Crispy Air Fryer French Fries (Printable)
Golden fries, crisped in air fryer and lightly salted, perfect as a snack or side dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Potatoes
01 - 4 large russet potatoes (approximately 2 pounds), peeled or unpeeled, cut into 1/4-inch thick fries
→ Seasoning & Oil
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus extra to taste
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl of cold water and soak for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess starch.
02 - Drain the potatoes and thoroughly pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
03 - Toss the dried fries with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Place the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
06 - Air fry the fries for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until golden and crispy.
07 - Sprinkle additional sea salt to taste and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They're genuinely crispy on the outside and fluffy inside without needing a deep fryer or hours of prep.
- The whole thing takes 30 minutes from raw potato to golden fries ready to eat.
- You can make them guilt-free because there's way less oil involved than traditional frying.
02 -
- Don't skip the soaking step; it genuinely changes the texture from ordinary to spectacular.
- Crowding the basket is the number one reason fries turn out soft instead of crispy, so work in batches if needed.
03 -
- Cut your fries to consistent thickness so they cook evenly and finish at the same time.
- If your potatoes are waxy instead of starchy, add an extra 3 to 5 minutes to the cooking time since they hold more moisture.