch and makes them extra crispy. Let them soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Dry ’em off: Drain the soaked potatoes and place them on a baking sheet with a clean tea towel, or paper towels on top to soak up any excess water. Pat them dry – they don’t need to be perfect, just get the excess moisture off.
- Air fryer time: Preheat your air fryer to 205°F (400°F).
- Oil and season: Add the dried potatoes to a large bowl and toss them with a tablespoon of oil. I like to give them a little sprinkle of salt at this stage too. Not too much, but it helps to season them throughout the cooking process for maximum flavour.
- Air fry those fries: Add the oiled and seasoned potatoes to the air fryer basket. Since we’re cooking them all at once, for best results you’ll need to shake the basket every 5 minutes or so to make sure they cook evenly.
- Crispy perfection: When they look nice and crispy all around, which should be about 25-30 minutes (The cooking time can vary a little depending on your air fryer) take them out and add them back to the same bowl they were oiled and salted in. Give them another little sprinkle of kosher salt, as well as any herbs or spices you fancy.
- Enjoy! That’s it, just grab your favorite dipping sauce and your homemade French fries are done and ready to eat!
🎨 Potential variations
- Spicy Fries: Toss your fries with a pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli powder for a fiery kick.
- Garlic and Herb Fries: Add some garlic powder, onion powder, and your favourite fresh herbs to the mix for a flavorful twist.
- Loaded Fries: Top your fries with vegan cheese, chilli, or your favourite toppings for a decadent treat.
🤔 Frequently asked questions
What kind of potatoes are best for air fryer french fries?
Floury potatoes, such as fresh Russet potatoes, King Edwards, or Maris Pipers, are best for making crispy air fryer fries. These potatoes have a high starch content and fluffy texture, which helps them crisp up nicely in the air fryer. Avoid using Yukon Gold potatoes, as they have a lower starch content and may not crisp up as well.
Can I use olive oil for air fryer fries?
While you can use olive oil, it’s best to avoid extra virgin olive oil, as it has a lower smoke point. Refined olive oil or other neutral oils, like sunflower, avocado, or canola oil, are better suited for air frying.
Why do I need to soak the potatoes in boiled water?
Soaking the potatoes in boiled water for 10-15 minutes helps to remove excess starch from the surface of the potatoes, which helps them crisp up better in the air fryer.
Why are my fries soggy?
Soggy fries are often the result of not shaking the air fryer basket enough during cooking. Since we’re cooking a larger batch of fries and not in a single layer, it’s important to shake the basket every 5 minutes or so to ensure that the hot air can circulate properly and crisp up all sides of the fries.
Can I cook these fries in a regular oven instead of an air fryer?
Yes, you can! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the fries in a preheated oven at 205°C (400°F) for about 20-25 minutes (cook time may vary depending on your oven so keep an eye on them), or until golden brown and crispy. After all they are all just a type of convection oven.
The Best Air Fryer French Fries (Super Crispy Recipe)
Equipment
- Air Fryer basket-style air fryer
Ingredients
- 700 g Large Floury Potatoes Russets if in the U.S.
- 1 Tbsp Oil
Instructions
- Prep the Potatoes: Slice potatoes into 1/4-inch thick fries.
- Soak: Soak potatoes in just-boiled water for 10-15 minutes.
- Dry: Drain and pat potatoes dry.
- Preheat: Preheat air fryer to 205°C (405°F).
- Oil and Season: Toss potatoes with oil and a pinch of salt.
- Air Fry: Air fry for 25-30 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
- Season: Remove from air fryer and season with salt and herbs.
Notes
- Use floury potatoes for best results.
- Shake the basket regularly for even cooking.