These Crispy Air Fryer French Fries are a healthy alternative to deep-fried fries with their tender insides and crisp outsides. They also taste delicious – all flavor and no grease.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
French fries are so good! There is nothing better than a nice crispy French fry, especially one that doesn’t leave your fingers covered in oil. I love whipping up this super simple recipe as a side dish or a little snack. It goes great with everything!
- TASTE: Seasoned simply with salt and black pepper, the taste of the potato really shines in this dish.
- TEXTURE: These crispy Air Fryer French Fries are crunchy and firm on the outside. Their insides are tender and chewy, making them so delicious.
- TIME: It takes about 30 minutes to make these fries.
- EASE: With just 4 basic ingredients, this is the simplest of recipes.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes- Russet potatoes are the best for fries because of their starch content and sturdiness.
- Olive oil- This will help the outside of the fries get nice and crispy.
- Salt- This adds flavor and also draws out the water in the potato sticks to help them get crispier.
- Black pepper- For flavor.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make this with frozen fries- Follow the recipe, except skip the oil if your fries come seasoned. Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes with shaking half way through and they should come out golden brown.
- Substitute other seasonings- You can make these fries with garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, paprika, cumin, chili powder, thyme, basil, oregano, or garlic salt.
- Use sweet potatoes- You can make this recipe just the same but using sweet potatoes instead.
How to Make Air Fryer French Fries
- Prep the potatoes. Peel your potatoes and then give them a good rinse. Cut them into fry-like strips.
- Soak them. Soak the uncooked fries in a bowl of cold water with a few tablespoons of salt for 10-15 minutes. This will draw out the extra starch and moisture from the potatoes so they’re crispy.
- Rinse and dry. Rinse the fries in cold water, making sure to scrub off the starch. Pat them dry as best you can.
- Oil and season the fries. Lay the french fries on a baking sheet and drizzle them with avocado oil (corn or vegetable will also work). Then, sprinkle salt and pepper over them.
- Cook. Place the French fries in the air fryer basket and cook for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to toss them every 5 minutes during the cooking process.
Pro Tip: Pat the fries as dry as you can with paper towels or a kitchen towel. Any moisture will reduce their crispiness.
Recipe Tips
- Soak in saltwater- This will pull even more moisture out of the potatoes than just plain water will.
- Rinse well– Getting all the starch out will result in crispier fries.
- Pat dry– Keeping the french fries dry before seasoning allows the oil to stick and give you crispier fries from the air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd– If the fries are pushed together, moisture will gather and the heat of the air fryer won’t be able to get to every side of the fry, reducing the crispiness.
FAQs
An oven air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around with a convection mechanism. It thoroughly cooks your food from all directions (unlike a regular oven where you need to turn and flip things), but without the oil (as you’d have when you deep-fry something). It works in a similar fashion to a convection oven.
Soaking the potatoes in salt water once they have been cut draws out the water and starches so that the fries will become extra crispy when air fried. Just make sure to pat them dry to get rid of any extra water on the surface.
Serving Suggestions
This healthier version of French fries will go great with sandwiches and burgers, as a snack with your favorite dipping sauce, or paired with veggies.
- Sauces: Serve these fries with some Fry Sauce, Buttermilk Ranch, Homemade BBQ Sauce, copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce, Homemade Tartar Sauce, or Herbed Dipping Oil.
- Burgers: Enjoy them with a Homemade Burger Patty on a Brioche Bun (VIDEO) with your favorite toppings, or with this Chipotle Burgers with Avocado Sauce.
- Sandwiches: Serve these Air Fryer French Fries with a Brisket Sandwich, Classic BLT Sandwich, Turkey Croissant Sandwich, or Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
- Vegetables: Pair them with a side of Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Green Beans, or Air fryer Asparagus.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can prepare these fries ahead of time and store them in the fridge. When you want to reheat them, the best way is to put them back in the air fryer basket and heat them up for about 5 minutes at the same cooking temperature, shaking halfway through. You can also reheat them in the oven on a baking sheet.
Storing: Store these Air Fryer French Fries in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: You can freeze the fries once cooled in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from the freezer in the air fryer.
More Tasty Fries and Fritters!
Full Recipe Instructions
Air fryer French fries
Crisp and without grease, they are a tasty, healthier alternative to deep-fried fries.
Servings: 2
Calories: 438kcal
Instructions
Peel, cut, and soak the potaoes
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First, peel the potatoes and rinse them. Then cut the russet potatoes into Thin fry strips.
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Now soak them in a bowl of cold water along with a few tablespoons of table salt for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the salt to draw out the extra starch and moisture from the potatoes for crispier fries.
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Then rinse them with cold water making sure to really rub the starch off. Then pat them dry as best as you can.
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Now lay the fries down on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the avocado oil and season with salt and pepper. If you don’t have avocado oil, make sure to use a high smoke point oil like corn or vegetable oil. Olive oil won’t work as well here. 
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Arrange the seasoned fries on the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, making sure to toss them every 5 minutes.
Notes
Just put them back in the air fryer and heat for about 5 minutes, tossing halfway through. This should heat the french fries through and also make them crispy again. You can also reheat them in the oven on a baking sheet. However, I would not suggest using the microwave because it will heat them, but also make them very soggy.
Nutrition
Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 597mg | Potassium: 1332mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 3mg
Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!