Marianne Martinez
Sweet potato fries are a delicious snack or side dish, and they're even better when they're homemade. Using an air fryer to make sweet potato fries is a healthier alternative to deep-fried sweet potatoes, and they can be cooked in less than 15 minutes. If you're looking for a quick, easy, and tasty snack, this is the recipe for you.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cooking time | Less than 15 minutes |
| Oil | Olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or any neutral-tasting oil |
| Spices | Salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, pumpkin spice |
| Temperature | 350-380˚F |
| Cooking time | 8-15 minutes |
| Preheat | Yes |
| Soak | In cold water for 30 minutes |
| Fry style | Single layer, no overcrowding |
| Shake | Halfway through cooking |
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What You'll Learn
Selecting the right potatoes
Start by choosing medium-sized sweet potatoes that are not too long. This way, you can use the full length of the potato as the length of your fry. Remember that the potatoes will shrink slightly during cooking, so select potatoes that are slightly longer than your ideal fry length.
Look for sweet potatoes that are similar in size. This will help ensure even cooking, as potatoes of different sizes may cook at different rates. Try to find potatoes that are relatively uniform in shape and size to get the best results.
When you're ready to prepare the potatoes, start by peeling them. You can leave the skin on for extra fibre if you prefer, but peeling will give you a more consistent texture. Cut off the skinny ends of the potatoes, which you can save for another recipe. Then, cut the potatoes in half lengthwise to create a flat surface for easier slicing.
Next, slice the potatoes into fries of your desired thickness. For the crispiest results, cut them into thin fries, approximately 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. Thicker fries will be fluffier on the inside but will still have a nice crispness on the outside.
Finally, soak the raw potato fries in cold water for about 30 minutes. This step helps remove excess starch, resulting in a fluffier texture. After soaking, rinse and pat the potatoes dry with a kitchen towel before moving on to the seasoning and cooking steps.
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Preparing the potatoes
Next, peel the sweet potatoes and cut off the skinny ends. You can save the ends for another 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. The thinner you cut them, the crispier they will be. Aim for a thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Try to cut the potatoes as evenly as possible to ensure even cooking.
If you have time, you can soak the raw sweet potato fries in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch and achieve a fluffier middle. After soaking, rinse and pat the fries dry with a kitchen towel. If you have the time, letting them air dry is best.
Once your potatoes are prepared, you can season them and cook them in the air fryer.
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Seasoning the potatoes
For seasoning, you can use a combination of spices such as kosher salt or sea salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika. You can also experiment with different spices to suit your taste preferences. For example, adding cayenne pepper will give the fries a spicy kick, while cinnamon or pumpkin spice will add a touch of sweetness.
To ensure the seasoning coats the potatoes evenly, place the sliced sweet potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle them with olive oil or any neutral-tasting oil such as canola oil or avocado oil. Use your hands or spoons to toss the potatoes until they are well-coated in oil, and then add the desired spices. Mix the spices and oil-coated fries until the seasoning is evenly distributed.
At this point, you can also add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the potatoes for extra crispiness. However, be careful not to use too much oil or starch, as this can make the fries soggy. A light coating of oil is usually enough to help the seasoning stick to the potatoes and promote even cooking.
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Cooking the potatoes
Preparation
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. If you want to retain more fibre, you can leave the skin on. Next, cut the skinny ends off the potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. Then, cut them into fries. The thinner you cut them, the crispier they will be. It is recommended that you cut them into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thickness. Try to cut them into a uniform size so that they cook evenly.
Soaking
Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes, and soak the raw sweet potato fries for 30 minutes. This removes excess starch and gives the fries a fluffier middle while being crispy on the outside. If you don't have the time, you can skip this step.
Seasoning
Pat the fries dry with a kitchen towel. In a large bowl, drizzle the fries with olive oil or a neutral-tasting oil such as canola or avocado oil. You can also use a high smoke point oil. Toss the fries to ensure they are evenly coated. Sprinkle over your choice of seasoning. You can use salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper. Toss the fries again to ensure they are evenly coated.
Cooking
Place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F-380°F and cook for 8-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The thinner the fries, the quicker they will cook. Check the fries regularly to ensure they do not overcook. Once they are crispy and golden brown on the outside, they are ready to be removed from the air fryer.
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Storing and reheating the potatoes
Storing and reheating sweet potato fries in an air fryer is a simple process. Firstly, it is important to let the fries cool completely before storing them. Then, transfer the fries to an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
If you want to make your own frozen sweet potato fries, spread uncooked or leftover fries on a baking sheet and flash freeze them. Once frozen, store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to reheat the fries, place them in the air fryer basket and air fry until hot and crispy. You can reheat frozen sweet potato fries without defrosting them first. Reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes, depending on your preference. For extra crispy fries, rub the outside of the potato with olive oil and sprinkle with salt before reheating.
If you are reheating smaller potatoes or have a larger air fryer, you can cook multiple potatoes at once. It is recommended to not reheat potatoes more than twice, as this will dry out the potato. Leave room between the potatoes when reheating to ensure even cooking. The internal temperature of the potatoes should reach 185°F (85°C) for safe consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes less than 15 minutes to cook homemade sweet potato fries in an air fryer.
To ensure crispiness, cut the sweet potatoes into fries of even size. Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch. Then, pat them dry and add a tablespoon of cornstarch. Place the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, without overcrowding, and shake the basket several times during cooking.
The temperature depends on the type of air fryer you have. For a basket-style air fryer, cook at 375˚F for 12-14 minutes. For a toaster oven-style air fryer, cook at 350˚F for 8-10 minutes.
