Frozen fries in the air fryer make the perfect side dish! The fries come out crispy and golden brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside - everything you want in a good french fry. The great thing about this recipe is that it works with any kind of frozen fries! Serve with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce!
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French fries are one of the most popular fast food items, but they can be a bit of a hassle to make at home. To make homemade fries, you have to slice the potatoes into thin strips; then, you have to deep fry them until they're crispy.
However, when they are deep-fried in oil, they are full of fat and calories, making them unhealthy.
Luckily, there's a much easier way to make delicious fries.....in your air fryer!
The air fryer will allow you to make crispy french fries anytime you want. They are an easy side dish that goes with so many dishes.
The best part of this air fryer frozen french fries recipe is there is no slicing, no frying, and no mess! Plus, you can even add your favorite seasonings before cooking to give them an extra boost of flavor.
So next time you're craving some fries, don't reach for the phone to order takeout. Instead, pop some frozen fries into your air fryer and enjoy!
My popular sweet potato fries recipe inspired this recipe, and it is the perfect side for a Smoked Burger.
More easy air fryer recipes
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Why use an air fryer?
Who doesn't love french fries? They're salty, they're crispy, and they go with pretty much anything. Unfortunately, they're also not exactly healthy.
That's where air fryers come in. Air fryers use hot air to cook food, which means that you can enjoy all of your favorite fried foods without all of the added oil.
And when it comes to french fries, the air fryer is a game-changer. No more soggy, greasy fries - these are perfectly crisp every time.
Air fryers have revolutionized the way to make great recipes at home. Using an air fryer allows you to conveniently make different foods, such as vegetables, fish, air fryer chicken wings, and even pizza at home with excellent results.
Why this recipe works
There are plenty of reasons to love frozen fries, but did you know that you can make them even better in the air fryer? That’s right – air fryers are the best way for making crispy, delicious fries that are sure to satisfy your cravings. Here are just a few reasons why you should make frozen fries in the air fryer:
- Air frying frozen fries is an excellent way to get perfectly crispy fries with minimal effort.
- A healthier alternative to traditional fries in the deep fryer.
- These crispy air fryer fries are ideal for busy weeknights; they are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy families on the go.
- No mess and easy cleanup.
- Crispy fries without deep frying them in oil, making them much healthier. Less oil means less fat and fewer calories.
- The air fryer will cook your fries evenly, so you don’t have to worry about burnt edges or soggy centers.
- Making frozen fries in the air fryer is an easy and delicious way to enjoy your favorite comfort food.
- You are almost always guaranteed that air fryer fries will be crispy, which isn’t always the case for other methods, especially baking.
- You can add whatever seasonings you like to your fries, so they’re always flavor-packed.
- Air fryers are quick and efficient, so you won’t have to wait long for your fries to be ready.
- And last but not least, air fryers give you the perfect excuse to indulge in fried food without guilt – after all, it’s not deep-fried if it’s made in an air fryer!
Ingredients
You can find these simple ingredients at any grocery store.
- Frozen french fries: These can be any type of fries, like shoestring fries, steak fries, curly fries, tater tots, or wedge fries. I used wedge fries that were already pre-seasoned.
- Optional seasoning: Kosher salt, seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, rosemary, and ground black pepper (season to taste).
- Optional cooking spray: Use a bit of oil sprayed on the fries to help any seasonings or salt stick to the fries, if they are not preseasoned.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to cook frozen french fries in an air fryer
As mentioned, cooking frozen fries in an air fryer is really simple. All you have to do is follow these steps:
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Put the frozen fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You can then sprinkle with your desired seasonings. Shake them until they’re equally distributed.
Cook the fries for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Shake the basket or toss the fries every five minutes. If you want them to be extra crispy, you can extend the recommended cook time.
Transfer the cooked fries to a plate.
Top the golden fries with your favorite seasonings and serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Enjoy!
Substitutions
If you're in the mood for some crispy, delicious fries but don't want to deal with the hassle of deep-frying, you'll be happy to know that your air fryer can do the job.
