The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries – delicious, crispy and crunchy french fries that taste just like your favorite restaurant – but a healthier french fry you can feel good about serving your family.
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Perfect, Easy Air Fryer Fries
This recipe will get you delicious crispy fries that cook in about 15 minutes – right in your air fryer basket for easy cleanup! If you can cut potatoes, you can master this easy method to cook the fries in an air fryer – without deep frying.
This recipe is incredibly indulgent and delicious – with a fraction of the oil of regular fries. We’re also using olive oil, for an omega 3 packed oil that is healthier than vegetable oil like a deep fryer.
This recipe is one of my favorite recipes to use with my Ninja Foodi – just like my popular air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe, and Air Fryer Steaks recipe, Air Fryer Tri Tip Steak, and Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak that all do really well in an instant pot with a crisping lid! For another take on these fries, be sure to check out my Lemon Garlic Air Fryer French Fries – the lemon pepper and garlic seasoning can’t be beat!
This french fry recipe uses an air fryer – but is the exact same recipe as my Crunchy Baked French Fries Recipe – a top post on Sweet C’s since 2011!
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
How To Air Fry French Fries
An air fryer is a medium sized kitchen appliance that is easy to use with a ton of different foods. Air fryers provide lightning quick cook times and easy cleanup – with about 2 tablespoons of oil instead of quarts like a traditional deep fryer. They are a bit of a misnomer – as they don’t actually fry anything – and instead work more as a small convection-like appliance.
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- 3 large russet potatoes – we love russets for their rich, buttery taste, and how the starch works to puff and crisp perfectly in the air fryer. Russet potatoes have the classic, rich, potatoey flavor everyone loves. You can peel the potatoes or leave the peel on – but be sure to wash it well.
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil – use a good quality olive oil that you love the flavor of. You can change up the flavor of your fries by using flavored oils like garlic oil, chile oil, etc.
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste – I like to finish fries with either maldon salt or powdered salt for the light, salty flavor that distributes evenly.
- Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes into fries. I don’t worry too much about the size of fry I am making- some are bigger, and some are smaller. That’s fine!
- Next, place your spuds in a nice cool water bath. Completely submerge the fries in water.
- Let fries sit one hour. This helps to remove excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the oven.
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees.
- After an hour, drain the water, and pat fries dry with a paper towel.
- Toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Add fries to bottom of air fryer basket, making sure they are all on the same level (don’t stack them on top of each other.)
- Cook 13 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and a cooling rack over it.
- Place in warm oven (set to the minimum temperature, not over 250 degrees) and let rest while other batches of fries are cooking.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Tips to Perfect Air Fried French Fries & FAQs
Season fries. This recipe is so delicious because it can be made with all sorts of different flavors and seasonings to customize to your preferences – try some of these easy ideas, or come up with your own!
- Onion powder or garlic powder over oiled fries for a bit more flavor.
- Herbs de provence salt for a rustic French twist.
- Cajun seasoning sprinkled over fries gives a spicy Five Guys like french fry flavor – straight from your air fryer.
- Brush fries in the final 15 minutes of baking time with butter, diced garlic, and finely diced parsley for sinfully rich garlic butter fries.
Use Russet Potatoes. Russet potatoes give a classic french fry flavor. Leave skins on, but be sure to wash potatoes well and scrub off any excess dirt, remove any eyes or bruises.
Use a mandoline to cut fries. Cut potatoes with a mandoline for easy, perfect sticks that will crisp up well.
Soak fries. Make sure your fries soak for at least one hour in a large bowl of cold water – preferably changing the water after 20 minutes or 30 minutes with fresh new cold water. Soaking in water helps remove some of the starch, which will help them crisp up better!
Dry fries well after soaking. Make sure your fries are very very dry after soaking. Pat them with paper towels or a clean dish towel to be sure there is no residual moisture. Wet fries = soggy fries.
Cook in Single Layer. Allowing fries to have room away from each other while air frying helps them cook faster and get crunchier. Fries that have plenty of space to cook should not stick to the air fryer basket and should come out with a gentile shaking of the basket. Sometimes I will add more fries to the basket and simply increase cook time a few minutes, shaking often to make sure the heat is evenly distributed.
Adjust cooktime as needed. I watch my french fries closely while cooking, and make adjustments as needed. Every oven and air fryer is different, and I’ve noticed a ton of things impact cook time and even something as small as the humidity in the air can impact cook time.
Rest air fries in warm oven. I line a baking sheet with paper towels and place a cooling rack over it. When each batch is done from the air fryer, I toss them on the cooling rack and pop the baking sheet in the oven. I set the oven as low as possible – about 200-250 degrees at the most- to keep the fries warm.
This also lets any excess oil drip off, and prevents fries from becoming cold or soggy.
What Air Fryer To Use. As far as what kind of air fryer you can use to make french fries, it truly is anything goes – but the hotter you can get your air fryer, the better! I have a Phillips Air Fryer I got from my parents – and we’re loving it! Click here to buy a crisping lid for your instant pot. If you need to buy an Instant Pot Duo Crisp click here – to buy a crisping lid, click here.
