Air-Frying Sweet Potato Fries: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Air fryer sweet potato fries are a tasty, healthier alternative to deep-fried sweet potatoes. The cooking time depends on the temperature and type of air fryer you have, but generally, they take between 10 to 20 minutes to cook.

To make them, start by peeling and cutting the sweet potatoes into even, thin slices. Then, toss them with olive oil or another oil of your choice, and seasonings such as salt, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. Preheat your air fryer and cook the fries in batches, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.

You can also try soaking the sweet potato slices in water before frying or adding a starch coating like cornstarch or flour to make them crispier.

How to cut sweet potato fries

Firstly, select two medium-sized sweet potatoes that are not too long. This way, you can utilise the entire length of the sweet potatoes as the length of the fry. Remember that these fries will shrink after cooking, so opt for a shape that is slightly longer than your desired fry length.

Next, peel the sweet potatoes and cut off the skinny ends. You can save these for a different recipe. Then, cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. This will make it easier to lay them flat on a cutting board and start cutting them into long slices.

For the best results, cut the sweet potatoes into slices that are 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. The thinner you cut them, the crispier they will be.

If you want to make extra crispy fries, you can soak the sweet potato slices in a large bowl of hot tap water for 10 minutes before patting them dry with a paper towel.

Finally, season the sweet potatoes with your desired spices and a teaspoon of olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or cooking spray. You can also add a tablespoon of corn starch per potato to make them crispier.

How to season sweet potato fries

Ingredients

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil or any neutral-tasting oil such as avocado or canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of paprika (sweet or smoked, depending on preference)
• Black pepper to taste

Method

• Preheat your air fryer.
• Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into even 1/4-inch thick sticks.
• Place the sweet potato sticks in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper to the bowl.
• Toss the sweet potatoes until they are evenly coated in the oil and spices.
• Place the sweet potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your basket, you may need to cook in 2-3 batches.
• Air fry at 380°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
• For crispier fries, increase the temperature to 380°F and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
• Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce.

Tips

• For a slight variation in flavour, you can use smoked paprika or add some cayenne pepper for a spicier kick. You can also experiment with different seasonings like Cajun seasoning, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice.
• For extra crispiness, you can soak the cut sweet potatoes in a large bowl of hot tap water for 10 minutes before drying and tossing with oil.
• Ensure all the fries are of a similar size to guarantee even cooking.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket to prevent steaming instead of crisping.
• Turn the sweet potatoes halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.

How long to cook sweet potato fries

Sweet potato fries are a tasty, healthier alternative to regular fries, and they can be made in an air fryer in under 20 minutes. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to cook sweet potato fries, with some tips and tricks to ensure they turn out crispy and delicious.

Preparation

First, select two medium-sized sweet potatoes. If you want your fries to be crispy, choose potatoes that are not too long, so you can maximise the length of each fry. Peel the potatoes, and cut off the skinny ends. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, and then into fries that are around 1/4-inch thick. Soaking the potatoes in water for 10 minutes and then drying them is optional but can help remove excess starch, which may improve crispiness.

Seasoning

Place the cut potatoes into a large mixing bowl. You will need to add oil to help the seasoning stick and to ensure the potatoes brown evenly. Olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, and peanut oil are all good options. You only need a small amount—one tablespoon of oil is usually enough.

For seasoning, you can use salt and pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder. You will need around half a teaspoon of each spice for two potatoes. Toss the potatoes in the bowl until they are evenly coated in oil and seasoning.

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F. Add the seasoned potatoes to the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in two or three batches.

Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. Check the fries and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes if needed, keeping a close eye on them to avoid burning.

Serving

Sweet potato fries are best served immediately, straight from the air fryer. They are great with a variety of dipping sauces, such as ketchup, garlic mayo, or garlic sour cream.

Tips for Crispy Fries

• Cut the potatoes as evenly as possible to ensure even cooking.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket—this can create a steaming effect instead of crisping the potatoes.
• Turn the potatoes halfway through cooking, either by shaking the basket or using tongs.
• Preheat the air fryer before adding the potatoes.
• If your fries are still not crispy, you can try adding a tablespoon of corn starch to the potatoes before adding oil and seasoning.
• For extra crispy fries, you can par-fry the potatoes before air frying.
• If you want to reheat any leftover fries, use the air fryer to ensure they stay crispy.

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover sweet potato fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the air fryer to ensure they stay crispy.

Enjoy your homemade sweet potato fries!

How to store sweet potato fries

Storing sweet potato fries depends on whether they are raw or cooked, and whether they have been frozen.

Storing Raw Sweet Potato Fries

If you are storing raw sweet potatoes, do not rinse them first as the extra moisture may cause them to rot. Instead, use a dry cloth to remove any dirt. You can also cure them for 1-2 weeks by putting them in a warm and humid environment (around 80°F with 90% humidity) to increase their flavour and sweetness. This will also create a protective skin around the potato.

Storing Cooked Sweet Potato Fries

If your sweet potato fries are already cooked, place them in a shallow container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. To make them last longer, use an airtight plastic bag or container.

Storing Frozen Sweet Potato Fries

You can also freeze sweet potato fries. First, peel and cut the sweet potatoes into your desired shape. Then, blanch them by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and dropping the potatoes in for 3-5 minutes. Remove the potatoes and place them in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes, before draining them and spreading them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the potatoes are frozen solid, then transfer them to a labelled freezer bag or container. Remove as much air as possible and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Tips for making sweet potato fries

• Cut the wedges evenly to ensure even cooking.
• Mix well to ensure the sweet potato fries are coated evenly in oil and spices.
• Preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer does not have a pre-heat function, simply let it run with an empty basket for about 3-4 minutes at 400ºF.
• Don't overcrowd the basket. Cooking in batches may be necessary to ensure even cooking and to avoid creating a steaming effect instead of a crisping effect.
• Turn the sweet potatoes halfway through cooking. You can shake the basket or use tongs to turn them.
• Soak the sweet potatoes in water before frying to remove excess starch. However, this is not essential as it may not make a difference to the crispiness of the fries.
• You can peel the sweet potatoes or leave the skin on for more fibre.
• Cut the sweet potatoes into fries of the same size so that everything cooks at the same time, without burning, overcooking or under-cooking.
• Open the basket to test for doneness. All air fryers will vary slightly, and thicker fries will take longer to cook.

Frequently asked questions