French fries are a favorite all around the world, but many of us feel somewhat guilty indulging in the addictive potato side that is deep-fried and full of extra calories as a result. When you finally have the ability to make these delicious crispy-on-the-outside-but-tender-on-the-inside fries with less guilt, why wouldn’t you jump in head first? I know I did.
How To Make Air Fryer French Fries
Now, of course it is easier to open a bag of frozen french fries and pop those into the air fryer, but you’re selling yourself short if you do that. Yes, an air fryer will give you better results than if you baked those fries on a baking sheet in the oven, but you’re still ingesting more calories than you think no matter which way you make them because those fries were par-cooked by the factory and chances are they were par-fried. Making the French fries from scratch is seriously so easy, that there’s no reason to ever buy a bag again. Read on…
The trick to making the fries perfectly is to blanch them first. I know this is an extra step, but it is worth it. Blanching the potato sticks for 4 minutes helps par-cook the fries to just the right stage so that the air fryer can crisp up the exterior, but keep the interior moist and tender. If you don’t blanch the fries, you will need to leave the fries in longer in order to get them cooked all the way through and the exterior of the fries over-cooks, over crisps and over-browns. The time in the air fryer needed dries the fries, and we don’t want that! So, bring a pot of water to the boil and blanch the potatoes for 4 minutes – just the perfect time to pre-heat the air fryer.
The Amount of Oil Used for Air Frying French Fries
Spritzing the fries with oil is also really important. The oil on the exterior of the potatoes helps give them the color and the crunch you’re looking for. Don’t be shy, but spritz them generously. I use an oil sprayer that releases ¼ teaspoon of oil with each trigger pull. I use at least 6 to 8 trigger pulls so I’m only using about 1-½ to 2 teaspoons of oil per batch of fries. This is a huge reduction from what would be absorbed if the fries were deep-fried, so I feel great about that. Plus, I can use olive oil instead of a neutral peanut or canola oil and give my fries a little flavor too.
The rest of the process is just fun – letting the air fryer do the work and tossing the fries every once in a while to shake them around. This is when you get to pretend you’re on the line in a restaurant working the fry station! No need to go crazy here – too much shaking doesn’t give the fries enough time to cook, but a little shaking and dancing in the kitchen is good for everyone!
Once you’ve mastered French fries, you can make one of my favorite Canadian snacks (or meals, depending on how you’re feeling!) – Poutine! If you want to add a little zest to your fries, shake some extra seasoning on them with these Air Fried Cajun Fries. For a special treat, top your French fries with some bacon and cheddar and try these Super Duper Cheesy Bacon Fries.
If you prefer shoe string fries, you can check out my recipe for Air Fryer Skinny Fries. They won’t make you skinny, but you still save on the deep frying grease. I’ll take French fries anyway I can get them!!
I wated fries eith my burger tonight. Golliwed your recipe. Perfect, need to cut better or more even. Took a picture will put it on mealthy page. Thank you first time i did real ones.
These turned out really good! I followed the directions exactly. Added a little more salt at the end.
Would have been great if I had not overcooked them. They were dried out inside after 22 minutes. My fault, Apparently my fryer is hotter than others and I should have watched more carefully.
Tried this with my new Ninja 8-1 oven! Turned out great. Didn’t need to shake and turn because they lie flat on fryer screen! Loved the fries. Trying hot wings next.
I have the air fryer oven. Do you have any cook books for this? I have gone through the book that came with it and would like to try some new things.
Thank you
Theresa
Hi Theresa,
I don’t have books specifically for the air fryer oven, but most of my recipes for the basket style air fryer will work in the oven. The difference is that you don’t have a basket to shake, so if necessary you would just turn foods over halfway through when suggested. If you’re using only one rack in the oven, you shouldn’t need to turn foods over at all.
ML
Meredith, love all your air fry recipes. I have a question. I have about 5 people coming over, so I need to make more fries and I know you should not crowd them so I was wondering if I could place the first batch in a 200 degree oven to keep them warm or will they get soggy? Any recommendations?
