Homemade air fryer curly fries don't need a deep fryer or an hour-long soak. I spiralize fresh Russets, skip the soak completely, and cook curly fries in my air fryer at 400°F for 10-12 minutes. They come out crisp at the edges with a tender middle every time in my Instant Vortex.
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A drive-thru classic, made foolproof
Pull up to any classic drive-thru or summer fairground, and you are sure to find a basket of seasoned curly fries on the menu.
For about a tablespoon of oil, this homemade version beats the freezer-bag kind every time and brings that same fun, nostalgic flavor right to your kitchen.
Most recipes swear you have to soak the potatoes first. I never have. The three things that actually matter: dry the spirals well, keep them in a loose single layer, and spray the basket so they don't stick.
I like to serve these hot out of the air fryer with homemade ketchup alongside a grilled smash burger or a pile of crispy air fryer chicken tenders.
Recipe at a Glance
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 12 minutes
- Total time: 22 minutes
- Primary Tools: Air Fryer & Spiralizer
Jump to:
- A drive-thru classic, made foolproof
- Recipe at a Glance
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Crispy Curly Fries in the Air Fryer
- How Long to Cook Them (Doneness Guide)
- Do I Really Need to Soak Them?
- Variations
- Jeri's Top Tips
- Troubleshooting Curly Fries
- What to Serve with Curly Fries
- Storage & Make-Ahead
- FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
- Printable Recipe
- Comments
Ingredients You'll Need
- Potatoes: Russets crisp the best. A Yukon Gold gives a creamier inside if you prefer that texture.
- Olive oil: You can also use avocado oil.
- Seasonings: I used seasoning salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder. This is what makes them taste like the drive-thru version. However, you can also use paprika, onion powder, or cayenne pepper.
How to Make Crispy Curly Fries in the Air Fryer
Spiralize and dry. Scrub the potatoes (peel them if you like - I usually don't). Spiralize them. My preferred method: use the medium blade on speed 6 of the KitchenAid attachment. That setting gives a real fry, about ¼-inch thick, instead of the wispy shoestrings the fine blade puts out. Pat the spirals as dry as you can with a clean towel. Wet spirals steam instead of crisp.
Season the fries. Combine the seasonings in a small bowl. Drizzle the oil over the spirals, sprinkle on the seasoning, and toss with your hands until evenly coated.
Prep the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket with oil so the fries don't stick, then add a loose single layer. You will likely need to cook in batches.
Air fry. Air fry at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket at the 6-minute mark. They are done when the edges are deep golden, and a curl snaps when you bend it. Limp means they need 2-3 minutes more. Salt them the second they come out, while they are still hot enough for the salt to stick.
How Long to Cook Them (Doneness Guide)
- 10 min: Cooked through, light crisp.
- 12 min: Crisp edges, soft center (my favorite).
- 13-14 min: Shatter-crisp. Watch the thin ends closely, as they darken fast.
Do I Really Need to Soak Them?
I don't soak mine and they still come out crunchy. However, I will tell you exactly when a soak is worth it: if your fries consistently turn out soggy. If that happens, soak the raw spirals in cold water for 20 minutes to draw out excess starch, then dry them completely before oiling.
Variations
- Frozen (Arby's-style curly fries): No oil needed, no thawing - cook straight from frozen. Spread them in a single layer and air fry at 400°F. A thin bagged brand is ready in 10-12 minutes; thicker seasoned Arby's-style bags run closer to 16-18 minutes, shaking halfway. Season after cooking, not before.
- Parmesan Garlic: Toss the cooked fries with grated Parmesan and a little minced garlic while hot.
- Ranch Seasoned: Sprinkle dried ranch seasoning mix on the fries before air frying.
- Loaded Cheese: Top cooked fries with shredded cheddar or mozzarella, return to the air fryer until the cheese melts and turns golden, then finish with green onions, bacon bits, and a dollop of sour cream.
Jeri's Top Tips
- Don't overcrowd the basket. Leave space between the fries so they cook evenly and come out crispy.
- Work in batches. Shake the basket halfway through so they brown on all sides. For extra crispy fries, spray them with a little more oil after you've flipped them.
- Stop the sticking. Mine used to stick every time until I started spraying the basket itself with oil, not just the fries. Problem gone.
Troubleshooting Curly Fries
If yours don't come out right the first time, it's almost always one of these five things:
| Problem | Why it happens | The fix |
| Fries stick to the basket | Starchy surface, no barrier. | Spray the basket itself with oil before adding |
| Soggy, no crunch | Crowded basket or wet spirals. | Loose single layer, pat bone-dry, add 2-3 minutes. |
| Pale, won't brown | Temp too low or too much oil. | 400°F, about 1 tablespoon oil max, finish 2 extra minutes. |
| Thin ends burn, middles soft | Uneven thickness from the spiralizer. | Aim for even strands; pull the dark pieces early. |
| Limp after they sit | Steamed in a pile on the plate. | Serve right away; reheat at 350°F for 5 min, never the microwave. |
What to Serve with Curly Fries
I serve these next to Venison Smash Burgers and Smoked Pellet Grill Burgers more than anything else. They also go great with Air Fryer Tilapia, Air Fryer Tuna Patties, and Air Fryer Chicken Breasts.
Also serve them beside Air Fryer Chicken Legs, Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs, and Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts.
Storage & Make-Ahead
Store leftover cooked fries in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes until hot and crispy again.
Want to prep ahead? You can spiralize the potatoes up to a day or two early and keep the raw spirals submerged in cold water in the fridge. Drain and dry them thoroughly before air frying and they will cook up like fresh.
FAQs
It is almost always a crowded basket or wet spirals. Dry them well, keep them in a loose single layer, and give them 2-3 more minutes.
Yes, straight from frozen, no thawing, no oil. Thin bags take 10-12 min at 400°F; thicker Arby's-style bags run 16-18 min.
I don't, and mine still crisp up. Soaking helps if yours come out soggy-20 minutes in cold water, then dry well.
Insert a skewer into a peeled potato and slice thin spirals with a sharp knife. They'll be thicker and less uniform, but they crisp up fine.
No, cook from frozen. Thawing makes them mushy.
Yes. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
Printable Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Curly Fries (No Soaking Needed)
Ingredients
- 1 pound large Russet potatoes (2-3 potatoes)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Scrub the potatoes (peel them if you like). Spiralize with the medium blade on speed 6 to get fries about ¼-inch thick. Pat the spirals bone-dry with a clean towel.
- Toss the spiralized potatoes with oil, then add the seasonings and toss until they are evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the air fryer basket with oil so the fries do not stick.
- Add the seasoned spirals to the basket in a loose single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking at the 6-minute mark. Cook until the edges are deep golden and a curl snaps when bent. Work in batches to not overcrowd the basket.
- Remove the fries from the air fryer and salt them while they are still hot. Serve right away.
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Notes
- Swaps. Yukon Gold potatoes work well if you prefer a creamier inside. You can also use ranch, Cajun, or parmesan-garlic seasoning for flavor.
- Storage. Leftover cooked fries can be saved in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days and can be reheated in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes. Raw spiralized potatoes will keep for 1 to 2 days submerged in cold water, but make sure to dry them well before cooking.
- Troubleshooting. If the fries are sticking, make sure you spray the basket itself with oil, not just the potatoes.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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