Easy Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

I love french fries and these crispy air fryer french fries are so easy to make! Plus they are healthier!

You can say I have an obsession with potatoes and of course french fries. I love them! But I don’t always want to fill up a pot with oil or my deep fryer to make them. While it is hard to beat the taste of a freshly deep-fried french fry you can get pretty close by making them in an air fryer. And these air fryer french fries are great, they are easy to make and come out crispy.

What is an air fryer and how does it cook the food?

The air fryer is essentially a mini convection oven that uses really hot air to circulate around the food and cook it. When you add a slight coating of oil on the food it “mimics” deep frying, with actually deep frying the food in all that oil. They have a coil near the top on the inside that heats up. And then a fan above it that blows air past it which heats the air.

The end result is a healthier option. They are small and compact and great for people who don’t want to turn on their oven or are limited in space. Maybe they have a small flat or an RV. The air-fryer would be perfect. You can cook most things in one.

Step 1: Gather the ingredients and tools

The ingredients and tools for this recipe are quite easy. You will need the following:

• Potatoes – Wash the potatoes and peel them if you like. I don’t always peel mine. I normally use Russet or Idaho potatoes, but you can use whatever potato you like.
• Water – The water should be cold and I always use filtered water because my tap water tastes gross.
• Salt
• Oil – this will lightly coat the potatoes helping them to get crispy and make them taste yummy. Vegetable, Peanut, Canola, Coconut, etc. are all good oil options.

Tools

• Knife or Fry Cutter – I love my fry cutter but a knife works well too, sometimes it is hard to get them all the same size with a knife.
• Air Fryer – There are a variety of brands of air fryers out there, they essentially all do the same thing. Basket size is something to keep in mind. The bigger the basket the more food you can make in it.
• Bowls
• Paper towels

Step 2: How to make easy crispy air fryer french fries

First, wash your potatoes. Then you can peel them if you like. I don’t always peel mine, I don’t mind the potato skins being on there.

Step 3: Cut the potatoes and let them soak

Now cut the potatoes either with a knife or with some sort of fry cutter. If you make french fries a lot I recommend getting a cutter. It takes a lot less time to get them into that classic fry shape. Take a large bowl and fill it with water. If the water isn’t cold add some ice cubes to it to make it nice and cold. I recommend using filtered water unless your tap water tastes good. My tap water here in Arizona is horrible. Add some salt to the water to create a brine solution. And then place the potatoes in it. Let them soak for about 30 minutes. The saltwater will pull the starch out of the potatoes. If you leave the starch in the sugars in the starch will brown way too quickly and we don’t want that. This is how we are going to get a nice crispy french fry.

Step 4: Dry the uncooked french fries and add oil

After the fries have soaked, drain the water and pour them out onto a paper towel or cloth. Dry the potatoes really well. Again this will help to get a crisper french fry. Place the potatoes into a bowl and add a tablespoon or two of oil depending on how many you have. Then use your hands and make sure everything is lightly coated with the oil. The little bit of oil will add flavor as well as help it to “fry” while in the air fryer. You can leave the oil out altogether but the end result won’t be as good.

Step 5: Using the Air Fryer to make crispy french fries

Now we need to set the temp on the air fryer to 350 F (176 C). Next, turn the timer on for 15 minutes. The air fryer will turn on at this point. You will be able to hear the fan going. While generally, it isn’t necessary to let the air fryer “preheat” I usually do for just a few minutes. After a couple of minutes slide the basket out of the air fryer and add the uncooked fries to it. Slide it back in place and let them cook for the remaining time about 12 to 13 minutes. Once the timer goes off, slide the basket out and shake it.

Step 6: Cook the french fries at a higher heat

Next, set the temp to 400 F (205 C.) And set the timer again for 15 minutes. After 10 minutes check the fries by sliding the basket out. They should be slightly golden brown. Put them back in and allow them to cook if they need more time. After they have finished cooking put them on a plate lined with paper towel/kitchen paper and add your favorite seasonings. Enjoy!

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5 from 15 votes

Easy Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

Do you love french fries but want a healthier option? Cook them in an air fryer! They are super easy to make and you don't have a bunch of oil to deal with. They get nice and crispy and are a great alternative. To be fair nothing quite compares to a nice deep-fried french fry, but these come pretty close!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American, Belgian

Keyword: air fryer, crispy, healthy, potatoes

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 226kcal

Author: Matt Taylor

Equipment

• Knife or Fry Cutter
• Air Fryer
• Bowls
• Paper towels
• Peeler

Ingredients

• 2 Potatoes washed and peeled or not peeled, I like to use Russet potatoes
• water
• salt
• 1 to 2 Tbsp. of oil

Instructions

• Wash and peel the potatoes.
• Cut the potatoes into fry shape either with a knife or fry cutter. Then place the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water with about 2 tsp. of salt. This brine solution will bring out the starch in the potatoes. Let them soak for 30 minutes.
• After they are done soaking drain them and dry them with paper towels or cloth. Place them in a bowl and pour the oil over them. Use your hands and mix them around making sure they all get lightly coated in the oil. This light coating will help them "fry" in the air fryer.
• Set the air fryer temp to 350 F (176 C). Turn the timer to 15 minutes which will also turn on the air fryer. You don't really need to let it preheat but I always do, just a couple of minutes. Then slide the basket out and place the uncooked potatoes in it. Slide the basket back into place and let them cook the rest of the time.
• After the timer goes off remove the basket, give it a good shake, then replace it in the air fryer. Set the temp to 400 F (205 C). Then set the timer for 15 minutes. After that remove the basket and dump the crispy french fries onto a plate with a paper towel. Season and serve! Enjoy.

Video

How to Make French Fries in Air Fryer

Notes

*Based on 2 medium sized potatoes. 

Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

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