Air Fryer French Fries: The Perfect Crispy Treat

French fries are a popular snack, and cooking them in an air fryer oven is a quick and easy way to make them crispy and delicious. There are a few simple steps to follow to ensure the best results, including pre-soaking the potatoes, seasoning, and cooking at the right temperature.

Soaking the potatoes in water

It is important to note that you should not add salt to the potatoes before they go into the air fryer, as this will draw out moisture and prevent them from crisping up. Instead, season the potatoes just before air frying. You can toss them with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper, or simply drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

If you are cooking multiple batches of French fries, you can place the cooked fries in a bowl of cold water while you cook the remaining batches. This will help to stop the cooking process and prevent the fries from becoming soggy. Once all the batches are cooked, remove the fries from the water and place them on a paper towel-lined pan to dry.

By following these steps and properly soaking the potatoes in water, you will be well on your way to achieving crispy and delicious French fries in your air fryer oven.

Drying the potatoes

• After cutting your potatoes into fries, place them in a bowl of cold water. Let them soak for about an hour. This step helps remove excess starch, ensuring crispier fries.
• Once they've soaked, drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with paper towels. It's important to remove as much moisture as possible.
• Place the dried potatoes on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. You can also use a cooling rack over the baking sheet to allow for even air circulation.
• Set your oven to a warm temperature, ideally around 250 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Place the baking sheet with the potatoes inside the warm oven. This step helps to further dry the potatoes and ensure any remaining moisture evaporates.
• While the potatoes are drying in the oven, you can preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature (typically between 360°F and 425°F).
• Once the potatoes are completely dry and the air fryer is preheated, you can proceed to the next step of seasoning and cooking your French fries.

Seasoning the potatoes

To season the potatoes, first soak them in cold water for an hour. This will help to remove excess starch and ensure the fries crisp up more in the oven. Drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel. Then, toss the potatoes with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. It's important to season the potatoes just before air frying them. If you add salt too early, it will draw moisture out of the potatoes and they won't be as crispy when air-fried.

Preheating the air fryer

The ideal temperature for preheating your air fryer varies across different recipes. Some sources suggest preheating to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, while others recommend 380 degrees Fahrenheit or even 425 degrees Fahrenheit. It's important to refer to your specific air fryer model's instructions to determine the optimal preheating temperature.

When preheating your air fryer, it's essential to ensure that the fries are prepared correctly. One recipe suggests soaking the fries in cold water for an hour to remove excess starch, which helps them crisp up in the oven. After soaking, make sure to pat the fries dry with a paper towel before seasoning and adding them to the air fryer.

Another important consideration is the arrangement of the fries in the air fryer basket. For even cooking, it's recommended to spread the fries in a single layer, ensuring they are not stacked on top of each other. This allows for better air circulation and helps achieve that desired crispy texture.

Cooking the potatoes

First, cut your potatoes into fries. You can cut them as thick or as thin as you like, but bear in mind that the thickness will affect the cooking time. Thinner fries will cook faster and thicker fries will take longer. Next, place your cut potatoes into a bowl of cool water and leave them to soak for an hour. This will help to remove excess starch and ensure your fries crisp up nicely in the oven. After an hour, drain the water and pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel.

Now it's time to season your potatoes. Toss them with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. Make sure the salt and pepper are evenly distributed. If you add salt too early, it will draw moisture out of the potatoes and they won't be as crispy when air-fried.

Preheat your air fryer to between 350°F and 380°F. Once it's preheated, place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Air fry for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. The fries are done when they are crispy and golden brown. If they are not crispy enough, simply air fry them for a little longer.

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