This Air fryer French Fries recipe creates restaurant-quality fries that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, without deep frying. It's an easy and satisfying side dish baked until golden brown and delicious, best served with burgers, chicken and more.
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Fries are such a universally loved food. But did you know that they have a national day dedicated to them? That's right! July 13th is National French Fry Day!
So today, I'm sharing this family favorite EASY Fries recipe with you that's a snitch to put together. We make it (almost) every weekend and serve them with burgers, grilled chicken, or enjoy it as a movie snack!
Baked French Fries - Easy No-Fry Recipe
Is there anything more satisfying than a large basket of freshly fried french fries? (say that 5 times fast :)) Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, fried potatoes always hit the spot.
But what I love about this recipe is that I can create baked French Fries at home without any fuss, and they are just as satisfying and crave-worthy as restaurant-quality fries. Here are more reasons to love them:
- Two simple tricks result in crispy, crunchy fries every time
- The no-fry approach means there is no standing over a pot of hot oil
- Baked french fries are lower in fat, grease and calories (and much better for you!)
It's a delicious, no-fry recipe prepared in the Air Fryer or using the Crisplid/Air Fryer lid. All that's missing is a side of fry sauce, a few freshly made Masala Chicken Burgers or Veggie Bean Burgers and you have a filling and flavorful weekday meal!
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
The star ingredient - potatoes! Once you have the best potato to make french fries, all you need is high-heat cooking oil and a few staple seasonings.
- Potatoes: The best potato for french fries (whether deep-fried or baked) is the humble russet potato (also known as Idaho potatoes).
- Russet potatoes have the ideal amount of starch.
- They are dense, meaning their water content is low and starch content is high. This allows them to get extra crispy.
- If russet potatoes are unavailable, Yukon gold potatoes are a good substitute. These are waxy potatoes with thin skin. They have a higher water content, so they may need an additional 1-2 minutes of baking time.
- Oil: Avocado oil is my go-to high heat cooking oil for its mild flavor.
- High-heat cooking oil is ideal so that the quality and flavor do no degrade at such a high baking temperature.
- Peanut oil or olive oil are good substitutes.
- Seasonings: Salt and pepper are a must when it comes to fried potatoes of any kind.
- Cayenne and garlic powder are other optional flavors to add another layer of flavor.
- Feel free to use a combination of your favorite seasonings to customize the fries to your liking.
How to Make Air Fryer Fries
These baked french fries come together in a few simple steps, with two special tricks along the way. Simply:
1: Prepare Fries
- Rinse potatoes to wash off any dirt on the skin. Cut potatoes into ¼-inch sticks (no need to peel) (Pics 1 & 2).
- Place the sliced potatoes into a large bowl of cold water, making sure all the potatoes are completely submerged. Let fries soak for 20 minutes (this is ideal), or a minimum of 10 minutes (if in a rush). This removes excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the air fryer (Pic 3).
- Thoroughly pat them dry using a few kitchen towels. This is extremely important, as moisture will lead to soft fries, so dry them completely. Tip: If you like, toss with 1 tablespoon cornstarch to soak up any excess moisture (Pic 4).
2: Season and Air Fry (Preferred Method)
- Once dry, place in a large bowl and toss well with oil and seasonings (Pic 5).
- Place the fries in one even layer in the air fryer basket and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes (I separate my fries into two batches) (Pic 6).
- Shake the basket and put in for another 5 minutes, this ensures even crisping of fries. To make the fries extra-crispy, before air frying for the 2nd time, either spray them gently with a cooking spray like Pam, or add those fries to the bowl in which you had seasoned them, and then add them back to the fryer basket for 5 minutes.
- If not perfectly crisp, place in for another 2 minutes. Total time is roughly 15 minutes per batch of fries.
Alternative Method: French Fries with Crisplid
- Place the fries in one even layer in the mesh fryer basket. Position the basket on top of a metal trivet fit inside the steel pot of the Instant Pot. Seal with Crisplid and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Using tongs, flip the fries for even cooking and bake for another 5 minutes (Pic 7).
Note: If the Crisplid is new to you, check out this in-depth review on the Mealthy Crisplid before getting started.
Texture Compared to Deep Fried French Fries
When it comes down to it, fried is fried! Fries prepared in a deep-fryer tend to stay crisp for longer. That's because restaurants use the double-fry method to achieve that perfect fry texture.
That being said, I much prefer the air fried version for the health benefits. According to multiple studies, Air Fryer french fries are healthier than fried fries because they :
- Have an extremely lower fat content (sometimes up to 75%!)
- Offer an easy way to cut calories (without having to sacrifice fried foods)
- Can decrease the formation of harmful compounds (including carcinogens, which have been shown to develop during high-heat cooking of carbohydrate-rich foods)
- Do not require as much oil (3 cups for deep frying vs 3 Tablespoons for air frying)
Air Fryer vs Crisplid- My Preference
Although both methods produce crisp and crunchy fries, my preferred method is the Air Fryer. It's easy, fast and efficient. There is no flipping of fries, but rather a quick and easy shaking.
Plus, I find I can fit a lot more fries in the air fryer basket (I have an XL size fryer) rather than the mesh fryer basket that comes with the Crisplid. This means my fries are done in 2 batches, rather than 3-4 with the Crisplid.
Serving Suggestions - Fry Sauce & Burgers
In our home, a hot basket of fries deserves one thing - fry sauce! But go ahead and serve it with ketchup, sriracha or whatever dipping sauce you like to dunk those fries in!
