Air Fryer French Fries

Air Fryer French Fries are hot, crispy, savory, and salty! They have all of the flavor and texture of classic fries, but are made with less oil and fuss. The perfect side dish for any night of the week!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Soaking Time 1

Total Time 1 20

Servings servings

Calories 208kcal

Author John Kanell

Equipment

Air fryer
Paper towels
Large bowl

Ingredients

2 large russet potatoes (about 1¼ pounds/579g)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Peel the potatoes, if desired, and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices. (You can cut them lengthwise in long ovals for long fries or crosswise into rounds for smaller fries.) Cut the slices into 1/4-inch sticks.
Fill a large bowl with cold water and soak the potato sticks for 1 hour. Drain well, and pat very dry with paper towels.
Once dried, toss the potato sticks with oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
In an air fryer basket, arrange the potato sticks in an even layer with a little space between each one. (Cook in batches if needed.) Air fry at 375°F until golden brown and crispy, 10 to 15 minutes.

Notes

Potato cutting variations. For longer french fries, cut the potatoes lengthwise in long ovals before cross-cutting them into ¼-inch sticks. For shorter fries, cut the potatoes into rounds first.
Don’t skip the potato-soaking step. The cold water helps to remove excess starch from the exterior of the potato pieces, making for crispier fries. Always soak them in cold water for the full hour for the best results.
Thoroughly dry the potatoes after soaking. Removing all of the excess moisture from the fries is also paramount in creating the ideal textured fries! If necessary, blot out the moisture with two rounds of paper towels.
Cook in batches if needed. To prevent soggy fries, spread the fries out in a single layer before air frying, as the fries need space for the hot air to evenly circulate and create a crispy golden brown exterior. Place cooked fries on a large baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and keep them in an oven preheated to 200°F to keep them warm when air frying additional batches.
Adjust the cooking time for the strength of your air fryer. Different brands of air fryers can run at different temperatures. For the most accurate temperature reading, place an oven thermometer inside the air fryer for a minute or two before adding the food. Adjust the cooking temperature up or down based on the thermometer’s reading. Otherwise, check the fries at 10 minutes and add additional cooking time as needed.

Nutrition