Air Fryer French Fries (Fresh or Frozen)

Here’s how to make delicious and perfect Air Fryer French Fries from fresh or frozen. These fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Follow this guide to make perfect french fries in your Air Fryer.

 

The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

I’ve been on an air fryer craze for quite a while now. As you can see, my Air Fryer recipes have grown and grown over the past year. Who would have thought that my obsession with this device would have started over a pregnancy craving for french fries?

I wanted fried foods but needed a healthier alternative and the air fryer came in handy. French fries and potato wedges are my go-to sides to make in the Air Fryer. Here’s how I make perfectly delicious and healthy french fries from fresh or frozen. 

How to make Air Fryer Fench Fries (Fresh)

First, you’ll want to grab 1-3 russet potatoes and cut them into equal sizes. I aim for about ½ inch in size. Cutting them into equal portions will ensure they will cook evenly.

Soak your Potatoes

Then, you’ll need to soak them. You’ll hear some people say they don’t soak their potatoes. I swear by it and do the same method for my Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes. It removes the excess starch and you’ll notice a difference in taste or texture.

I soak for a whole hour. However, if you don’t have time for all that, a two-minute rinse in a colander with high pressured water does the trick. That’s how my husband does it and it yields great results.

Dry your Potatoes and Toss in Oil

Once the starch has been removed from your potatoes, drain them and dry them with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Then place them in a dry bowl and add oil. I know, some people feel that Air fryers need no oil. For delicious crispy fries, you need a little oil. Whichever kind of oil you decide to use is fine as long aa it is an oil with a high smoke point. 

Air Fry

Set your Air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and Air fry for 22-30 minutes. Shake and toss the fries every 5 minutes. This step is of prime importance. If you forget to shake or wait until your fries are halfway done, you’ll end up with partially done fries. I set a timer to make sure I remember to shake.

Different Air fryers cook at different temperatures depending on the wattage of the air fryer, the basket type, and how many fries you place in the basket, so the cooking time will vary from machine to machine. 

Special Note: If making one potato in a single layer, cook for about 12-15 minutes as fries in a single layer cook and crisp even faster. Cooking longer may result in burnt fries.

Other special note: Fresh fries are crispy while warm but do become softer if they get cold.

Once your fries are done, remove the basket and season the fries.

How to make Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

There’s a whole different technique when it comes to making frozen fries.

First, place the frozen fries in the Air Fryer basket. DO NOT ADD OIL. Frozen french fries already have oil added and are generally partially cooked. This is why they are able to stay so crispy, even when they get cold. 

Air Fry on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 8 minutes. Some frozen French fries, like the Great Value brand from Walmart, will have air fryer directions on the back. Despite that, I still always check at the 8-minute mark.

Just like the fresh, you will want to shake your frozen fries every few minutes until they are done. Frozen fries generally will take anywhere from 8-12 minutes, depending on your Air Fryer brand as well as how many fries you place in the basket.

And there you have it, perfectly cooked french fries made in your Air fryer from fresh or frozen. Season them with my homemade blend of french fry seasoning for the best fries.

If you're looking for more Air Fryer recipes to serve these fries with, try these out:

• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Fish
• Air Fryer Burgers
• Chicken Patties with Garlic Aioli