Crispy French fries are delicious, but they can take several steps to make from scratch and they can be fairly high in calories when twice fried in oil. An air fryer enables you to make homemade or frozen fries with fewer steps and hardly any oil. They are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside with fewer calories. Let’s explore some things you need to know about cooking healthy French fries in an air fryer.
How Do I Cook Frozen French Fries In An Air Fryer?
There are just a few pointers and steps to be followed when cooking frozen French fries in your air fryer. The first step is to be sure that you preheat the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes prior to placing the fries in the basket or on the crisper plate.
There is no need to thaw the fries, as they are actually already pre-cooked and will hold together better if air fried while still frozen. You can give the fries a light spray of vegetable oil right before frying to help the exterior firm up.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Stick to 1/2 to 1 pound of frozen fries, depending on the size of your air fryer. You will need at least a 4 quart fryer to hold a pound of fries. Be sure to shake the bucket of the air fryer 1 or 2 times during the cooking process to rotate the fries.
How To Cut Potatoes For Fries
What if you want to make your French fries some scratch? It does take a bit longer because there is some prep time to consider. However, the results are quite rewarding. The most labor intensive part of homemade French fries is cutting the potatoes.
Start by washing the potatoes well under cold running water. You can peel the potatoes, but you don’t have to. Have a large bowl of cold water with the juice of 1/4 of a fresh lemon added. This acidulated water keeps the potatoes from turning brown in the presence of oxygen. The water also removes some of the natural starches in the potatoes so that they will crisp up better.
You will need a clean cutting board and a sharp knife. Cut the ends off of the potatoes so that they are evenly shaped. Cut a thin slice off of one side so that the potatoes can sit flat on the cutting board. Cut the potatoes into rectangular sticks that are 3/8 inch x 3/8 inch in thickness. If you want to save yourself some time, you can get a french fry cutting tool. Place the potatoes in the water and allow them to sit for 30 minutes.
Drain the potatoes well before cooking. Give them a quick spray of vegetable oil. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and cook for approximately 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy, shaking the basket at 7 minutes. Season the fries with salt before serving.
How Long To Cook Frozen French Fries In The Air Fryer
In general, frozen French fries will take between 15 and 20 minutes to cook in an air fryer. There are a few factors that affect how long to cook frozen fries. Remember, you do need to preheat the fryer for best results.
The cut and size of fries needs to be taken into consideration. Smaller, thinner fries, such as shoestring, curly, and waffle fries will only take 15 minutes. Larger ones, such as crinkle cut and steak fries, often take 18 to 20 minutes. Either way, do not be tempted to overcrowd the fryer. A single layer is ideal.
You do need to keep an eye on the fries. What you are looking for is a golden brown and crisp exterior and a fully cooked, soft interior. Don’t be shy about taste testing a fry at around 12 minutes for the appropriate texture and doneness.
How To Make Frozen Fries Crispy
Everyone likes crispy French fries. Ones that are limp are just not appetizing. But, how do you get your fries to that perfect crunchy exterior and creamy potato interior?
First, preheat the air fryer. I realize this step has already been mentioned, but it is important. The air fryer needs to be hot when the fries hit the basket or crisper plate. Make sure the heat is at least 375°F and ideally 400°F. Any lower and the fries will steam.
While not 100% necessary, giving the fries a light spritz of vegetable or olive oil will help with the crunch factor. Hold the salt. Salt has a tendency to draw moisture to the surface of whatever it is on, especially frozen food. Season the fries with salt after they have finished cooking and are still hot and crispy.
Place the potatoes in one layer if possible so that the hot air can circulate and hit all surfaces of the frozen fries. If your air fryer is less than 4 quarts, fry in 1/2 pound batches and keep the cooked fries warm in a low heat oven. To help this along, shake the bucket once or twice during the cooking to expose all sides to the heat.
What Potatoes Are Best For Fries?
This is a loaded question with many answers. If you are making French fries from scratch, Idaho or Russet potatoes are the preferred choices for frying. They are dryer than the creamier fleshed Yukon Gold or Red Bliss potatoes. When it comes to sweet potatoes, Japanese white yams have a firmer flesh than domestic orange sweet potatoes. However, both will work with slightly different textures.
For frozen French fries, shop for potatoes that have the fewest ingredients. For instance, fries that have additives or are coated in wheat flour don’t always cook as well in an air fryer as they do in a vat of screaming hot oil. The flour coating crisps up nicely when cooked in oil. It can have a sticky texture in an air fryer. The exception to this would be tater tots that are coated in bread crumbs. They do crisp up nicely in an air fryer.
As for the shape, any will work. The key is to adjust the timing for the different sizes. Crinkle cut white or sweet potato fries are a safe bet. They seem to be the perfect thickness for an air fryer. Shoestring potatoes will be done in minutes. Steak cut fries will take a bit longer for the center to cook through.
Best Way To Cook Frozen French Fries
Now we are ready for an easy recipe for air fryer frozen French fries. Gather your ingredients and your air fryer and follow these steps.
Prep time: 1 minute
Cook time: 18 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
- 1/2 to 1 pound of frozen French fries, depending on air fryer size
- Vegetable or olive oil spray
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Remove the fries from the freezer when the air fryer is preheated. Place as many as will fit in a single layer in the basket or on the crisper plate. (Don’t fret if they overlap a little). Spray a very thin layer of oil on the fries. Shake the bucket to rotate and add another light spray.
3. Cook the fries for 7 minutes. Open the air fryer and shake the bucket. Cook for an additional 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the size and cut of the fries. Check the fries at a total of 12 minutes of cooking time for doneness. Continue to cook until golden brown and piping hot.
4. Remove the fries to a serving platter and season them with salt while still hot. Serve immediately with ketchup or a dipping sauce.
Now that was easy! Enjoy.