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If you haven’t made air fryer French fries yet, grab a few potatoes and follow this easy recipe. These freshly sliced potatoes cook to a perfect crisp, creating a snack everyone will love.
French fries are a versatile side dish that complements any meal, and these air fryer fries are so delicious, you’ll want to serve them all the time.
Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
Our family loves French fries, and this air fryer version is a game changer. We make them so much, it almost seems like we have a constant bag of potatoes on hand. And they always disappear as fast as they come out of the air fryer.
The fries turn out SO crispy in my Cosori 5.8 Quart Air Fryer. And the best part about making them in the air fryer, is they don’t have the excess grease.
If you enjoy this recipe, you might also like our air fryer sweet potato fries, crispy air fryer chicken tenders, or spicy air fryer buffalo cauliflower.
If you love French fries, you might also like:
- air fryer onion rings– You only need a few basic ingredients, and you can make the best air fryer onion rings in no time!
- air fryer tater tots– These crispy tater tots are perfect for anyone who is new at Air Frying and looking to try something easy.
- air fryer pizza rolls– These crispy pizza rolls will make everyone happy, whether they are for the big game, an after school snack, or as a meal!
Important Tip:
Soaking the potatoes in water is the most important part of the recipe for crispy fries. It removes the starch, which helps them become crispy. Don’t skip this step, or your fries can be soft or soggy.
Related recipes: Check out our air fryer zucchini fries, air fryer frozen onion rings, air fryer Brussels sprouts, air fryer fish sticks, air fryer baked potatoes, and air fryer frozen meatballs.
If you’re cooking them from frozen, you can read this post on how to make frozen French fries in the air fryer.
Why You’re Going to Love This
- Use less oil air frying so French fries are crispy and less greasy.
- Easy to make, with just a few simple ingredients.
- Golden fries whenever you want them without the hassle of deep frying.
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes: Perfect for air frying because of the amount of starch content. Idaho potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes also work well.
- Olive Oil: Helps fries get the crispy texture.
- Kosher Salt: Adds the salty flavor to the fries.
- Ground Black Pepper: Optional- adds a touch of spice.
Sauces: Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like ketchup, ranch, or BBQ. If you prefer, you can also sprinkle with cheeses like cheddar or parmesan cheese before serving.
Click Here to Get the Top Ten Air Fryer Questions Answered
How to Make Air Fryer French Fries
Start by peeling and washing 3-4 medium Russet potatoes. Slice them into strips about ½ inch in thickness.
Place the potato slices in a medium bowl, filled with very cold water, (you can even add a couple of ice cubes if necessary), and let them soak for at least 30-60 minutes. The water will turn white from the excess starch.
After they are done soaking, drain the water and then pat them dry with paper towels. Lightly coat the potato slices with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Place the fries in the air fryer basket, in a single layer, without overcrowding. If they can’t fit in the basket, work in batches so the air flow can crisp them up properly.
Air fry at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for about 14 minutes, tossing halfway through. Adjust the cooking time based on your preferred level of crispiness. Then repeat with the remaining batch.
What to Serve with Air Fryer French Fries
These fries pair perfectly with a variety of dishes. So you can try them with our juicy air fryer burgers, air fryer hot dogs, air fryer steak, or this air fryer tuna melt.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes, or until crispy.
MORE AIR FRYER FRENCH FRY RECIPES:
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Air Fryer Frozen Curly Fries
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Air Fryer Truffle Fries
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Red Robin Steak Fries in the Air Fryer
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Air Fryer Home Fries
Making homemade French fries in the air fryer has never been easier! And because they go with almost everything, you’ll be making them all the time!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.
Air Fryer French Fries
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 medium Russet Potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Peel and wash each potato. Slice them into strips, about 1/2 inch in thickness.
- In a medium bowl, soak the cut potatoes in cold water for at least 30-60 minutes.
- After they have soaked, drain the water from the bowl. Add the olive oil to the fries, tossing them until they have been lightly coated with oil.
- Place half of the fries in the air fryer basket, without having them touch or overlap.
- Air fry at 380 degrees F for about 14 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking. You can add an additional minute or two, depending on your preferred crispness.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
FAQs
How much oil do I need to use for air fryer French fries? You only need about one tablespoon of olive oil. Just toss the cut pieces until they are lightly coated, and then place them in the basket.
How do I make my fries crispy? Soaking them in the cold water removes the starch, which helps them become crispy. After soaking, be sure to pat them dry, and then toss them with 1-2 tablespoons of oil to help them get crispy while air frying.
Hi ladies, I followed your simple directions on how to air-fry a T-Bone steak. It was delicious! Thanks! Lloyd
Thanks for letting us know! So glad you liked it!
Out of all the recipes saying
to soak cut fries for an hour in water, not one has stated to pat dry potatoes prior to spritzing with oil.
I feel this is an important step and may cause for failure of the fries.
Thank you for clarifying this important step.
You are so welcome! Thank you for the feedback!
Do I dry potatoes b4 adding oil?
Hi Lindy. I pat them dry and then add the olive oil. Hope that helps.
I did everything it called for. Soaked in cold water for 30 minutes, coated in olive oil and salted . They came out limp and soft
Hi Bonnie! What type of air fryer do you use? All air fryers cook a bit differently. Your brand of air fryer may not cook as powerful as our brand we use. Our brand we use cooks at 1700 watts. If you’re using a smaller air fryer that cooks at let’s say 1000 watts, or 1400 watts, you will definitely need to add additional time to this recipe. 🙂 Hope that helps! (That’s usually the issue!)
Step 4, why half?
I only air fry half at a time so you don’t overcrowd the basket and they cook more evenly.