Air-Fryer French Fries

Our air-fryer french fries take just a few minutes to prep, and they taste better than any spud to come out of the freezer section.

Alright, so you finally made the leap! After researching the best air fryer, you found the perfect one and brought it home. But now, you face one more important decision: Where to start?

If you ask our Test Kitchen, start with the basics, like these tasty air-fryer fries.

Ingredients for Air-Fryer French Fries

Taste of Home

Besides being incredibly easy to make, air-fryer french fries don’t require any special ingredients. Here are the goods you’ll want on hand:

• Potatoes: It can be tricky to decide what potatoes are best for which recipes. For fries, you’ll want large taters with a high starch content—try Idaho or russet potatoes.
• Oil: You need just a touch of oil to make air-fryer french fries. Our Test Kitchen recommends avocado oil, though you could use any cooking oil with a high smoke point, such as grapeseed oil or canola oil.
• Seasoning: With potatoes, basic is usually best. Our recipe calls for simple seasoning: salt, pepper, garlic powder and a sprinkling of fresh parsley to garnish.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the potatoes

Taste of Home

To start, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Scrub your potatoes, and cut them into about 1-inch-thick sticks using a sharp chef’s knife. Place the potato sticks in a large bowl, and cover with ice-cold water. Let the spuds soak in the water for 15 minutes, then drain and pat dry. Toss the dried potatoes with the oil, salt, pepper and garlic in a large bowl.

Editor’s Tip: Soaking the potatoes helps remove some of the excess starch. This gives you a more tender, crispy fry.

Step 2: Cook the potatoes

Taste of Home

For the best (and crispiest) results, cook the fries in batches so they don’t overcrowd. Grease the air-fryer basket, and arrange the potatoes in a single layer in the basket. Cook until crispy and golden, 15 to 17 minutes per batch, stirring and turning the potatoes every five to seven minutes so they brown evenly.

Continue to cook until you’ve worked through all your fries. If you like, sprinkle all the cooked fries with chopped fresh parsley—this adds a great pop of color. Then break out a bottle of the best ketchup!

Recipe Variations

• Go for a crinkle cut: Straight-cut fries aren’t your only option when making air-fryer fries. You can use a crinkle-cut knife to easily make wavy fries.
• Switch up the seasonings: Salt and pepper are tried-and-true basics, but you can take these to the next level by tossing them in a tasty spice blend. A homemade seasoned salt is also a welcome topper.

How to Freeze Air-Fryer French Fries

You can build up your own stash of frozen fries right at home. To store air-fryer french fries in your freezer, prep and soak the potatoes as directed in Step 1 above (but don’t season them yet). Then, spread the prepped fries evenly on a sheet tray, and pop them into the freezer. Once frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight container or a freezer-safe resealable bag. Store in the freezer up to one year.

When you’re ready to enjoy your air-fryer fries, toss them in oil, and season as described in Step 1 above. You can cook them right in the air fryer as described in Step 2, but they will require a little extra time.

Tips for Making Air-Fryer French Fries

Taste of Home

How do you reheat fries in an air fryer?

Good news: You can you can reheat fries in an air fryer, along with other leftovers. Just toss the fries in a 350º air fryer, and cook for three to four minutes. For best results, give the fries a shake halfway through the cook time.

How long should you air-fry french fries?

For this recipe, you should air-fry your fries for 15 to 17 minutes at 400º.

For a bag of frozen fries, consult the package. Different cuts (like waffle or shoestring) call for different cook times. If the bag doesn’t specify air fryer directions, start with a 400º air fryer, and cook for 10 minutes. Check on the fries, and determine if they need more cook time.

Are air-fryer fries healthy?

Air-fryer recipes are healthy-ish. The main difference between using an air fryer and using a deep fryer is the amount of oil needed. Air-frying uses little to no oil because the unit heats up enough to crisp the food. In that sense, many people consider air-fryer recipes to be a bit healthier than deep-fried ones.