French fries are one the most popular side dishes, thanks to their tastiness and versatility. But through trial and error, we’ve learned an air fryer is the secret weapon for achieving peak potato crispiness at home. All that fast-moving hot air trapped in a small chamber mimics the effect of deep-frying but without all the grease.
Making perfect air fryer french fries, whether fresh or frozen, is easy and fast, but your very good fries could taste even better with a few tweaks. Master these air fryer french fry hack and you’ll never have to settle for a floppy shoestring or a soggy tot again.
This is how I make the best crispy french fries with little effort in the air fryer.
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How to make the world’s crispiest air fryer fries
A few techniques help me get the most out of my air fryer when cooking frozen goodies like french fries, chicken tenders and tater tots.
1. Preheat the air fryer
You don’t need to preheat the air fryer but it will produce crispier fries.
When you add your fries, the hotter your air fryer is, the more golden brown and crisp they’ll become. Not every air fryer has a preheat function but you can run yours for about 5 minutes at the desired temperature to get the chamber nice and hot before you add the food.
2. Use a light spritz of oil
A light spritz of oil will ensure your air fryer fries don’t dry out.
Some people swear by spraying a little of their go-to cooking oil, like canola, olive or avocado, into the basket and over frozen french fries before air-frying. The idea is that the extra oil helps the food brown and crisp up. You don’t need to go nuts with oil, but a light coating helps seal the potato strings in a divinely crispy crust.
An oil mister or spray bottle will help with an even and light coating of oil.
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3. Avoid overcrowding the basket
Try not to crowd your fries in the basket.
Air fryers create convection heat by using a fan (the noise you hear when you turn the machine on) to circulate air around the food, cooking it faster and creating that crunchy exterior we want. For convection cooking to work well, your french fries need to have as much surface area exposed as possible. That means loading up batches of fries in a single layer and leaving just a little space between each piece, if possible. The result is tastier fries in a shorter cooking time.
4. Shake for even cooking
Shake a few times during cooking for an even browning.
Halfway through the cooking time, pull out your air fryer’s basket and shake it well. This will help your fries brown more evenly. Try to get the fries back in a single layer before popping the basket back in and finishing the process.
What you need for air fryer fries
- Frozen french fries
- Cooking oil like olive or canola
- Salt (optional)
Weeknight dinners are simple when you implement the help of your air fryer.
How to make air fryer french fries
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 minutes.
- Spritz the air fryer basket with oil.
- Add the frozen fries to the basket, arranging them in a single layer. If you’re using oil, spritz the fries with it.
- Cook the fries for 10 minutes.
- Pull out the air fryer basket and shake it.
- Rearrange the french fries in a single layer, then replace the basket and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more. The exact time will depend on your air fryer, the size and shape of your fries, and your preferred doneness level.
- Season your fries with salt, if using, and serve immediately.
What to serve with air fryer french fries
You can make an equally fantastic burger in the air fryer.
In my world, a pile of fries and a salad with a zippy vinaigrette need no other accompaniment (except a glass of wine). If you’re looking to round out your meal or feed a crowd, consider serving air-fried french fries with this easy 45-minute roast chicken or this 10-minute salmon recipe (both made in the air fryer, natch).
You can even cook up air fryer bacon cheeseburgers, hot dogs or chicken thighs to accompany your french fries. Add some veggies to the plate by air-frying Brussels sprouts, cauliflower steaks, broccoli florets or shishito peppers.
Air fryer fries FAQ
How long do fries take in the air fryer?
The cook time for air fryer french fries depends on the temperature. At 400 degrees Fahrenheit, fries usually take 15 to 20 minutes to cook.
Can I put frozen french fries in the air fryer?
Yes, you can air fry frozen french fries straight from the bag. Preheat the basket and avoid overcrowding for best results.
Why don’t my french fries get crispy in the air fryer?
There could be multiple reasons why you’re not reaching the right amount of crisp and crunch with your french fries in the air fryer. For one thing, you could be simply overcrowding your fries, making them fry unevenly. You could also be using too much oil, leading to a much softer — even soggy — texture if you’re not careful.