Recipe FAQs
Air fryer french fries take about 20 minutes to cook.
This recipe was designed after testing in the Instant Pot Air fryer, Instant Pot with Crisping Lid broiler function, Ninja Foodi + Broiler lid, and the Phillips Air Fryer. Cooktime was slightly different with each appliance, but each resulted in perfect air fryer fries. Check fries as you cook to make sure they are done to your preference!
We personally love the classic potato flavor of russet potatoes for this recipe, but Yukon Golds work well too.
While you can skip soaking your potatoes before frying, the potatoes will have a harder time crisping up since they won’t have given off some of their starch. Letting potatoes release starch helps them crisp and allows the outside to get crunchy while still light and airy inside!
For this recipe it is essential to pat potatoes dry of any water so that the olive oil can stick to the potatoes and help crisp them up without getting soggy.
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re looking for other delicious, easy air fryer sides like these french fries, be sure to check out our Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak Recipe, Air Fryer Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, The Best Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe, Air Fryer Pumpkin Bundt Cake, Air Fryer Naked Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Salsa Chicken Thighs Recipe, The Best Air Fryer Bacon Recipe and some of our recent favorite air fryer recipes below:
To find our entire air fryer recipe index, click here.
The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
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The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - delicious, crispy and crunchy french fries that taste just like your favorite restaurant - but a healthier french fry you can feel good about serving your family.
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes into fries. I don't worry too much about the size of fry I am making- some are bigger, and some are smaller. That's fine!
- Next, place your spuds in a nice cool water bath. Completely submerge the fries in water.
- Let fries sit one hour. This helps to remove excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the oven.
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees.
- After an hour, drain the water, and pat fries dry with a paper towel.
- Toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Add fries to bottom of air fryer basket, making sure they are all on the same level (don't stack them on top of each other.)
- Cook 13 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and a cooling rack over it.
- Place in warm oven (set to the minimum temperature, not over 250 degrees) and let rest while other batches of fries are cooking.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra expense to you.
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Maldon Salt, Sea Salt Flakes, 8.5 oz (240 g), Kosher, Natural, Handcrafted, Gourmet, Pyramid Crystals -
StarPack Basics Silicone Kitchen Tongs for Cooking Set (9" & 12" Cherry Red) - Stainless Steel Tongs for Cooking with Silicone Tips - Non-Stick & Grill Safe, High Heat Resistant Silicone Tongs (480°F)
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Instant Vortex Plus 10 Quart Air Fryer, Rotisserie and Convection Oven, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and Warm, 1500W, Stainless Steel and Black
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Ninja OL501 Foodi 6.5 Qt. 14-in-1 Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid, that Air Fries, Proofs & More, with 2-Layer Capacity, 4.6 Qt. Crisp Plate & 25 Recipes, Silver/Black
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Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 4QT Air Fryer Oven Combo (Free App With 90 Recipes), Customizable Smart Cooking Programs, Nonstick and Dishwasher-Safe Basket, Stainless Steel
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Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, 4 Qt, Black/gray
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 205Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 0mgSodium 70mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 3gSugar 2gProtein 4g
Janice Sailor
AAAAAMMMMMAAAAAZZZZZIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!
I added Lawery’s seasoning also….
So So So Good
Great start to the weekend.
Friday night:
Veggie Burgers
Your amazing recipe for fries
Cold Modelo Beer…
Hubby and I are happy.
Keep posting sister!
Blessings
Foodie
I didn’t think this was a dissertation at all and enjoyed reading it while eating an in n out burger and lamenting at the fact my well done fries were inhaled too quickly. 🙁
I am a air fryer maven and I vaguely remember this recipe for some delicious air fried french fries along with delicious sweet potato fries.
I like my fries spiralized, thin, and curly so I’ll buy russets next time and whip up a batch of these bad boys
Boris
Okay, sorry, that was a bit rude. Sorry about that.
Emily
Great recipe, Courtney! Don’t pay attention to the negative comments on this post; I can only imagine the amount of time you spend working on your free recipes. I believe that the vegetable slicer I used made my fries a little too thin for my liking (but you obviously had nothing to do with that!), other than that, your recipe’s guaranteed crispiness and tastiness definitely delivered! I’ll be looking forward to trying out more from your blog. Have a great evening. 🙂
April
Made these tonight. They were perfect. Thank you so much for the recipe and the extra tips! I had no idea I needed to soak the potatoes in cold water beforehand. It made a huge difference! Thanks again!
Mike
I wish you would shut up and share your recipe already. That’s why we clicked.
Courtney ODell
I wish you’d click the “skip to recipe” button right at the very top or the clickable table of contents – both of which take you directly to the recipe – instead of complaining about me adding information numerous people ask me for because they’d like more help in the kitchen.
Linda Schott
I love what I call the ‘front material’. Thank you for it.
Linda Swoveland
Mike what a ride person you are, you should be ashamed of yourself. I appreciate all of the tips that are given to help me. If you know so much that you don’t need the expert advice then just do your cooking and leave the rest of us alone.
