Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Air fryer frozen french fries cook straight from the freezer and come out crispy and ready to serve in minutes with no extra oil needed.
I make these almost every week, usually when we’re having homemade hamburgers. The recipe itself is simple. The biggest thing is getting the batch size and cooking time right so the fries crisp instead of steam.
Thin fries can go from crisp to overdone pretty quickly, while thicker cuts may need a few extra minutes. Here’s how I cook frozen fries in the air fryer and adjust the time for different cuts.
For Crispier Frozen Fries
Cook them from frozen. There’s no need to thaw the fries first. Thawed fries tend to turn soft and mushy.
Leave room in the basket. If you’re cooking a full bag, divide it into two batches. Too many fries packed together will steam instead of crisp despite what the instructions on the bag says.
Shake the basket halfway through. This moves the fries around so more of the surface is exposed to the hot air.
Season them while they’re hot. Add the salt as soon as the fries come out of the basket so it sticks.
Ketchup is always an option, but my 5-minute fry sauce is just as easy and gives you something a little different.
How to Make Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for a couple of minutes. This helps the fries start cooking as soon as they go into the basket.
A light coating of cooking spray on the basket is optional. Most frozen french fries are already coated with oil, so you shouldn’t need to add more to the fries themselves.
Pour the frozen fries into the basket and spread them into a single layer. Cook a full bag in two batches rather than piling all the fries into the basket at once.
Air fry the frozen french fries for 9 to 11 minutes, shaking the basket about halfway through.
Shoestring and other thin fries may finish closer to 9 minutes. Steak fries, waffle fries, and other thicker cuts may need a few additional minutes. Check the first batch early since cooking times vary by brand and air fryer.
Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, season them with salt and serve them right away. They’ll start to lose their crunch as they sit, so this isn’t a side dish I’d make ahead of time.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Fries
Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
For the best texture, reheat them in the air fryer at 375°F for 2 to 3 minutes or until hot and crisp. The microwave will warm them, but it also tends to make them soft.
Ingredients
- 32 ounce bag frozen french fries
- Salt, or your favorite seasoning (to taste)
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Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 2 to 3 minutes. Lightly spray the basket with nonstick cooking spray if needed.
- Working in batches, arrange the frozen french fries in an even layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding the basket.32 ounce bag frozen french fries
- Cook each batch for 9 to 11 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Thin fries may cook more quickly, while thick-cut fries may need a few additional minutes.
- Season the fries with salt or your favorite seasoning as soon as they come out of the air fryer. Serve immediately.Salt
Notes
- Cook the fries straight from frozen. There’s no need to thaw them first.
- Most frozen fries are already coated with oil, so you shouldn’t need to add extra oil.
- Cooking times vary depending on the brand, fry cut, and air fryer. Begin checking thin fries early and add more time for thicker fries as needed.
- You don’t have to cook the entire bag. The temperature and cooking time per batch stay about the same when making a smaller amount.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 375°F for 2 to 3 minutes. A 32-ounce bag makes about 10 servings based on a 3-ounce serving size.
- The exact number of servings will vary. Nutrition information will vary depending on the brand and type of frozen french fries used.
Nutrition
