Making Fries With Gourmia Air Fryer: Quick And Easy!

Making fries in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to frying them in oil. Air-fried French fries are just as crispy and crunchy as regular fries, but they use far less oil. To make French fries in a Gourmia air fryer, start by cutting your potatoes into fries of similar sizes. Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for at least 20 minutes to remove excess starch, and then dry them thoroughly. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each fry. Air fry at 380-400°F for 12-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. For crispier fries, air fry for an additional 2-4 minutes.

Cut potatoes into fries

Cutting Potatoes into Fries for Your Gourmia Air Fryer

The first step to making delicious, crispy fries in your Gourmia air fryer is to cut your potatoes into fries! Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Wash and Peel the Potatoes (Optional)

You can peel the potatoes if you prefer, but it is not necessary. If you do choose to peel them, a Y-peeler is a good option as it is easier to hold.

Step 2: Cut the Potatoes into 1/4-inch Slices

Hold the potato horizontally on your cutting board. With a firm grip, slice off one of the round edges to create a flat base. Place the potato with the flat base down, and cut it into slices that are about 1/4-inch thick. This thickness will give you that classic, crispy french fry texture.

Step 3: Cut the Slices into Individual Fries

Now, take each slice and cut it into individual fries. Try to keep the fries a similar size so that they cook evenly. The exact thickness of your fries can be adjusted to your preference, but keeping them uniform will ensure the best results.

Step 4: Soak the Cut Potatoes in Cold Water (Optional)

Some recipes recommend soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for at least 20 minutes to remove excess starch, which can help make the fries crispier. However, others suggest that this step is not crucial and can be skipped if desired.

Step 5: Dry the Potatoes

Whether you choose to soak the potatoes or not, it is important to ensure they are completely dry before moving on to the next step. Use paper towels or a clean dish towel to blot the potatoes until they are no longer wet.

Step 6: Drizzle with Oil and Season

Place the dried potatoes in a bowl and drizzle them with extra virgin olive oil or another oil of your choice. Add salt, and other seasonings like garlic powder or seasoning salt, to taste. Toss the potatoes until they are evenly coated with oil and seasonings.

Now that your potatoes are cut into fries and seasoned, they are ready to be placed into your Gourmia air fryer! Follow the remaining steps for your chosen recipe, and enjoy your delicious, crispy fries.

Soak potatoes in water

Soaking your potatoes in water before air frying is a crucial step in achieving the perfect crispy texture. Here's a detailed guide on why and how to soak your potatoes for air frying:

The soaking process helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes. This is important because too much starch can cause the potatoes to stick together and prevent them from crisping up properly during cooking. By soaking them, you'll end up with fries that are fluffy on the inside and have a delightful crispy exterior.

Most recipes recommend soaking the potatoes for at least 20 minutes in cold water. However, you can soak them for longer if you prefer. Some people even soak their potatoes overnight in the refrigerator, which is a great option if you're preparing the potatoes ahead of time.

Preparing the Potatoes for Soaking

Before soaking, cut your potatoes into your desired fry shape and thickness. Try to keep the sizes consistent so that they cook evenly. Once cut, place the potatoes into a bowl of cold water, making sure they are completely submerged.

After Soaking

After the soaking period, remove the potatoes from the water and thoroughly dry them. Spread them out on paper towels or a lint-free dish towel, and pat them dry. It's important to ensure that the potatoes are completely dry before moving on to the next step, as any remaining moisture can affect the crispiness of your fries.

Tips for Optimal Results

• Cut the potatoes into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
• Soaking in ice-cold water is ideal, as it helps keep the potatoes fresh and crisp.
• If you're short on time, you can skip the soaking step, but your potatoes may not come out as crispy.
• If you're making a large batch, cook the fries in batches to avoid overcrowding your air fryer. This will ensure that each fry gets direct contact with the hot air, resulting in even cooking and crispiness.
• Don't forget to season your fries! A simple sprinkle of salt is classic, but you can also experiment with different spices and seasonings to add extra flavor.

By following these steps and paying attention to the small details, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious, crispy fries in your Gourmia air fryer!

Season fries

Seasoning your fries is the fun part! There are endless possibilities for seasoning, but the most important seasoning is salt. You can use regular table salt, or you can use a seasoned salt, such as Lawry's French Fry seasoning. If you want to stick to a good old-fashioned salt seasoning, you can add some pepper to taste.

If you want to get creative, you can try adding garlic powder, or minced marinated garlic or garlic powder after cooking. You can also add some fresh parsley. If you like a bit of heat, you can make your fries Cajun-style by using a pre-made Cajun seasoning like Tony Chachere's. For a fancy truffle fry, drizzle on some truffle oil, add some fresh pepper, and sprinkle on some parmesan cheese. For Italian-style fries, toss your fries in Italian seasoning and sprinkle with parmesan or asiago cheese.

If you're craving something spicy, you can add some cayenne pepper to your fries. You can also try adding some paprika, or a homemade blend of spices like the one used in air fryer sweet potato fries: paprika, garlic powder, and sea salt.

If you're making a large batch of fries, make sure to season them in batches so that the seasoning is evenly distributed.

Air fry in batches

Air frying in batches is essential to getting the perfect fry. If you crowd the air fryer basket, the potatoes will steam and become soggy instead of crispy. For even cooking, fries should be arranged in a single layer with a little space between each one. This allows the ultra-hot, circulating air to hit as much surface area as possible, resulting in that coveted crispiness.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook your fries in multiple batches. For example, when using two russet potatoes, you'll likely need to cook three batches of fries. If you're cooking in multiple batches, the first batch will take longer to cook if your air fryer is not already preheated.

It's also important to shake the basket and gently turn the potatoes halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. If your air fryer has a rotating basket, you may not need to do this.

Reheat in the air fryer

If you have any leftover fries, you can reheat them in the air fryer to restore their crispy texture. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C) and place the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Reheat for 2-5 minutes, depending on the level of crispiness you desire. This method works for all types of leftover fries, including those from fast-food restaurants or frozen varieties.

It is important to note that you should never use a microwave to reheat your fries as they will turn out soggy and inedible.

Frequently asked questions