Depending on what you have in your freezer, you can substitute different types of fries in the air fryer.
Take note that different types of fries will cook a little differently. For example, the cooking time for lattice-cut fries is different from sweet potato fries.
For your reference, here’s the cooking time for common types of fries, so you will always get the best results:
- Sweet potato fries: 16 minutes
- Crinkle cut fries: 10-12 minutes
- Waffle fries: 15-20 minutes
- Shoestring fries: 8-10 minutes
Variations
Cooking french fries using an air fryer will give you the freedom to add any french fry seasoning such as salt, garlic powder, onion powder, or even chipotle powder.
In addition to adding seasoning, you can also enjoy air fryer french fries with your favorite dipping sauce. Here are some suggestions:
- Fry sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Cheese sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Gravy
- Garlic aioli dip. To make it, combine some mayo, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Then dip away!
In addition to the sauces mentioned above, you can create your own by mixing different seasonings with ketchup and mayo.
Of course, you can never go wrong with everybody’s favorite sauce: a bowl of ketchup. 😉
What to serve with fries?
Equipment
To make this recipe, you will need an air fryer. You can use a quart air fryer or oven air fryer.
I used my Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer, a basket style, and it gives me excellent results every time. I also like to make frozen french fries in an air fryer using my Ninja Foodi.
Your air fryer will always provide extra-crispy results with proper care and maintenance.
Make sure always to consult the manual. The manual comes with air fryer instructions and crucial safety information.
Storage
When the fries are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool on a paper towel-lined plate.
Once they are cool, transfer them to an airtight container and place them in the fridge.
When you are ready to enjoy the fries again, reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes until they are warm and crispy.
Top tips
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the fries. This will help to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Don't overfill the air fryer basket, you want the air to be able to circulate around the fries.
- Shake the basket halfway through cooking to prevent sticking and promote even browning.
- Keep an eye on the fries as they cook, as cooking times may vary depending on the size and type of fryer. If you find that your fries are not cooking evenly, try flipping them over or moving them around in the basket.
- Consider the thickness of the fries. If the fries are thin or skinny, decrease the cooking time. For example, you can leave thicker fries in the air fryer for longer.
- Spray a bit of olive oil or cooking spray on the fries for extra crispness. Be careful, though; spraying too much oil will result in mushy fries, you only need a little oil.
FAQs
Cooking frozen french fries in an air fryer usually takes 10-15 minutes.
Cooking frozen fries in an air fryer is easy. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F, place the frozen fries in the basket, and cook for the recommended amount of time. You will want to toss the fries a few times during cooking to ensure even browning.
Yes, you should preheat your air fryer for frozen french fries. Preheating the air fryer will help the french fries cook evenly and ensure that they are crispy.
The temperature you should air fry frozen french fries at is 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
More french fry recipes
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📋 Recipe
Easy Frozen Fries in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz bag frozen french fries or desired amount
- seasonings to taste optional
- olive oil spray optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Put the frozen fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- If they are not preseasoned, spray lightly with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Sprinkle on desired seasonings.
- Shake the basket until they are distributed equally.
- Cook the fries for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Shake the basket or toss the fries every five minutes. If you want them to be extra crispy, you can extend the recommended cook time.
- Transfer the cooked fries to a plate.
- Top the golden fries with your favorite seasonings and serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the fries. This will help to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Don't overfill the air fryer basket, you want the air to be able to circulate around the fries.
- Shake the basket halfway through cooking to prevent sticking and promote even browning.
- Keep an eye on the fries as they cook, as cooking times may vary depending on the size and type of fryer. If you find that your fries are not cooking evenly, try flipping them over or moving them around in the basket.
- Consider the thickness of the fries. If the fries are thin or skinny, decrease the cooking time. For example, you can leave thicker fries in the air fryer for longer.
- Spray a bit of olive oil or cooking spray on the fries for extra crispness. Be careful, though; spraying too much oil will result in mushy fries, you only need a little oil.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
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