Cooking frozen French fries in the air fryer is the fastest way to get golden brown, crispy fries straight from the freezer - no deep fryer, no flipping trays, no waiting 25 minutes for the oven to preheat.
In about 10-15 minutes, you'll have hot, crispy air fryer fries that are perfect with burgers, chicken, sandwiches, or just a bowl of ketchup.
If you've been wondering how long to cook frozen French fries in the air fryer for crispy results, this guide breaks it down by fry type and thickness.
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If you prefer waffle fries, I have a full guide for Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries that walks you through exact timing for thicker cuts. And if sweet potato fries are more your thing, check out my Crispy Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries recipe - they cook differently and need a slightly longer time.
Want to turn your fries into a full meal? Top them with pulled pork and cheese for my Loaded Pulled Pork Fries - perfect for using leftovers. And for a quick lunch, try these Air Fryer Hot Pockets.
Recipe at a Glance
- Cook Method: Air Fryer
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Total Time: 12-17 minutes
- Temperature: 400°F
- Best For: Frozen French fries (all types)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Oil Needed: Optional
- From Frozen: Yes - no thawing required
Jump to:
- Recipe at a Glance
- Why Air Fryer Frozen French Fries Work So Well
- Recipe Ingredients
- How to Cook Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Fries
- Best Dipping Sauces
- Jeri's Tips for Extra Crispy Air Fryer Fries
- Why Your Air Fryer Frozen Fries Aren't Crispy
- Storage and Reheating
- Recipe FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love
- Printable Recipe
- Comments
Why Air Fryer Frozen French Fries Work So Well
- Crispier than oven-baked fries
- No greasy oil like deep frying
- No soggy centers
- Faster cook time
- Minimal cleanup
- Cook straight from the freezer
Unlike oven-baked fries that can dry out before they crisp, the air fryer's circulating heat seals the outside quickly, which keeps the inside soft and fluffy.
If you like ultra-crispy potatoes made from scratch instead of frozen, check out my Extra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes.
Recipe Ingredients
You only need one thing:
- Frozen French Fries. That's it. You can use any of these: Shoestring fries, crinkle cut fries, waffle fries, steak fries, curly fries, seasoned fries, or classic straight-cut fries.
- Optional Additions: A light spray of olive oil (helps spices stick), Kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or dried herbs like thyme or rosemary.
See the printable recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Cook Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer
Step-By-Step Instructions
Preheat (Optional but Recommended). Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3-5 minutes. Preheating helps the fries crisp immediately instead of steaming.
Add Fries in a Single Layer. Place frozen fries in the basket in a single layer. Do not stack or overcrowd. If needed, cook in batches. This is the difference between crispy air fryer fries and soft ones.
Air Fry at 400°F. Cook for:
- Shoestring fries: 8-10 minutes
- Crinkle cut fries: 10-12 minutes
- Waffle fries: 15-18 minutes
- Steak fries: 12-15 minutes
- Curly fries: 12-15 minutes
Shake the basket halfway through cooking. If you want them extra crispy, add 1-2 additional minutes.
Season and Serve. Once golden brown and crispy, remove and season immediately while hot. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces and enjoy.
I've tested this method with shoestring, crinkle cut, waffle fries, and steak fries, and 400°F consistently gives the best crisp without drying out the centers.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Fries
These go with almost anything:
- Smoked Burgers or Smash Burgers
- Chicken sandwiches, wraps
- Dutch Oven Pulled Pork
- Smoked Hot Dogs
- Smoked Steak
- Breakfast plates
They're also perfect topped with cheese, sour cream, and leftover chicken for loaded fries.
Best Dipping Sauces
- Ketchup
- Smashburger Sauce
- Honey mustard
- Ranch
- BBQ sauce
- Garlic aioli
- Cheese sauce
- Gravy
Jeri's Tips for Extra Crispy Air Fryer Fries
- Add oil lightly - don't drench. Most frozen fries already contain oil from processing, so additional oil is optional. A light spray can improve browning, but it's not necessary.
- Cook in batches if needed.
- Every air fryer cooks slightly differently - watch your first batch closely.
Why Your Air Fryer Frozen Fries Aren't Crispy
The most common reasons air fryer frozen fries turn out soft:
- Basket overcrowded (air can't circulate).
- Fries overlapping (they steam instead of crisp).
- Air fryer not preheated.
- The temperature was set too low.
- Fries were freezer-burned or old.
- The basket wasn't shaken halfway through.
Storage and Reheating
If you somehow have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, air fry at 375°F for 2-3 minutes. Do not microwave (they'll go soft).
I do not recommend freezing leftovers again.
Recipe FAQs
Most fries cook at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness. Thin shoestring fries finish closer to 8-10 minutes, while thicker steak or waffle fries may take up to 18 minutes.
No. Always cook fries straight from the freezer. Thawing causes excess moisture, which makes them steam instead of crisp up.
The most common reasons are overcrowding the basket, cooking at too low a temperature, or not shaking the fries halfway through.
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Printable Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Ingredients
- 16 oz bag frozen french fries (any type: shoestring, crinkle-cut, waffle, steak, or curly)
- olive oil spray (optional)
- salt or preferred seasonings (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3-5 minutes.
- Add Fries. Place frozen fries in the basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Season. If not pre-seasoned, lightly spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt or your favorite seasoning.
- Air Fry. Cook at 400°F for 10- 15 minutes, depending on thickness:Shoestring: 8-10 minutesCrinkle-cut: 10-12 minutesSteak or waffle fries: 12-18 minutesShake the basket halfway through cooking for even crisping.
- Serve. Remove once golden brown and crispy. Season immediately while hot and serve with dipping sauce.
Video
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Notes
- Always cook fries directly from the freezer. Do not thaw.
- Do not stack or overlap fries - airflow is key to crispiness.
- Most frozen fries already contain oil from processing. Additional oil is optional but can improve browning.
- Every air fryer cooks slightly differently. Start checking at the 8-minute mark.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at 375°F for 2-3 minutes.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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