Making French Fries With A Farberware Air Fryer

Air fryers are a fantastic way to make French fries. They are healthier, faster, and easier to clean than deep-frying, and they produce fries that are just as crispy and crunchy as regular fries. The key to getting ultra-crispy French fries is to soak the cut potatoes in water for 10 minutes to help remove some of their starch content. This helps the centres get tender, and the outsides get crispy. You can also experiment with different types of potatoes and seasonings to find your perfect fry.

Choosing the right potato

Potato Variety

When it comes to choosing the right type of potato for air fryer French fries, Russet potatoes are a popular choice due to their fluffy texture. They have a high starch content, which makes them ideal for achieving that crispy exterior and creamy interior that defines a great French fry. Yukon gold potatoes are another option, which will give you a slightly creamier centre.

Size and Thickness

For even cooking, it's important to cut your potatoes into similar-sized pieces. Aim for a thickness of around 1/4-inch thick, or slightly thicker if you prefer your fries with a little more bite. This will ensure that all the fries cook at the same rate, resulting in a consistent texture.

Peeling and Soaking

Whether or not to peel your potatoes is a matter of personal preference. Leaving the skin on can add flavour, texture, and extra nutrients to your fries. However, if you prefer a more traditional French fry texture, feel free to peel them. Some recipes also suggest soaking the potatoes in a sugar solution before frying, as this is said to prevent them from soaking up too much grease and promote crispiness.

Oil and Seasoning

A light drizzle of olive oil or another type of cooking oil is all you need to help your potatoes crisp up. As for seasoning, you can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or experiment with spices like smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, or rosemary. You can also try Italian seasoning or Parmesan cheese for added flavour.

Remember, the beauty of making French fries in an air fryer is that you can customise them to your taste preferences. So, feel free to experiment with different types of potatoes, cutting techniques, and seasoning blends to find the combination that works best for you.

Preparing the potato

Scrub and Clean the Potatoes:

Start by selecting the right type of potatoes. Russet potatoes are a popular choice for French fries as they have a classic potato flavour and give a crispier texture. You can also use Yukon Gold potatoes, which will result in a creamier centre.

Once you've selected your potatoes, give them a good scrub under running water to remove any dirt. You can choose to peel the potatoes if you prefer, but leaving the skin on adds more flavour, a great crispy texture, and extra nutrients.

Cut the Potatoes:

After scrubbing, dry the potatoes and cut them into even-sized sticks, about 1/4-inch thick. This ensures that all the potato pieces cook evenly in the air fryer. You can use a sharp knife or a mandoline for easier and more uniform cutting.

Soak the Potatoes (Optional but Recommended):

Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl of cold water and let them soak for about an hour. This step helps remove excess starch, which will result in crispier fries. If you're short on time, you can skip this step, but it may affect the final texture of your fries.

Rinse and Dry:

After soaking, rinse the potatoes in cold water to remove any excess starch. Then, use paper towels or a clean dish towel to pat them completely dry. This step is crucial, as any residual moisture will result in soggy fries.

Season the Potatoes:

Place the dried potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. You can also use vegetable or canola oil. Toss the potatoes to ensure they are evenly coated. Then, add your desired seasonings. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or get creative with spices like paprika, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, or Italian seasoning. Toss the potatoes again to ensure they are well-coated with the seasonings.

Now your potatoes are ready to be cooked in your Farberware air fryer! Follow the instructions in your air fryer manual for the best results. Enjoy your delicious, crispy French fries!

Soaking the potato

To soak your potatoes, start by slicing them into your desired fry shape. You can use a mandoline or a sharp knife to cut them into fries. Try to cut them into similar sizes so that they cook evenly. Once you have your potato slices, completely submerge them in a large bowl of cold water for about an hour. You can also use hot water for this step if you want to cook the potatoes slightly, creating a "double-fried" effect.

After soaking, it is essential to dry your potatoes thoroughly with paper towels or a clean dish towel. This step ensures that there is no residual moisture left on the potatoes, as wet fries will not crisp up nicely.

Once your potatoes are dry, you can move on to the next step of the French fry-making process: seasoning. Toss your potato slices with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, or any other spices and herbs of your choice. You can now proceed to cook your French fries in your Farberware air fryer according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Seasoning the potato

The key to getting ultra-crispy french fries is to season them well. The best way to do this is to soak the cut potatoes in water for 10 minutes to help remove some of their starch content. This helps the centres get tender, and the outsides get crispy! If you don't have time to soak your sliced potatoes, don't worry – the air fryer will still do a great job of crisping them up.

Once your potatoes are cut and (optionally) soaked, it's time to dry them off and toss them with a drizzle of olive oil and your chosen seasonings. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or try something more complex. Here are some seasoning ideas:

• Salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder
• Salt and Italian seasoning
• Salt, pepper, smoked paprika, chilli powder, cumin, ranch seasoning, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and rosemary
• Onion powder or garlic powder
• Herbs de Provence salt
• Cajun seasoning
• Butter, diced garlic and finely diced parsley
• Ranch (add onion powder and dried dill)
• Curry powder
• Parmesan truffle (add truffle salt and top with grated Parmesan)
• Seasoning salt

Cooking the potato

Ingredients

To make French fries in a Farberware air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1-2 pounds of russet or Yukon Gold potatoes (2 large or 3 medium potatoes)
• 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil (or vegetable/canola oil)
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt, or to taste
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
• Other seasonings to taste (e.g. paprika, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, Cajun seasoning)

Preparation

First, scrub and clean the potatoes. You can peel them if you prefer, but leaving the skin on can add more flavour, texture, fibre, and nutrients.

Next, cut the potatoes into even 1/4-inch thick strips. A mandoline or sharp knife will help you get even fries, which is important for even cooking.

Then, rinse the potato sticks in cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel or kitchen towel.

Cooking

Add the fries to a large bowl and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle over the seasonings and toss the fries to coat them evenly.

Place the fries into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fries in batches.

Cook the fries at 375-400°F for 8-20 minutes, tossing halfway through. The fries are done when they are golden brown and crispy.

Tips

• Soaking the potatoes in water for 10 minutes before cooking helps to remove excess starch, resulting in crispier fries.
• If you want to keep the fries warm between batches, preheat the oven to 200°F and keep a baking sheet inside.
• For extra crispy fries, cook in a single layer and do not overcrowd the air fryer.
• If you don't want to use oil, you can coat the air fryer rack with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.

Frequently asked questions