Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

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

How to make this recipe

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

1. Preheat: Start by preheating your Air fryer. Some models like the Philips Air Fryer don’t need to be preheated. Refer to your manual.
2. Add Fries: Add fries to the Air Fryer. Make sure air can still circulate.
3. Air Fry: Cook, shaking the basket or tossing the fries every 5 minutes for best results.
4. Season: When the fries have reached your desired crispiness, take them out, put them in a bowl, and season them to taste with salt.

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 to shake 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

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.

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