Air Fryer Frozen French Fries: Do They Work?

Air fryers have become a popular way to cook frozen French fries, as they produce a crispy, golden finish without the need for deep frying in oil. The process is simple: place the desired amount of frozen fries into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out evenly. Depending on the air fryer model, you may need to preheat it to around 200°C (400°F) for 3-5 minutes. Then, cook the fries for 10–20 minutes at a similar temperature, shaking the basket every 5 minutes or so to ensure even cooking. Once the fries are golden and crispy, they are ready to be served and seasoned to taste.

How long to cook frozen French fries in an air fryer

Pre-air fryer preparation

Before you start cooking your frozen French fries in an air fryer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you don't need to defrost the French fries before cooking them. Simply take them out of the freezer and follow the steps below.

Air fryer preparation

Start by preheating your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 3-5 minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, take out your bag of frozen French fries. It's recommended to use a 16-ounce bag of frozen French fries for this. If you have a bigger bag, you'll need to cook the fries in batches.

Cooking the fries

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook the fries. Place the frozen fries in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket as this can lead to uneven cooking and soggy fries. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fries in multiple batches.

After placing the fries in the basket, lightly spray them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt to taste. You can also use seasoning salt for extra flavour.

Now, it's time to air fry the fries. Set the temperature to 400°F and cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, shake the basket to ensure even cooking and cook for an additional 5-8 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. For crispier fries, cook for a further 3-5 minutes.

Serving the fries

Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately. You can sprinkle them with additional seasonings, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika, to enhance the flavour.

Tips for the best air fryer frozen fries

• Shake it up: Be sure to gently toss the fries halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and crispiness. You can also rotate the fries by moving the bottom ones to the top.
• Don't overfill: Avoid filling your air fryer more than half to 3/4 full. While you don't need to arrange the fries in a single layer, overcrowding the basket can lead to undercooked fries.
• Adjust cooking time: Depending on the thickness and type of fry, you may need to increase or decrease the cooking time. Thicker fries may require a longer cooking time for crispiness.
• Different types of fries: Keep in mind that different types of fries will have slightly different cooking times. For example, crinkle-cut or waffle fries may take 10-11 minutes, while sweet potato fries may take 16 minutes.
• Shake the basket regularly: To ensure even cooking and prevent the fries from sticking together, shake the air fryer basket every 5 minutes or so during the cooking process.
• Don't use extra oil: Frozen French fries are typically pre-coated in oil, so adding extra oil is unnecessary and may affect the crispiness of the final product.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to cook delicious, crispy frozen French fries in your air fryer. Enjoy your homemade, healthy treat!

Do you need to defrost frozen French fries before putting them in an air fryer?

No, you don't need to defrost frozen French fries before putting them in an air fryer. In fact, cooking them from frozen is recommended to achieve the best results. Air fryers use hot air to cook food, and frozen French fries will benefit from this as the hot air will cook them evenly and make them crispy on the outside while keeping them soft on the inside.

How to Cook Frozen French Fries in an Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 360-400°F (180-200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
• Place the frozen French fries in the air fryer basket. Spread them out in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
• Spray the French fries with olive oil or cooking spray (optional). Frozen French fries are usually pre-coated with oil, so this step is not necessary, but it can help to make them crispier.
• Cook the French fries at a high temperature for 10-20 minutes, depending on the desired crispiness. Shake the basket every 5 minutes or so to ensure even cooking and to prevent sticking.
• Once the French fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Tips for Cooking Frozen French Fries in an Air Fryer

• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed to ensure even cooking.
• Shake the basket regularly during cooking to prevent sticking and to ensure all sides of the French fries are cooked evenly.
• Adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness and type of French fry. Thinner fries, such as shoestring or waffle fries, will cook faster than thicker ones like steak or crinkle-cut fries.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of French fries, seasonings, and dips to find your perfect combination.

What temperature to cook frozen French fries in an air fryer

Air-fried French fries are a healthier alternative to deep-fried ones, and they taste just as good! You can use an air fryer to cook frozen French fries, and they will turn out crispy, crunchy, fluffy, and soft. The cooking time and temperature will depend on the type of French fries and the model of the air fryer. However, the general temperature range is between 360-400°F (180-200°C).

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 360-400°F (180-200°C) for 3-5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Frozen French Fries

Place the desired amount of frozen French fries in the air fryer basket. It is important not to overcrowd the basket, so cook in batches if needed to ensure even cooking and crispiness. Spread the fries in a single layer and spray them lightly with olive oil or avocado oil to help the salt stick. You can also experiment with other oils and cooking sprays.

Step 3: Cook the French Fries

Air fry the frozen French fries for 10-20 minutes, depending on the type of fry and your desired crispiness level. Shake the basket every 5 minutes or halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Season and Serve

Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and season with salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika to taste. You can also sprinkle with seasoning salt. Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauces, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, chilli sauce, cheese sauce, or ranch dressing.

Tips for the Best Results:

• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• Shake the basket regularly during cooking to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
• The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fries and your desired level of crispiness, so keep an eye on them and adjust the timing accordingly.
• Different types of fries will have different cooking times. For example, crinkle-cut/waffle fries may take 10-11 minutes, while sweet potato fries may take 16 minutes.
• You can experiment with different oils and seasonings to find your preferred taste and texture.
• You don't need to defrost the French fries before cooking them in the air fryer.
• For homemade fries, parboil the potatoes before air frying for the best results.

How to make frozen French fries crispy in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Frozen French fries
• Salt to taste (seasoned salt is recommended)
• Olive oil spray

Method:

• Place your frozen fries in the air fryer basket. It is important not to overcrowd the basket, so depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook your fries in batches. Spread them out in a single layer to ensure they cook evenly.
• Lightly spray the fries with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
• Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes.
• Shake the basket and cook for a further 5-8 minutes, or until done to your liking. The longer you cook the fries, the crispier they will become.

Tips:

• Shake it up: Toss the fries gently halfway through cooking to ensure they cook evenly and get crispy on all sides.
• Don't overfill: Do not fill your air fryer more than half to 3/4 full to avoid overcrowding, which can result in undercooked fries.
• Crispier: Depending on the thickness and type of fry, you may need to adjust the cooking time. Thinner fries will take less time to cook.
• Single layer: For best results, spread the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This allows hot air to circulate around each fry, ensuring they become crispy.
• Preheat: Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding the fries. This helps to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• Seasonings: Experiment with different seasonings such as paprika, onion powder, or cayenne pepper for added flavour.
• Dips: Serve your crispy fries with a variety of dips such as ranch dressing, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or a homemade fry sauce.

Can you put oil on frozen French fries in an air fryer?

Yes, you can put oil on frozen French fries in an air fryer. However, it is not necessary, and there are differing opinions on whether it improves the taste or texture of the fries. Some people say that a light coating of oil helps the fries to brown better and can make them crispier, while others find that the fries become too greasy. Frozen French fries are often already pre-coated in oil, so adding more may not be necessary.

If you do choose to add oil, it is recommended to use a light cooking spray or a small amount of oil, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or grape seed oil. This will help the salt and other seasonings to stick to the fries. You can also use oil-based sprays to coat the sides of the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.

When cooking frozen French fries in an air fryer, it is important to avoid overcrowding the basket. This can cause the fries to cook unevenly and become soggy. It is best to cook the fries in a single layer and shake the basket occasionally during cooking to ensure even cooking and crispiness. The cooking time may vary depending on the type and thickness of the fries, but generally, they will take around 10-20 minutes to cook at a temperature of 380-400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frequently asked questions