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The ultimate guide for making frozen french fries in the Air Fryer! Air Fryer french fries are perfectly crispy and so fast to make. You’ll never cook them any other way!
Who doesn’t love french fries?! They make an easy side dish that everyone loves, and they go with nearly anything. But making them in the oven often results in limp, uneven cooked fries, that take forever to bake.
What if I told you there was a faster, easier, and overall more delicious way? The Air Fryer is perfect for making a big batch and the fries get super crispy all around, and they cook so much faster than in the oven.
Once you’ve made them in your Air Fryer, you’ll never look back! If you’re looking for homemade fries made in the air fryer, check out our Air Fryer French Fries and Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
Why make them in the Air Fryer
- Same crispiness and taste as deep-fried french fries but healthier
- Fries get crispier and cook more evenly than in the oven
- Done in less than 15 minutes
- No additional oil needed
Seasoning Ideas
Frozen french fries come already par-cooked (partially cooked), seasoned, and coated in oil, so technically you don’t have to season them, but I prefer to add some extra flavor after cooking. Here are a few ideas:
- Salt – Normal salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt, or seasoned salt all work. The finer the salt, the better it will stick. Always salt after cooking!
- Pepper – I love a hint of pepper on my fries!
- Garlic or onion powder – Add lots of flavor
- Cayenne pepper or Chipotle powder – For some extra heat!
- Cajun seasoning – Savory flavor with a little hit
Expert Tips
- I recommend salting the fries after frying them, just before serving and not before. Fries can turn limp and lose their crispiness if salted too soon.
- The finer the salt the better it sticks, I recommend using a salt grinder
- Don’t overcrowd the basket! The larger the basket, the more fries you can cook, but I recommend not to fill the basket more than half or three-quarters for the best results (But no need to put the fries in a single layer!)
- The fuller the basket, the more often I recommend shaking it so the fries cook evenly
- Shake the basket every 5 minutes during cooking so the fries cook evenly
- Depending on the brand of air fryer you use, how large your basket is, and how full you fill the basket, the fries might take shorter or longer to cook
- Toaster oven style air fryers usually take longer to cook, the cooking time will increase by 5–10 minutes
- You can find the timings for sweet potato, lattice cut, crinkle cut, and shoestring fries in the recipe card
- I’ve tested this method in 3 different air fryers: Ninja Foodi, Ninja Foodi Grill, and Philips Viva Turbo Star
Recipe FAQs
This depends on the air fryer you use and how full the basket is. In general, you cook frozen french fries for about 10–15 minutes at 400 F.
French fries made in the Air Fryer are healthier than deep-fried french fries or fries from a fast-food restaurant.
No, you should not defrost french fries before frying them in the Air Fryer. Just transfer them directly from the freezer to the air fryer.
No, there is no need to add extra oil or even spray the basket with oil when making store-bought frozen french fries because they are already coated in oil in the factory.
How to reheat fries in the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Put the leftover fries in the basket but don’t fill the basket more than half full for the best result.
Reheat the french fries for about 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Keep an eye on them, so they don’t get burned.
Looking for more Air Fryer recipes?
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Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen french fries, depending on you Air Fryer capacity
- 1 tsp salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Place the frozen fries in the Air Fryer basket and give them a shake so they are distributed evenly.
- Cook the fries for 10–15 minutes, shaking the basket or tossing the fries every 5 minutes. Add more time depending on your desired crispiness.
- Transfer fries to a bowl, sprinkle with salt or your favorite seasoning, and toss. Serve immediately.
Notes
- I recommend salting the fries after frying them, just before serving and not before. Fries can turn limp and lose their crispiness if salted too soon.
- The finer the salt, the better it sticks, I recommend using a salt grinder
- Don’t overcrowd the basket! The larger the basket, the more fries you can cook, but I recommend not to fill the basket more than half or three-quarters for the best results (But no need to put the fries in a single layer!)
- The fuller the basket, the more often I recommend shaking it so the fries cook evenly
- Shake the basket every 5 minutes during cooking so the fries cook evenly
- Depending on the brand of air fryer you use, how large your basket is, and how full you fill the basket, the fries might take shorter or longer to cook
- Toaster oven style air fryers usually take longer to cook, the cooking time will increase by 5–10 minutes. Same for Air Fryers with low watt power, they will also usually take a few minutes longer.
- I’ve tested this method in 3 different air fryers: Ninja Foodi, Ninja Foodi Grill, and Philips Viva Turbo Star
Timings for different fries
- Lattice Cut Fries:Â 10-11 minÂ
- Crinkle-Cut/Waffle Fries: 10-11 min
- Sweet Potato Fries: 16 min
- Shoestring Fries: 8-10 min
- 5 Minute Fries: 4–5 mins
Perfect every time. Julia is the best. Wish she had a twin.
The healthiest, easiest and best recipe for cooking frozen (skinny) fries in my “toaster oven” style air fryer. I took the racks out and preheated the oven (400°). I didn’t use oil but I used 2 racks instead of piling the fries up on one rack. I “fluffed” up both racks after 7 minutes and cooked for a total of 15 minutes. Placed them in a bowl, salted and served 4 people. YUM😋
I just bought a ex-large air fryer from Amazon. It is Ignited brand. It is a 26.4 capacity. Has a led front so no knobs to clean. Has a built in crumb catcher. It comes with all trays and a small recipe booklet. The price is $119.99. It is amazing. And a bit cheaper than the one you want. Take a look on Amazon. Thanks for your great recipes!!