I’m new to the world of air frying and I certainly appreciate your hints and tips. Even though I’m an experienced cook, I didn’t know what kind of potatoes to use to make the best fries. Didn’t know that I need to soak them in cold water for an hour and dry them well before frying.
You made my first attempt at air fryer french fries a huge success. Thank you for all of your extremely helpful hints and tips.
Pay absolutely no attention to rude people.
Ellie
You’re hella rude and impatient for no reason lol! Don’t be in this recipe page if you can’t even have the patience to read. Wondering if your fries ever came out right with your lack of patience.
I Hate Rude Jerks
Look at you wanting all the free labour. How about you come up with your own recipes, or let this person get paid?
Mikesadick
Wow–you are a POS
Katie
What a jerky comment, Mike. What good have YOU done for the world for free? It’s not too late to be a positive contributor. Get on it, dude! You’ll be a happier human.
Ryan
When you have your website mike, you can do as you wish. Until then, shut your mouth. This is a FREE recipe, and you should show more gratitude for someone willing to put the time in to create recipes for ungrateful ghouls like you.
John Gilmet
Very rude Mike. Go find another page. I enjoy the write ups, tips etc
Dawn
Thank you for this recipe and the Extra tips and tricks. We just got an air fryer and our first batch of fries was not what I wanted it to be. This recipe rocks!
Ed
Great recipe! It’s only two of us and the ninja Fryer is super for us French fry-lovers. I thought your comments were exceptional considering we’re just beginners and need to understand the ‘whys’. An we’re new to air fryers. Thank you!
Nicole
Mine came out perfect. Thanks for the tips. To some it may have seemed long and arduous but I think it helped my fries come out yummy. I did shake Basket a few times while frying and did more than a layer but still came out very good. Kid and husband approved. I have a Phillips air fryer.
Dave
I have an air fryer and it’s a small one. You don’t have to do them in small batches if you pull the drawer out a few timers while air frying. Just shake it a few times to rotate the fries around. You can make a big or small batch this way. I hope this helps some people.
Ross
Tried your recipe, and several variations. Soggy fries. I am new to this device, but so far am thoroughly disappointed.
Pat
I received a Philips XXL turbo avance and am on a learning curve, so I appreciate your input in my learning experience!
Andy
I for one cannot stand these insanely long dissertations for something as simple as making French fries! You have to scroll, and scroll and SCROLL! just to get to the actual recipe for crying out loud! Give me a break! This isn’t Beef Wellington it’s just a French fry!
Courtney ODell
You can click the “skip to recipe” button in the top left corner if you don’t want the extra information.
Gaga
Says a person who doesn’t like to waste time, then writes a lengthy comment, wasting time.
Jean
Awesome recipe. I didn’t have time to soak them and I thought they still turned out great. Just did a quick rinse in cold water and dried them.
Thank you for sharing!
Truth
Yes, what is with these bloggers who think we want the history of the potato before the recipe?
Jill
Some considerations: https://mashable.com/article/why-are-there-long-stories-on-food-blogs/
Carolyn
Just wanted to thank Jill for posting that article, it was an interesting read and made a lot of good points.
Sally
Some people are just SO RUDE! She is putting out free content and as a thanks she has to read all of your trashy rude comments. Honestly… Go to a bookstore and buy a cookbook instead. Just because you are misserable, you don’t have to suck the creativity and positive energy out of everyone.
Kimberley White
This is how she makes her income. There is a button to take you to the recipe.
By the way, I made these tonight and they were fantastic!!!
Victoria
Andy, CHILL. She is putting this out for free, you entitled jerk. Also, if you took a second to read the content you scrolled through, you’d see they were tips to HELP YOU.
Dallas
There w is a button at the top that says “Jump to Recipe” it’s a lifesaver. I do agree though, no need for a life story before a recipe.
Courtney ODell
The life story is all answers to questions I get on this recipe. If I don’t put it in the post, people don’t see it and complain. If I do, people hurl insults at me and complain. Can’t win when posting FREE recipes.
Kimberley White
I appreciate the work you put into it, and am thankful for the FREE recipes!
Mike
First let me thank you for this recipe, I do appreciate the time you took to do this. However, I don’t think I’m going to like my new air fryer, which is similar to yours. I bought my air fryer because I thought it would cook quicker and be healthier. I suppose it is healthier, but quicker it is not. Look at your picture, in order for me to feed my family an order of french fries, I would have to cook for about 2 hours (3 adults and 3 children). I’m not sure this is the way to go, because you can’t cook big enough portions for a family. For one person, it’s probably great. This is the first recipe I’m going to try in my new fryer but I’m just cooking one fryer layer just to try it out. Thank you.
Courtney ODell
I totally get that, Mike. It’s a problem for sure. I just bought a bigger air fryer to see if I can do faster batches with more.
Marilyn Tolan
I only have Yukon God potatoes. Can I use those? TY.
Courtney ODell
Yes! They will have a different taste, but they still work!