And for those weeknights when I want a complete meal, I always make sure to serve homemade fries with Masala Chicken Burgers, Veggie Burgers or Tandoori Chicken Sliders.
Storage & Re-Heating Instructions
If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When ready to enjoy, reheat them for 3-4 minutes in your air fryer or place on a baking sheet in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Submerge the sliced potatoes in cold water for 10-20 minutes. If you are in a rush, 10 minutes is good, but 20 minutes is ideal. The longer soaking time removes more starch from the potatoes.
- Dry the potatoes thoroughly. After soaking, it's very important to dry the potatoes as much as possible. I use multiple kitchen towels to achieve an extra dry exterior. Too much moisture leads to soggy fries. If in a rush, you can toss the fries with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch to rid of excess moisture after pat drying.
- Don't overcrowd the fryer or fryer basket. No matter which method you choose, it is important to have space between the potatoes so the hot air circulating in the air fryer reaches all parts of the potato and they crisp up. This means you may have to do your fries in batches, but the extra effort is well worth it.
- Double or triple the recipe. This homemade fry recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. As always, bake the fries in one even layer and in batches. Simply place the cooked fries on a wire baking rack placed on top of a baking sheet in a warm oven (200 degrees F) while you bake the remaining batches. This will keep the cooked fries warm and crispy.
- To make the fries extra-crispy, before air frying for the 2nd time, either spray them gently with a cooking spray, like Pam, or add those fries to the bowl in which you had seasoned them, and then add them back to the fryer basket for 5 minutes.
Air Fryer French Fries FAQs
Soaking washed and cut potatoes in a large bowl of cold water removes excess starch. This helps achieve maximum crispness.
Homemade french fries can become soggy if there is too much moisture on the surface of the potato or if the potatoes are too crowded during baking (meaning none of the hot air can circulate around the surface).
More Potato Side Dishes From My Kitchen
- Spicy Bombay Potatoes: Baby potatoes coated with a potpourri of Indian spices and cooked till they are golden crisp in the Instant Pot, Air Fryer or Oven.
- Parmesan Roasted Potatoes: Baby potatoes flavored with herbs and parmesan cheese that are roasted until crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
- Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes: Creamy potatoes and cauliflower get a flavor boost with garlic, heavy cream, parmesan and goat cheese.
📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer French Fries
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 medium russet potatoes or large yukon gold (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil or any oil with high-smoke point
- 1 teaspoon salt (or ½ teaspoon sea salt)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground is best
Optional Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Prepare Fries
- Rinse potatoes to wash off any dirt on the skin. Cut potatoes into ¼-inch sticks (no need to peel).
- Place the sliced potatoes into a large bowl of cold water, making sure all the potatoes are completely submerged. Let fries soak for a minimum of 10 minutes (if in a rush) and up to 20 minutes (this is ideal). This helps to remove excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the air fryer.
- Thoroughly pat them dry using a few kitchen towels. This is extremely important, as moisture will lead to soft fries, so dry them completely. Tip: Toss with 1 tablespoon cornstarch to soak up any excess moisture.
Season and Air Fry French Fries
- Once dry, place in a large bowl and toss well with oil and seasonings.
- Place the fries in one even layer in the air fryer basket and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes (I had to separate my fries into two batches). Shake the basket and put in for another 5 minutes, this ensures even crisping of fries. To make the fries extra-crispy, before air frying for the 2nd time, either spray them gently with a cooking spray, like Pam, or add those fries to the bowl in which you had seasoned them, and then add them back to the fryer basket for 5 minutes. If not crisp, place in for another 2 minutes. Total time is roughly 15 minutes per batch of fries.
French Fries with Crisplid
- Place the fries in one even layer in the mesh fryer basket. Position the basket on top of a metal trivet fit inside the steel pot of the Instant Pot. Seal with Crisplid and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Using tongs, flip the fries for even cooking and bake for another 5 minutes.
Notes
- Submerge the sliced potatoes in cold water for 10-20 minutes. If you are in a rush, 10 minutes is good, but 20 minutes is ideal. The longer soaking time removes more starch from the potatoes.
- Dry the potatoes thoroughly. After the 10-20 minute soak, it's very important to dry the potatoes as much as possible. I had to use multiple kitchen towels to achieve an extra dry exterior. Too much moisture leads to soggy fries. Feel free to toss the fries with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch to rid of excess moisture.
- Don't overcrowd the fryer or fryer basket. No matter which method you choose, it's important to have space between the potatoes so the hot air circulating in the air fryer reaches all parts of the potato and they crisp up. This means you may have to do your fries in batches, but the extra effort is well worth it.
- Double or triple the recipe. This homemade fry recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. As always, bake the fries in one even layer and in batches. Simply place the cooked fries on a wire baking rack placed on top of a baking sheet in a warm oven (200 degrees F) while you bake the remaining batches. This will keep the cooked fries warm and crispy.
- To make the fries extra-crispy, before air frying for the 2nd time, either spray them gently with a cooking spray, like Pam, or add those fries to the bowl in which you had seasoned them, and then add them back to the fryer basket for 5 minutes.
Jordan says
Wouldn't it make more sense to do the first fry at a lower temp?
Aneesha says
Sure, you can try that. I'd love to hear about your results. Thanks!
Sandeep Reddy says
Thanks for this informative recipe post, I loved the way you express feelings with words.
Aneesha says
Thank you Sandeep! Hope you enjoy the fries!