Hi there. If you have a rack you can put on the baking sheet and then put the fries on the rack, that will help them stay crispy. Another option is to toss all the batches back into the air fryer at the end (when over-crowding is not as important) and heat them back up, shaking often. Either way.
Thank you for the very detailed instructions and video!
This was my first air fryer meal. It turned out very well, however it took a really long time to cook 2 pounds of fresh Cod and Haddock and to make the home made fries. —> 3 hours
Kept everything warm I an oven set to 200F
I made these fries🍟 in my Ninja Foodi Grill and will never eat another frozen fry again. I always blanch mine and they come out perfectly delicious and a lot healthier than the ones out of the bag.
Hazel and LuLu always bring a smile 😊 to my face. They, like my spoiled 😻, sure have a cushy life.
Thanks for all the great recipes. I’ve learned so much from you.
I prefer to leave my frites with the peels. Will this recipe work if I don’t peel my potatoes?
Definitely!
An additional tric to make them taste a lot like fast food outlets, add 1 Tablespoon of vinegar to the water when you boil them.
I found a better way than boiling the fries is to microwave them for 10 minutes. No drying time.
This is the only way to fix them! I think I got the recipe from your cookbook. My husband asks for them often. We like steak fries so I cut the sticks thicker.
This is the only way to fix fries! I think I got the recipe from your cookbook. My husband loves them and asks for them often. We like steak fries, so I cut the sticks a little thicker.
All I have is a air fryer oven, It pot. And I really want to make boiled potatoes for mashed. I have tried the other ways for a air fryer and it just not the same. Can I put a small pot that is oven safe with water and boil my potatoes? I have asked Siri and Google and just keeps coming back to the baking and scoop out. Thank you jojo
Hi Joanne. I’m not exactly sure what you are asking. If you are trying to put a pot of water into your air fryer oven, I don’t recommend that. Instead, I would bake some Russet/Idaho/baking potatoes (360ºF for 45 minutes) and then peel them and mash them with some butter and milk or cream. If you have an Instant Pot®, you could boil the potatoes in there and then mash them – here’s a recipe for you: https://bluejeanchef.com/recipes/cheddar-garlic-smashed-potatoes/
Great recipe! Once you parboiled the potatoes and drain it, the spices that you add to these fries are endless. The result delicious!
I used a mandolin and cut the fries to 3/8 thickness. I boiled them for 2 minutes and rinsed them in cold water. I dried them and oiled them as in the recipe and air fried for 25 minutes at 400 degrees. They came out crispy and delicious.
Made these twice this week already, they are that good! Tonight I put some par boiled in the freezer, just to try like the bagged ones from the grocery store. I can never go back to those now after this recipe! Made the beer battered fish tonight also, followed the recipe exactly and the fish was excellent, definitely a – make again-!
I also love the pizza dough recipe, made it several times thank you meredith, your recipe s are amazing!
I am a big fan of this recipe. The closest thing to chip wagon fries for me and they’re not deep fried. 👍
Leave out the pickles in your burger sauce and have with the fries, ever so good. I am still learning my new air fryer, I had a small one and used it a lot, now with bigger one things are spread much better. Love your recipes, and your fur babies are awesome. I have a dog spitting image of the smaller.
These are amazing! I add seasoning, not just salt. And, at 400 degrees, these cook in 13 minutes in my air fryer, shaking once half way through.
My air fryer does not have a basket, but. I’m able to add a second layer rack that happens to fit with bulldog clips. Plenty of room for good air circulation. Halfway through I turned them over and swapped their shelf position.
They were crispy, fluffy, and delicious! I cut them carefully, soaked and rinsed them to remove starch, and blanched them for 4 minutes first. Outstanding French fries. Thanks.
Thank you – your tip on blanching potatoes first has made all the difference
4 minutes in boiling water is too long unless you are making wide/thick cut. If you use the 1/4” stick method the fries come out far too “mushy” after boiling for 4 minutes (and I actually only boiled for 3 minutes).. Basically had to throw away the batch. Just something to be aware of. For me, the cold water soak method has produced consistently solid results. Not sold on this particular cooking method quite yet.