Making french fries from scratch in an air fryer is a great way to make healthier and delicious fries that taste just like the ones you get at a restaurant. The best part about making them yourself is that you can control what goes into your food- no preservatives, additives, or artificial ingredients! This guide will walk you through each step of how to make french fries in an air fryer.
In order to make french fries in an air fryer you will need:
- Potatoes
- Vegetable Oil (a) for frying, or(b) if frozen and not pre-frozen, water – the amount depends on how many potatoes are being fried at once. If they’re fresh from the store then roughly a half cup per potato is recommended). However, if your potatoes were previously frozen it helps to use about one tablespoon of water instead of vegetable oil since there may be enough residual liquid left over from them thawing that could lead to soggy fries! Remember though that this means less cooking time as well so watch out for any burnt edges.
- For those who prefer a healthier version of french fries have the option of cooking in a microwave or air fryer, as both these methods require no additional oil.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder (optional)
Things you will need:
A cutting board and knife for slicing potatoes into fries; An oven bag that can withstand high temperatures on one side with an opening to fit your french fries inside on the other end while they cook; Paper towels to wipe away excess moisture from out of your potato before frying it).
Process: Slice potatoes into ¾ inch long slices (or half lengthwise if desired), then cut them again so they are about ½” wide. Soak them by placing them in cold water mixed with whatever spices needed like salt, pepper, or garlic salt. If you are not using the oven bag to cook your fries then soak them for at least 30 minutes in cold water before cooking).
Next place the french fry pieces in an oil free bowl and microwave on HIGH for about 90 seconds. Drain off excess moisture by dumping the potato out into a paper towel-lined plate as soon as they come out of the microwave.
Finally put each piece of cut up potato inside an oven bag with one end open so it can be closed shut when done cooking) and air fryer for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Open up your bags after 25 minutes have passed and make sure that all sides are browned evenly.
(if you are using an oven bag, make sure it is at least 16 inches wide)
Finally enjoy your homemade french fries and don’t forget to share the recipe with your family & friends!
How much oil do I put in my air fryer for making french-fries?
When cooking a dish like French Fries or other deep fried foods, always use less oil than what would be called for when cooking them traditionally. For example, instead of three cups of vegetable oil, only fill up two cups worth of space. This way there will not be any spillover and you will not be left with a greasy mess.
How long does it take to do french fries in an air fryer?
It takes about 20 minutes on the high setting or 25 minutes on the low temperature setting for frozen French Fries to cook through, and more time if they are fresh cut from potatoes. This only applies when cooking at home because some restaurants use convection ovens that can reduce this time up to half of what is needed (about ten minutes). So make sure you check out your own model!
Why soak potatoes before frying them?
Soaking raw potato slices covered by water helps removes some starch which results in crisper fried food without adding any extra flavorings like oil or salt. It prevents fries from becoming soggy as well.
How long should you soak potatoes before frying them?
You need to soak the potatoes in water for about 20 minutes or more depending on the size of the potato slices and how rugged it is (softer, less dense).
Why are my homemade fries soggy?
There may be not enough oil used when making french fries at home which can result in a less crispy fry with an oily taste because too much grease usually coats over the surface. Some people also have trouble cooking frozen French Fries without using oil but there are other ways like oven-baking that will prevent this from happening. However, if your air fryer comes with features like convection heating then you can fry frozen fries without having to use oil.
How to make frozen french fries in air fryer
If you want to cook or roast frozen fries then simply place them on the wire rack inside of your air fryer and set it for cooking time according to what is instructed by the manufacturer. Make sure that there is enough room between each piece so they have space when being cooked at high heat. You should also leave a little bit of space around any side if you are using an oven-safe dish.
How much oil do you put in an air fryer for fries?
A general rule of thumb is to use about ½-inch of cooking oil such as canola, peanut or vegetable. Be sure not to over-fill the basket with too many potatoes and make sure that they are spread out evenly so that all sides will be fried properly. You should also ensure that there’s enough room between the top rack and bottom rack of your oven since this space needs to accommodate a small amount of grease from frying which could otherwise cause smoke inhalation if it reaches too close to warm coils inside the oven cavity.
Why Soak Potatoes For French Fries?
This process helps break down some starches on the surface area of the potato, which will create a crusty exterior when fried. Soaking also helps to remove some of the excess water from inside the potatoes and reduce sputtering in hot oil later on.
How long should you soak potatoes before frying?
For crispy french fries, allow for about 30 minutes soaking time in cold water or overnight (about 12 hours). For softer fries with a less distinct outer layer but more fluffy interior texture, only need to soak around 15-20 minutres.
Why are my homemade fries soggy?
This is usually because you didn’t let them dry out sufficiently after they were soaked; this issue can be fixed by placing them on one half sheet pan lined with paper towels for several hours so that the excess water can evaporate.
How to make frozen french fries in air fryer
Air Fried Frozen French Fries – I use frozen wedges from Trader Joe’s (or anything similar) that are pre-cut and the correct thickness for cooking time, but you could also cut your own potatoes into a wedge shape if you like. If not using fresh potato wedges, soak them for at least 30 minutes before frying so they don’t sputter when dropped into hot oil. Air Fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer on 370 degrees Fahrenheit/190 Celsius for about 15 minutes with convection set on high; add desired amount of vegetable or peanut oil (I used enough to fill ⅔ up both sides); lay frozen wedges in a single layer on the rack. Cook for about 12-14 minutes, and then flip with metal tongs to cook the other side for another 11-13 minutes (or until crispy).
Read the detailed guide about How to make frozen french fries in the air fryer here
Air fryer french fries temperature:
The fries need the higher temperature for frying in order to cook all sides and not just the outside, but it also needs more time than a regular oven or deep fryer.
The best way to make french fries in an air fryer is with little oil if any at all. If you want them crispy then add something like corn starch (corn flour) as well which will help ensure they get fried on each side evenly without using too much fat- even when cooking at low temperatures that won’t burn food due to how hot it gets !!!
Some people recommend adding baking powder instead of salt because this can keep the potatoes from getting soggy. Depending on what type of potato you use, your resultsriers in an air fryer is usually around 170-180°C.
This temperature should be hot enough to soften the fries and make them crispy on the outside while not drying out or burning it.
Air Fryer French Fries Serving Suggestions:
- Eat them as a side dish with burgers, hot dogs or sandwiches.
- Use in recipes like French onion soup
- squeeze of lemon juice to give it some zing and flavor! (optional)
- Serve alongside creamy mashed potato salad for healthy meal that tastes amazing too! … And if you’re looking for the good stuff then grab yourself an air fryer french fries recipe book from your local bookstore or library ! Mmm… I’m drooling just thinking about all these different ways to eat this delicious food. 😋
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