Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Air fryer frozen french fries cook straight from the freezer and come out crispy and ready to serve in about 10 minutes with no extra oil needed.
💌 Don't forget to save this recipe!
French fries are a favorite in our house. I love regular cut, steak fries, and curly fries. John is a huge fan of shoestring cut. We always have a bag of frozen fries handy just in case one of us gets a craving.
I make some almost every week, usually when we’re having homemade hamburgers. The recipe itself is simple. The biggest thing to remember 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.
Serve them with ketchup or my 5-minute fry sauce.
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.
You shouldn’t need to add any cooking spray or oil since frozen fries don’t tend to stick. If you decide to, make sure it’s just a thin coating so the fries don’t get greasy.
Pour the frozen fries into the basket and spread them into a single layer. If you want to cook an entire bag, it’s better to separate the fries into two batches so there’s plenty of room.
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. My homemade seasoning salt tastes great on them, too. They’ll start to lose their crunch as they sit, so this isn’t a side dish I’d make ahead of time.
What to Serve with Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
- 32 ounce bag frozen french fries
- Salt, or your favorite seasoning (to taste)
💌 Don't forget to save this recipe!
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.