Air Fryer Homemade Fries: A Crispy, Tasty Reality?

Yes, you can make homemade fries with the Chefman Air Fryer. Air-fried French fries are a healthier alternative to traditionally fried ones, as they use far less oil. The rapid air circulation of an air fryer ensures that potatoes become super crispy on the outside, while remaining soft on the inside. The cooking time for air-fried French fries is also shorter than that of traditionally fried ones.

How to prepare the potatoes for frying

Preparing potatoes for air frying is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Select the Right Potatoes: Choose potatoes that are suitable for air frying, such as Russets, Yukon Golds, or Yellow Potatoes. These varieties tend to crisp up nicely and have a creamy texture. Avoid using Russets for roasted potatoes, as they are better suited for French fries due to their starchy texture.

Wash and Cut the Potatoes: Thoroughly wash the potatoes, especially if you plan to leave the skin on. Cut the potatoes into uniform, evenly sized pieces. For French fries, cut them into thin sticks, and for roasted potatoes, cut them into halves or quarters.

Soak the Potatoes (Optional): For French fries, it is recommended to soak the cut potatoes in cold water for about an hour or even overnight in the fridge. This helps remove excess starch and results in crispier fries. Make sure to dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking.

Season the Potatoes: Place the potatoes in a bowl and toss them with your desired seasonings. You can use olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or any other spices you prefer. Make sure the potatoes are evenly coated.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature, usually around 375-400°F (190-200°C). This step ensures maximum crispiness for your potatoes.

Arrange in the Air Fryer Basket: Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.

Air Fry the Potatoes: Follow the recommended cooking time and temperature for your specific recipe. For French fries, cook for about 13-20 minutes, and for roasted potatoes, cook for around 10-20 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Enjoy Your Crispy Potatoes: Once the potatoes are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve them as a delicious side dish or enjoy them on their own!

The best type of potatoes to use

The type of potato you use for homemade fries is important. You want to use a high-starch potato to avoid soggy fries. The best options are Idaho or russet potatoes. These potatoes are dense and have less moisture, which is key to achieving the perfect homemade fry. Russet potatoes are known for their rich, buttery taste, and how the starch works to puff and crisp in the air fryer. They also have the classic, rich, potatoey flavour that everyone loves.

Yukon gold potatoes are also a good option. They are an all-purpose potato that can be used for frying. While both russet and Yukon gold potatoes crisp nicely on the outside, the insides of russets can be drier, whereas the Yukon golds tend to be more tender and creamy.

You should avoid waxy potatoes like red-skinned, new, or fingerling potatoes. Their high moisture and sugar content make them unsuitable for deep frying, and they will likely become limp and soggy and darken too quickly.

How long to cook the fries for

To make homemade French fries in the Chefman Air Fryer, start by cutting your potatoes into fries. The fries should be around 1/4-inch thick, and you don't need to peel the potatoes as the skin helps them crisp up nicely. Once you've chopped the potatoes, toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or your choice of seasonings.

Next, spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fries in batches. Air fry the fries at 375-400°F for 12 to 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on your air fryer, so it's important to keep an eye on the fries and adjust the timing as needed.

For extra crispy fries, consider air frying them for an additional 1 to 2 minutes after the initial cooking time. This will ensure that all the fries are warm and crispy.

How to season the fries

How to Season Homemade Fries with the Chefman Air Fryer

Preparation:

Before seasoning your fries, you'll need to prepare the potatoes. First, slice your potatoes into fries. You can use a mandoline or a sharp knife to do this. Try to cut the fries into evenly sized pieces, as this will help them cook evenly. If you're using russet potatoes, you can leave the skin on for added texture and flavour, but be sure to wash the potatoes well and scrub off any excess dirt.

Next, place the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for at least an hour. This helps remove excess starch, which will make your fries crisper. If you have time, you can even soak them overnight in the fridge for extra crunch.

Once they've soaked, drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with paper towels or a clean dish towel. It's important to remove as much moisture as possible, as wet fries will turn out soggy.

Seasoning:

Now it's time for the seasoning! You can use a variety of spices and herbs to flavour your fries. Here are some ideas for seasoning blends:

• Salt: Use table salt, salt flakes, or kosher/cooking salt. Table salt has finer grains, so it sticks better to the fries. If using salt flakes, crush them slightly with your fingers for better dispersion.
• Onion powder and garlic powder: These can be used interchangeably or together. They add a savoury punch to your fries.
• Oregano, parsley, thyme, or basil: Any of these herbs will add a lovely, warm flavour to your fries.
• Paprika: Regular or smoked paprika will give your fries a subtle kick.
• Cayenne pepper: A tiny amount of cayenne will add some heat to your spice blend.
• Black pepper

Simply mix your chosen spices together in a bowl, then sprinkle generously over your fries. You can also add olive oil to help the seasoning stick to the potatoes. Toss the fries to ensure they're evenly coated.

Cooking:

Once your fries are seasoned, it's time to cook them in your Chefman Air Fryer. Place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they're not stacked on top of each other. Overcrowding the basket will make your fries soggy. You may need to cook the fries in batches.

Set your air fryer to 375-400°F (190-200°C) and cook the fries for about 15-20 minutes, shaking or flipping them halfway through, until they're golden brown and crispy.

Serving:

Serve your homemade air-fried fries hot and crispy! They're perfect on their own or with a variety of dipping sauces like ketchup, mayonnaise, aioli, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or cheese sauce. Enjoy!

How to store the fries

To store homemade fries, you must first let them cool completely. It is important to ensure that any steam from the cooling fries can escape to keep your fries as crispy as possible. Do not leave them at room temperature for more than two hours, as this may cause bacteria growth. Once they are cool, place them in an airtight container or bag and remove as much air as possible. Add a paper towel to soak up any extra moisture. You can then store your fries in the fridge for two to three days.

If you want to freeze your fries for longer-term storage, first freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to preserve their shape and prevent them from sticking together. Then, transfer the frozen fries to a zip-top freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to six months.

When you are ready to enjoy your homemade fries again, the best way to reheat them is to refry them. You can also cook them in the oven or on the stove, but avoid using the microwave, as this may affect their texture.

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