Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

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If you’re craving hot crispy thick cut homemade fries but don’t want something that is greasy and deep fried, these flavorful Air Fryer French Fries are amazingly delicious! Just the right amount of olive oil and seasonings over freshly cut russet potatoes create the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth, golden brown french fries.

Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why this recipe is so great:
  • Ingredients needed:
  • How to make Air Fryer French Fries:
  • Recipe tips for perfect results:
  • Serve this recipe with:
  • Air Fryer French Fries Recipe

Why this recipe is so great:

  • Less fat: That’s why we all use the air fryer, right? Instead of traditional deep fried french fries, air fryer french fries have the same great crispy texture with a fraction of the oil.
  • Unbelievable taste and texture: These fries have the perfect amount of seasoning on every bite. Each fry is crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth on the inside.
  • Simple ingredients: Unlike frozen fries that you bake, there are never any surprises when you cook from scratch.

Ingredients needed:

Exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

  • Russet potatoes: Other potatoes can be used, but russets offer the best flavor and texture.
  • Oil: Olive oil is my preferred oil when making air fryer french fries, but something like avocado oil works great too.
  • Seasonings: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt are all you need. To take these fries to the next level, you must use Jacobsen Rosemary Salt – I’m absolutely obsessed with this. Not only are their products local to me, but they are outstanding.
Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (2)

How to make Air Fryer French Fries:

Detailed step by step instructions are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

  1. Clean potatoes: Scrub off dirt and remove any eyes. I highly recommend using this Veggie & Fruit Scrub Cloth.
  2. Cut: Slice potatoes into fry shapes. My rule of thumb is to keep them no thicker than your pinky finger.
  3. Soak: Do not skip this step. Soaking the potatoes in the cold water not only removes excess starch, but it helps the inside of the fries steam while they cook. This will create the best taste and texture once they’re cooked in the air fryer.
  4. Season: Toss the potatoes with oil and seasoning in a large bowl to coat.
  5. Air fry: Arrange fries in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, they will need to be cooked in at least two batches. 20 minutes with a shake half way through and they’re done.
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Recipe tips for perfect results:

  • Plan ahead: Since fries need to be cooked in a single layer and this recipe makes a lot, they will need to be cooked in batches. Since each batch takes 20 minutes, these will most likely take a minimum of 40 minutes to make (longer if you have a small air fryer).
  • Storage and reheating: Store any leftover fries in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and consume within 4-6 days. To reheat, just place in air fryer basket and cook at 400°F until heated through.
Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (9)

Serve this recipe with:

  • Burgers: What’s a delicious fry without an amazing burger? Make a Stuffed Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Burger, Spicy Southwestern Turkey Burgers, or my favorite World’s Greatest Hamburger.
  • Fry Sauce: Sure, ketchup will work just fine, but take these air fryer french fries to the next level with Southwestern Fry Sauce or Bacon Jalapeno Fry Sauce.
  • Aioli: If you want to be extra decadent, dip the fries into homemade Basil Garlic Aioli, Chipotle Aioli, or Green Chile Aioli.
Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (10)

Note: The model of air fryer I used for this recipe was the Breville Smart Oven. Although each model air fryer cooking in a similar manner, basket sizes and cooking times may vary greatly from model to model.

If you’ve made this or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. I love hearing from my readers!

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Air Fryer French Fries

Servings 6 servings

Author Krissy Allori

Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (11)

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If you're craving hot crispy thick cut homemade fries but don't want something that is greasy and deep fried, these flavorful Air Fryer French Fries are amazingly delicious! Just the right amount of olive oil and seasonings over freshly cut russet potatoes create the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth, golden brown french fries.

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Ingredients

  • 3 pounds russet potatoes (skin scrubbed to remove dirt but not peeled)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt (highly recommend Jacobsen Salt Co. Rosemary salt, can also use kosher salt as a substitution)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Soak the potatoes:

  • Slice the potatoes into long strips that are 1/4" to 1/2" thick.

    Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (12)

  • Place in large bowl of cold water for a minimum of 30 minutes, or as long as overnight if kept refrigerated.

    Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (13)

Cook the fries:

  • Preheat air fryer to 385°F.

  • Drain and rinse the potatoes. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove any excess water. Transfer to a clean bowl and toss with remaining ingredients.

    Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (14)

  • Add potatoes to the air fryer basket and arrange so that they are in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, this will need to cook in multiple batches.

    Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (15)

  • Place basket in preheated air fryer and plan to cook for 20 minutes, shaking the basket well to shift them around after the first 10 minutes. Note: If you sliced the fries thin, they will cook faster, so keep an eye on them. When they are mostly golden brown, remove from air fryer and transfer to a clean bowl. Repeat with remaining batches.

