Crispy and delicious air fryer frozen french fries are so good, you'll swear they are from your favorite fast food restaurant! Less calories and no frying and you still get the best golden outside and soft inside that makes for such a salty & delicious side dish! Quick, easy and family approved in less than 20 minutes!
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Goodbye mushy fries, hello crispy deliciousness! These semi-homemade McDonald's imitators will have you saying goodbye to drive through fries and any cooking method other than air frying!
It's no surprise that I'd recommend this cooking method. After all, breakfast potatoes, sweet potatoes, and even homemade potato wedges taste better this way.
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to make for a fast weeknight meal! The perfect side dish to chicken nuggets.
- Make them without soaking! Use store bought instead of homemade and they are ready to fry straight from frozen.
- Simple ingredients with oil (I recommend olive oil), sea salt and your favorite store bought shoestrings, steak, crinkle or even waffle fries work!
- Without oil these fries can be made with less fat and calories than those fried in oil.
- Taste just like McDonald's fast food version! My picky kids actually said this!
- Healthier than those fried in oil!
- Crispy fast-food style fries in less time than the oven!
Ingredients You Need
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Frozen french fries: I tested shoestring, steak and crinkle cut fries, see recipe card for individual time and temp. Any brand works, however I like Whole Foods and Alexia brands.
How to Make This Recipe
This is a step by step walkthrough of how to cook this recipe. Exact cook time and temperatures are available in the recipe card at the bottom.
Spray your basket with cooking spray (I like to use coconut oil spray so it does not damage the basket.) Air fry at 400F for 13-15 minutes for shoestring fries (additional fry cuts time and temperature listed in recipe card), shaking a few times during cooking.
Carefully remove hot fries from basket and drizzle with 2 teaspoon olive oil and salt to taste. Use a spatula or tongs to carefully coat the fries and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- If you do not have a rotating basket be sure to shake the basket a few times (at least once, halfway) during cooking.
- Oil & season fries after they cook and serve immediately for ultimate freshness, texture and deep fried (but healthier!) taste.
- Adjust the cooking time as needed for thicker fries (they make take longer) or thinner fries (they make take less time).
- Salt fries after air frying to maintain crispiness.
- Serve hot with ketchup, fry sauce or your favorite dipping sauce!
FAQs
Any kind of french fries you like, as long as they are made with white potatoes. I haven't made these yet with sweet potatoes or seasoned ones.
Skinny french fries like shoestring are great but will cook faster than thick fries like crinkle or steak fries. Cook time should be on the lower end of the recommendation time to keep them from burning.
I tested this recipe in the Ultrean air fryer and had no issues. Although other models have different specifications, I believe making them in an Instant Vortex, Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ninja Foodi will work well. Be sure to keep an eye on them the first time making the to ensure they do not burn in your specific model
Shoestrings can take as little as 13 minutes and steak fries can take as long as 20. Start on the low end and add time as needed until you get the texture you want.
Generally follow this guide: shoestring: 13-15 minutes, crinkle: 15-17 minutes, steak: 17-20 minutes.
I've made them preheating and not and if you do preheat be sure to watch the times even closer! Preheating may result in shorter cook time.
Related Recipes
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Crispy Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz bag Shoestring french fries See notes for cook time for other fry types
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Spray your basket with cooking spray (I like to use coconut oil spray so it does not damage the basket.) Air fry at 400F for 13-15 minutes for shoestring fries (additional fry cuts time and temperature listed in recipe card), shaking a few times during cooking.
- Carefully remove hot fries from basket and drizzle with 2 teaspoon olive oil and salt to taste. Use a spatula or tongs to carefully coat the fries and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you do not have a rotating basket be sure to shake the basket a few times (at least once, halfway) during cooking.
- Oil & season fries after they cook and serve immediately for ultimate freshness, texture and deep fried (but healthier!) taste.
- Adjust the cooking time as needed for thicker fries (they make take longer) or thinner fries (they make take less time).
- Salt fries after air frying to maintain crispiness.
- Serve hot with ketchup, fry sauce or your favorite dipping sauce!
- Recommended cooking times for other types of fries:
Generally follow this guide: shoestring: 13-15 minutes, crinkle: 15-17 minutes, steak: 17-20 minutes.
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