Air Fryer Yam Fries: Crispy, Quick, And Easy!

Air fryers are a great way to make crispy yam fries with less oil and fewer calories than deep-fried alternatives. The process is simple: cut the yams into fries, season, and cook in the air fryer. However, there are a few tips and tricks to ensure your fries come out perfectly crispy. Firstly, cut the yams into evenly sized fries to ensure they cook uniformly. Secondly, soak the cut yams in cold water to remove excess starch, making them lighter and crispier. Thirdly, preheat your air fryer to create a hot and consistent cooking environment. Finally, don't overcrowd the air fryer basket – cook in batches if necessary. With these tips, you'll be making delicious, crispy yam fries in no time!

Yam selection and preparation

When making yam fries in an air fryer, it is important to select the right type of yams and to prepare them properly to ensure the best results. Here are some detailed instructions on yam selection and preparation for making crispy yam fries in an air fryer:

• Choose the Right Variety: Select orange-fleshed yams, as they are ideal for making fries. While white or purple yams can also be used, orange yams typically yield the best results.
• Size and Shape: Look for yams that are not too long. This way, you can utilise the full length of the yam as the length of the fry. Remember that yams will shrink during cooking, so choose ones that are slightly longer than your desired fry length.
• Peeling and Cutting: Peel the yams and cut off the skinny ends. Cut the yams in half lengthwise to create a flat surface for easier cutting. Cut the yams into long, even spears with a thickness of about 1/4 inch. The more evenly sized the spears are, the better they will cook.
• Soaking: Fill a large bowl with cold water and add ice cubes. Soak the yam spears in the cold water for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight for best results. Soaking helps remove excess starch, leading to crispier fries.
• Drying: After soaking, drain the yams and pat them completely dry with a kitchen towel. It is crucial to remove all excess moisture before placing them in the air fryer.
• Seasoning: In a large bowl, toss the dry yam spears with your desired seasonings. You can use a combination of spices such as garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add a small amount of oil (olive oil, avocado oil, or canola oil work well) and toss again to coat the yams evenly.
• Batches: Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you might need to cook the yam fries in batches to avoid overcrowding. Make sure the fries are evenly spaced and not overlapping in the basket.
• Cooking Time and Temperature: The cooking time and temperature will depend on your specific air fryer and your desired level of crispness. As a general guideline, cook the yam fries at around 380°F for 10-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking, and adjust the time as needed.
• Crisping Technique: For extra crispiness, lightly dust the yam spears with cornstarch or arrowroot powder before placing them in the air fryer. This will give them an additional crunchy coating.
• Final Seasoning: Once the yam fries are cooked, place them on a wire rack and season with salt. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving to let them crisp up even more.

By following these steps for yam selection and preparation, you'll be well on your way to making delicious and crispy yam fries in your air fryer!

Air fryer settings

The air fryer is a great way to make yam fries as it requires less oil than deep frying, resulting in a healthier dish. Here are the steps to follow for the best settings:

Preheat the Air Fryer

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 380°F. This is an important step to ensure your yam fries cook evenly and turn out crispy. Most air fryers require preheating for the best results, though you can also experiment with not preheating and adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Oil the Air Fryer Basket

Lightly coat the air fryer basket with oil. You can use olive oil, canola oil, or avocado oil. This step helps to promote even browning and adds flavour to your yam fries.

Season the Yam Fries

Cut your yams into fries of roughly equal size, about 1/4-inch thick. You can peel the yams first or leave the skin on for extra fibre. Then, toss the yam fries with your chosen oil and seasonings. You can keep it simple with salt and pepper, or try garlic powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Cook the Yam Fries

Place the seasoned yam fries in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the yam fries in multiple batches.

For yam fries that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, air fry at 380°F for about 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The exact cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model and the thickness of your yam fries, so keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.

Serve Immediately

Transfer the yam fries to a large plate and serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Oil and seasoning

The amount of oil you'll need to make yam fries in an air fryer is minimal—just a teaspoon or two, or a light coating of oil spray. The oil helps the fries develop a crispy, golden-brown exterior, and a moist interior. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or any other neutral-tasting oil.

As for seasoning, salt is essential, and you can also add black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. You can also experiment with other seasonings like Cajun seasoning, cinnamon, brown sugar, or parmesan cheese.

• After cutting your yams into fries, place them in a large mixing bowl.
• Drizzle the oil over the yam fries. You can also add the oil to the bowl first and then toss the fries in it to ensure an even coating.
• Sprinkle your chosen seasonings over the fries.
• Toss the fries again to ensure they are evenly coated with the seasonings.
• If needed, add a bit more oil and/or seasonings to ensure a thorough coating.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for yam fries in an air fryer will depend on the specific model of your air fryer, the thickness of the fries, and the desired level of crispness. Here is a general guide on cooking time and temperature to achieve crispy yam fries:

First, preheat your air fryer to around 380°F (some recipes suggest 375°F or 350°F) while the air fryer is preheating, you can peel and cut the yams into fries of your desired thickness. Soaking the cut yams in cold water for at least 10 minutes or up to overnight is recommended to remove excess starch and achieve a crispier texture. After soaking, make sure to dry the yams thoroughly.

Once your air fryer is preheated, toss the yam fries with a small amount of oil, such as olive oil, and your desired seasonings. You can season them with salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, or any other spices and herbs you like.

Now, you are ready to cook the yam fries. Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the fries in multiple batches. For a 5.5-quart air fryer, for example, you can cook about 1/3 of the fries at a time.

Cook the yam fries for around 12-25 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispness. It is important to keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking. Shake the basket or toss the fries halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and browning. The fries are ready when they turn golden brown and crispy.

If you are using frozen yam fries, they will need a similar cooking time and temperature. However, keep in mind that frozen fries may need slightly longer to cook, so check on them often and adjust the timing as needed.

Serving suggestions

These crispy yam fries are a perfect side dish for many recipes and also make a great snack to dip with ketchup or your favourite sauce. They pair well with main dishes for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

For a simple side, serve with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, or a pinch of cinnamon or brown sugar. For a more savoury option, season with garlic powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper. You could also try adding some Cajun seasoning, or topping with grated parmesan.

For a more substantial meal, these crispy yam fries would go well with a juicy burger, or with some air fryer chicken breast or salmon bites.

If you're looking for a dip to serve with the fries, try one of the following:

• Garlic mayo: add crushed garlic to your favourite mayo
• Mayo-ketchup: combine equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise
• Garlic sour cream dip: combine sour cream and crushed garlic
• Vegan tzatziki sauce
• Honey mustard sauce
• Ranch dressing

Frequently asked questions