  • Once all the fries are done, you can add all of them back to the air fryer basket and continue cooking for a couple of minutes so that they are all hot and crispy prior to serving.

Notes

Nutritional information based on a half pound of potatoes (uncooked weight) per person – a rather large serving.

  • Plan ahead: Since fries need to be cooked in a single layer and this recipe makes a lot, they will need to be cooked in batches. Since each batch takes 20 minutes, these will most likely take a minimum of 40 minutes to make (longer if you have a small air fryer).
  • Storage and reheating: Store any leftover fries in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and consume within 4-6 days. To reheat, just place in air fryer basket and cook at 400°F until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 1175mg, Potassium: 960mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 166IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave me acomment below

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Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - Self Proclaimed Foodie (16)

Hi! I’m Krissy.

I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make.

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FAQs

Why soak fries before air frying? ›

Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches—it helps achieve the coveted French fry crispiness and prevents the fries from sticking together. This is what I did for the air fryer, too. I soaked these potatoes for about an hour or so, but I've also soaked them for up to 24 hours with no ill effect.

Why my french fries are not crispy in air fryer? ›

It's essential that you spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and that you leave a little space between each one. If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches.

How to cook French fries in a Paula Deen air fryer? ›

Spray potatoes with oil and place in air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd. Set temperature to 320 degrees, and air fry for 10 minutes, to remove moisture.

How do you crisp up french fries in an air fryer? ›

If you have a lot of fries to reheat, work in batches to ensure they all reheat and crisp up evenly. Set the temperature and cook time: After placing the basket into the air fryer, select 325 degrees Fahrenheit for the temperature and 5 minutes for the cooking time. Keep in mind that thicker-cut fries may need longer.

What happens if you don't soak potatoes for fries? ›

A: The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

How long should you soak fries before frying? ›

In our homemade french fries recipe, we suggest soaking your potatoes for at least 15 minutes, but if you'd like to do this step ahead of time, they can soak overnight. Avoid excess water on the potatoes: make sure to pat them dry after removing them from the water bath otherwise you'll end up with limp fries.

Why is Mcdonald's French fries so crispy? ›

The suppliers we work with first peel, cut and blanche the potatoes. They then dry, partially fry and quickly freeze the fries for our restaurants. Once in our kitchens, we cook them in our canola-blend oil so you can have them crispy and hot—just the way you like them.

Why are my frozen french fries soggy in the air fryer? ›

Place the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding the basket, which can cause uneven cooking and less crispiness. You may need to cook in batches for best results. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure the fries are evenly cooked and crisp on all sides.

Should you flip fries in air fryer? ›

The Best Air Fryers

It's also best to give most smaller foods (such as cauliflower florets, french fries, or chicken nuggets) a good shake or toss in the middle of the cooking cycle to expose new parts of the food to the heating element.

Do you preheat an air fryer for french fries? ›

Crispy foods: If you're hoping for super crispy results, you generally want to preheat the air fryer. Shah points to examples like french fries (fresh or frozen) and chicken wings. When in doubt, preheat: If you're still unsure if you should preheat your air fryer, then go ahead and preheat.

What does cornstarch do to french fries? ›

Corn Starch: Adding a thin coating of corn starch to the potato fries before frying can help create a crispier exterior. When the corn starch comes into contact with the hot oil, it forms a barrier that traps moisture within the potato while also developing a crunchy crust.

Should you thaw french fries before air frying? ›

No need to thaw — that's one of the reasons I love to air fry frozen French fries! Just like in the oven, you can cook them straight from the freezer. The difference is that they are ready in about half the time!

Should I soak my potatoes before air frying? ›

While it may seem like a pain, soaking the potatoes in hot water for 10 minutes prior to cooking them in the air fryer is essential. The water removes excess starch, allowing the fries to be their crispiest. Instead of soaking them in large bowl of cold water, I like to use hot water to cook the potatoes slightly.

Should homemade fries be soaked in water? ›

Take a large bowl and soak the potatoes in cold water. Make sure that you soak the potatoes for at least 2-3 hours. Soaking the sliced potatoes in cold water is one of the main steps to prepare perfect French Fries. The cold water removes the starch present outside the potatoes so that you get perfectly crispy fries.

Why do you soak fries in salt water? ›

Why use salt water for soaking potatoes? There's moisture naturally found in potatoes, and moisture is drawn to higher concentrations of salt. (This is a process called osmosis.) So, if you put the potatoes in a salt water bath, that will help draw out some of their moisture, resulting in crispier fries.

Should I salt fries before air frying? ›

Oil: Use a neutral vegetable oil suitable for high heat. I use sunflower oil. Salt: Make sure to add the salt AFTER air frying. It does really affect the crispiness in this particular recipe.

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