Air Fryer French Fries (Homemade)

Get your french fry fix with this easy and delicious recipe for air fryer french fries! Perfectly crispy and golden, these homemade french fries are a simple and healthy alternative to deep-fried ones.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Get perfectly crispy and golden french fries without deep frying
• They are quick and easy to make from simple ingredients
• They are versatile – french fries are the perfect side dish to so many meals, they are certain to become a staple in your meal rotation.

Air frying is a great way to cook potatoes for a quick and easy side dish. For some other great air fryer potato recipes try air fryer roast potatoes, air fryer potato wedges, or and air fryer baked potatoes.

Scroll down for the recipe card for these crispy homemade air fryer french fries, or read on for all the details.

What do you need?

Potatoes

For fries that are fluffy on the inside with a crisp outside then you need to choose a starchy variety of potatoes. Choose yellow or gold varieties or all-purpose potatoes. Any of the following will be great:

• Russet potatoes
• Yellow varieties
• Idaho
• Maris Piper
• Red gold
• Yukon gold

Choose large potatoes that are elongated in shape as these will be easier to cut into even sized fries.

Oil

You will need some oil to get these fries really crispy. I use light olive oil, but avocado oil, vegetable oil are also good options.

The amount of oil you use will determine how crispy your fries get (but also how healthy they are), so use less oil for a healthier (though maybe less crispy) version, or lots of oil to crisp them right up!

For extra healthy air fryer french fries you just use a tiny spray of oil. However, try to use the type of oil spray that spritzes rather than an aerosol, and avoid using generic ‘cooking spray’ – both can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer.

Salt

I use kosher salt or finely ground sea salt. You need around ½ teaspoon per pound of potatoes. If you are using table salt then use ¼ per pound of potatoes.

How to cook french fries in the air fryer

This recipe is very simple to make in your air fryer, there are just a few key steps to getting it just right:

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 2 inch long fries around ½ inch wide.
2. Soak the potato fries in cold water for at least 20 minutes. This is to remove the potato starch that forms on the outside of the potato pieces when they are peeled and cut. This is important if you want to get really crispy fries. If you are really short on time you can just rinse them under running water, but you’ll get the best results from soaking them.
3. Dry them thoroughly. The fries need to be dried thoroughly before air frying. This allows the cooking process to start straight away, without waiting for the surface moisture to dry out first. If you want really crisp potato fries don’t skip this step!
4. Place dried fries in a large bowl, drizzle with the oil, and toss potatoes to coat thoroughly. Note: don’t add the salt yet, as it can draw moisture to the surface of the raw fries, making them soggy.
5. Place french fries in air fryer basket, and air fry for 10 minutes, then give the basket a good shake to redistribute the fries. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden and crispy. Add the salt to the cooked fries, and shake the basket to season the fries.

Serving ideas

Serve these fries with your favorite dipping sauces, or take them to the next level with one of these tasty ideas:

• Chili cheese fries: Top air fryer French fries with chili and melted cheese for a hearty and satisfying meal.
• Loaded fries: Top air fryer French fries with bacon, sour cream, chives, and other toppings for a loaded and delicious treat.
• Poutine: Top air fryer French fries with gravy and cheese curds for a classic Canadian dish that’s sure to satisfy.
• Truffle fries: Drizzle truffle oil over air fryer French fries and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese for a luxurious and indulgent flavor.

Storing and heating

Store any leftover fries in an air tight container in the fridge. Use within three days.

You can reheat fries in the air fryer. Air fry for 5-6 minutes until heated through.

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