Air Fryer Checkers Fries: Quick, Crispy, Golden Goodness!

Checkers fries are thick-cut, coated in a seasoned batter, and famously crunchy. You can recreate the famous crunch of these fries in an air fryer in just 10-15 minutes. To make them, preheat your air fryer to 400°F, add a bag of frozen Checkers fries, and cook for 7-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. For extra crispiness, you can spray the fries with olive oil before cooking.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. By reaching the desired temperature of 400°F, you create an optimal environment for cooking your Checkers fries. This step ensures that your fries will cook evenly and achieve the desired crispiness.

When preheating, it is advisable to leave the air fryer empty. This allows the hot air to circulate freely and heat the cooking chamber uniformly. The preheating time may vary depending on your air fryer model, so it's important to refer to your device's instructions. However, as a general guideline, most air fryers will take around 2-3 minutes to preheat to 400°F.

During preheating, the air fryer's heating elements work to elevate the temperature inside the cooking chamber. This process is crucial because it ensures that your Checkers fries will start cooking immediately upon contact with the hot air. Without preheating, you risk uneven cooking and a longer cooking time.

Once your air fryer reaches 400°F, you'll be ready to proceed to the next step of placing the frozen Checkers fries into the air fryer basket. Remember not to overcrowd the basket and leave some space for air to circulate, ensuring even cooking and crispiness.

By following this crucial step of preheating your air fryer to 400°F, you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious, crispy Checkers fries that taste just like they came from your favourite fast-food restaurant.

Add frozen fries to the air fryer basket

Adding frozen fries to the air fryer basket is a simple process, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you get the best results. Firstly, it is important to note that you should not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave some space for the air to move between the fries, as this will help to ensure they cook evenly and become crispy. Simply remove the desired amount of fries from the bag and place them into the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fries in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Once you have added the desired amount of fries to the basket, it is now time to season them. You can use salt, onion powder, garlic powder, or an all-purpose seasoning blend. You can also add a light spritz of olive oil to help the seasoning stick to the fries. Be sure to toss the fries gently to ensure they are evenly coated.

With the fries seasoned and ready to go, it is now time to air fry! Place the basket into the air fryer and set the temperature to between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness and type of fry, but on average, it should take around 10-15 minutes for the fries to cook. Be sure to shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure the fries cook evenly.

Once the fries are golden and crispy, remove the basket from the air fryer and serve them while they are still hot. Enjoy your delicious, crispy air-fried checkers fries!

Air fry for 7-16 minutes

Now, it's time to air fry! Place the basket into the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 7-16 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the type of fries you are using and your desired crispiness. For example, crinkle-cut or waffle fries will take around 10-11 minutes, while sweet potato fries will take around 15-16 minutes.

Halfway through the cooking time, take out the air fryer basket and give it a good shake to toss the fries around. This ensures even cooking and crispiness. Then, put the basket back into the air fryer to finish cooking.

Once the timer goes off, check the fries to see if they have reached your desired level of doneness. If not, you can always add a few more minutes. But be careful not to overcook them, as they can go from perfectly crispy to burnt quite quickly!

When the fries are done to your liking, remove them from the air fryer and serve them up! They are now ready to be enjoyed as a delicious side or snack.

Shake the basket halfway through

Shaking the basket halfway through is a crucial step in ensuring your fries cook evenly and come out crispy. When you shake the basket, you're helping to move the fries around so that they cook uniformly. This is especially important if your air fryer doesn't have a rotating basket.

When shaking the basket, be sure to rotate the fries, moving the ones at the bottom to the top and vice versa. You can shake the basket more than once if you like. It's also a good opportunity to check on the progress of your fries and see if they need any extra seasoning.

Shaking the basket also helps to prevent the fries from sticking to the basket and ensures that they don't end up soggy. By giving them a good shake, you're allowing hot air to circulate around each fry, resulting in an even cook.

Depending on the type of fries you're using, you might need to adjust the cooking time after shaking the basket. For example, thicker fries might need a little longer, while thinner fries could be done sooner. Always keep an eye on your fries to avoid overcooking or burning them.

Serve with your favourite dip

Now that your Checker's fries are ready, it's time to serve them with your favourite dip! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Ketchup
• Ranch
• Mayonnaise
• Avocado lime ranch
• Chick Fil A Sauce
• Alabama White BBQ Sauce
• Southern Comeback Sauce
• Fry Sauce
• Yum Yum Sauce
• Cheese Sauce

You can also get creative and make your own sauce by mixing your favourite spices with a bit of mayonnaise and ketchup. For a spicy western sauce, try adding chipotle chilli powder, garlic powder, and onion powder.

So, go ahead and dip those crispy, golden fries into your favourite sauce and enjoy!

Frequently asked questions