Air Fryer Seasoned Fries: The Perfect Crispy Treat

Making seasoned fries in an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-fried french fries. With just a few basic ingredients, you can make crispy and crunchy homemade fries without the mess and grease of classic fried ones. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect air-fried seasoned fries:

Ingredients:

- Potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold)

- Oil (Olive, Vegetable, Canola, Coconut, or Ghee)

- Seasonings (Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, etc.)

Method:

1. Prepare the potatoes by peeling them (optional) and cutting them into even-sized fries, about 1/4-inch thick.

2. Soak the potato fries in cold or hot water for 10-30 minutes to remove excess starch and ensure crispiness.

3. Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a kitchen or paper towel.

4. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and drizzle with oil. Toss to coat evenly.

5. Add your desired seasonings to the bowl and toss again to coat the potatoes.

6. Preheat the air fryer to 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap much.

8. Cook the fries for 8-20 minutes, depending on your air fryer model and desired crispiness.

9. Toss the fries halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.

10. Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and sprinkle with additional salt, if desired.

11. Serve the fries warm with your favourite dipping sauces!

Potato preparation

The first step to making seasoned fries in an air fryer is to prepare the potatoes. You can use either Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes, depending on your preference. Russet potatoes will give you a drier inside texture, similar to restaurant-style fries, while Yukon Gold potatoes will result in a firmer and creamier inside with a richer flavor.

Once you've selected your potatoes, peel them and cut them into fries. The ideal size is about 1/4-inch thick, and it is important to ensure that all the pieces are of similar size so that they cook evenly. You can use a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer for this step. If you prefer to keep the potato skins on, make sure to scrub the potatoes thoroughly to remove any excess dirt.

After cutting, it is recommended to soak the potatoes in water to remove excess starch, which will help them achieve a crispier texture. The soaking time can vary from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the recipe. Some people also suggest using hot water instead of cold for the soaking process.

Once the soaking is complete, drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. This step is crucial, as any remaining moisture can affect the crispiness of the fries.

Now, it's time to season the potatoes. Place them in a large bowl and drizzle with oil, making sure all the pieces are well-coated. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, or any oil of your choice. Add the desired seasonings and toss the potatoes until they are evenly coated. Some common seasonings include salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. You can also get creative and experiment with different spice blends to find your favorite flavor profile.

Oil and seasoning

The amount of oil you'll need to make seasoned fries in an air fryer is minimal—just enough to coat the potatoes. The type of oil you use is flexible, too. You can use extra virgin olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, coconut oil, or ghee (clarified butter).

As for seasoning, salt and pepper are the most common, but you can also use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, dried dill, Italian seasoning, or dried herbs of your choice. You can also try a Cajun, taco, or Italian seasoning blend.

Air fryer settings

The ideal air fryer settings for making seasoned fries are dependent on the type of potato, the thickness of the cut, and the number of layers of potatoes being cooked.

Temperature

The optimal temperature for cooking seasoned fries in an air fryer is between 375-400°F. However, it is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model of the air fryer.

Cooking Time

The cooking time for seasoned fries in an air fryer can range from 8 to 20 minutes. For thicker-cut fries, longer cooking times are recommended, ranging from 15 to 20 minutes. For thinner-cut fries, shorter cooking times are sufficient, ranging from 8 to 15 minutes. It is important to note that the fries should be tossed or flipped halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking.

Number of Layers

For the best results, it is recommended to cook the seasoned fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This allows for better air circulation and more even cooking. However, cooking in a single layer may require multiple batches, increasing the overall cooking time. An alternative method is to cook the fries in two layers, which reduces the number of batches and still yields crispy and satisfying fries. Cooking the fries in three or more layers is not recommended as it results in less crispy fries.

Preheating

Preheating the air fryer is not necessary for cooking seasoned fries. However, if desired, the air fryer can be preheated for 3 minutes before adding the potatoes.

Soaking

Soaking the potatoes in hot water for 10 minutes prior to cooking is essential for achieving the crispiest fries. The water removes excess starch from the potatoes, allowing them to crisp up during the cooking process. After soaking, it is important to pat the potatoes dry with kitchen towels or paper towels before adding the oil and seasonings.

Cooking time

The cooking time for your seasoned fries in an air fryer will depend on the type of potato you use, how thickly you cut the fries, and how many layers of potatoes you cook at once.

For a single layer of potatoes, you can expect the cooking time to be around 15-20 minutes at 356°F to 400°F. If you are cooking in multiple layers, the top layer will cook faster than the bottom layer. In this case, you can cook the potatoes for 10 minutes, toss them, and then cook for an additional 3 to 7 6-10 minutes until they are crispy and golden brown.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model of your air fryer and the thickness of your fries. Be sure to keep an eye on your fries during the cooking process to ensure they don't burn.

Serving suggestions

There are endless ways to serve your homemade air fryer fries, and they make a great side dish or snack.

If you're after a simple, classic option, serve them with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a side of ketchup or mustard for dipping. You could also add some fresh herbs, chilli powder, garlic powder, or onion powder for a little extra flavour.

For something a little different, try one of these fun dipping sauces: chipotle sauce, chimichurri, vegan cheese, buttermilk ranch, onion ring dipping sauce, or fry sauce (which also works well as a burger sauce).

If you want to make your fries part of a meal, they go well with a veggie burger, an Italian beef sandwich, or any other kind of burger or sandwich. They also make a great side to a Portobello mushroom burger, a crispy cauliflower Po' Boy sandwich, or BBQ jackfruit sandwiches.

If you're making a larger meal, you could serve your air fryer fries as a side to air fryer hamburgers or a ribeye steak.

And if you want to experiment with different seasonings, you could try making Cajun fries, Italian fries, or curry fries.

Frequently asked questions