Name: Air Fryer French Fries
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 3 large russet potatoes; 2-3 tablespoons olive oil; Sea salt and pepper, to taste

We love crispy French fries with a light, fluffy center – and have been making these Air Fryer French Fries for years because we found a method that works. French Fries at home – that aren't deep-fried- rarely give us the flavor we're craving, but this method we have tweaked and tested hundreds of times over the years always comes out solid – and it will in your home, too.

We were frustrated with French Fry Recipes that were confusing and lacked that solid, double-fried crunch our kids and we were craving. This recipe is one Air Fryer Recipe that just always works – our friends and we swear by it, and have for years – we're going to share why!

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

What stands out

a fraction of the oil of deep frying, with that same crispy, golden result
Foolproof for beginners – no guessing, no soggy fries, no confusing steps
Ready with minimal cleanup, since there's no pot of hot oil to deal with
Kid-approved and genuinely one of the easiest ways to make restaurant-quality fries at home
Need tips on How to Use an Air Fryer? Check out our post!

Ingredients to Make Air Fryer Fries

To make this recipe, you'll need:

3 large russet potatoes – we love russets for their rich, buttery taste, and how the starch works to puff and crisp perfectly in the air fryer. Russet potatoes have the classic, rich, potatoey flavor everyone loves. You can peel the potatoes or leave the peel on – but wash it well.
2-3 tablespoons olive oil – use a good-quality olive oil you love the flavor of. You can change up the flavor of your fries by using flavored oils like garlic oil, chile oil, etc.
Sea salt and pepper, to taste – we like to finish fries with either Maldon salt or powdered salt for the light, salty flavor that distributes evenly.

How to Make Air Fryer Fries, Step by Step

Once you've gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

Prep & soak

Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes into fries. We don't worry too much about the size of fry we are making- some are bigger, and some are smaller. That's fine!

Pat Dry

Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees. After an hour, drain the water, and pat fries dry with a paper towel.

Season

Toss with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Air Fry

Add fries to bottom of air fryer basket, making sure they are all on the same level (don't stack them on top of each other.) Cook 13 minutes, until crispy and golden brown. Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and a cooling rack over it. Place in warm oven (set to the minimum temperature, not over 250 degrees) and let rest while other batches of fries are cooking.

Enjoy!

Serve hot, with French Fry Sauce!

How Long to Air Fry French Fries

French fries in the air fryer cook pretty quickly – they should take about 13-18 minutes, depending on how thinly they are cut.

The Secrets to solid Air Fryer French Fries Every Time

Season fries. This recipe is so good because it can be made with all sorts of different flavors and seasonings to customize to your preferences – try some of these easy ideas, or come up with your own!

Onion powder or garlic powder over oiled fries for a bit more flavor.
Herbs de provence salt for a rustic French twist.
Cajun seasoning sprinkled over fries gives a spicy Five Guys like french fry flavor – straight from your air fryer.
Brush fries in the final 5 minutes of baking time with butter, diced garlic, and finely diced parsley for sinfully rich garlic butter fries if desired.

Use Russet Potatoes. Russet potatoes give a classic french fry flavor. Leave skins on, but wash potatoes well and scrub off any excess dirt, remove any eyes or bruises.

Use a mandoline to cut fries. Cut potatoes with a mandoline for easy, solid sticks that will crisp up well.

Soak fries. Make sure your fries soak for at least one hour in a large bowl of cold water – preferably changing the water after 20 minutes or 30 minutes with fresh new cold water. Soaking in water helps remove some of the starch, which will help them crisp up better!

Dry fries well after soaking. Make sure your fries are dry after soaking. Pat them with paper towels or a clean dish towel to be sure there is no residual moisture. Wet fries = soggy fries.

Cook in a Single Layer. Allowing fries to have room away from each other while air frying helps them cook faster and get crunchier. Fries that have plenty of space to cook should not stick to the air fryer basket and should come out with a gentle shaking of the basket.

Shake the Basket. Shake basket a few times in the middle of cooking to be sure all sides get a crispy crunch. Air Fryers aren't like instant pots – you can open them and stir food, dont let all the hot air escape.

Adjust cook time as needed. We watch our french fries closely while cooking, and make adjustments as needed. Every oven and air fryer is different, and we've noticed a ton of things impact cook time and even something as small as the humidity in the air can impact cook time.

Rest air fries in warm oven. We line a baking sheet with paper towels and place a cooling rack over it. When each batch is done from the air fryer, we toss them on the cooling rack and pop the baking sheet in the oven. We set the oven as low as possible – about 200-250 degrees at the most- to keep the fries warm.

This also lets any excess oil drip off, and prevents fries from becoming cold or soggy.

Serve with dipping sauce! Whether its ketchup Spicy Whipped Fetamayo Easy Homemade Blue Cheese Dipor French Fry Sauce – fries are good when you dip them into something!

Keeping leftovers

Store leftover air fryer fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Fries lose their crispiness as they sit, but the good news is they're easy to bring back to life.

The best way to reheat air fryer fries is right back in the air fryer. Spread them in a single layer in the basket and air fry at 375 degrees for 3-5 minutes, shaking halfway through, until hot and crispy again. This method works far better than the microwave, which will leave fries soft and soggy instead of crisp.

If you don't have an air fryer handy, reheat fries in a 400-degree oven for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Avoid stacking them in a pile while reheating, since that traps steam and makes them soggy.

These fries are best fresh and don't freeze particularly well raw or cooked, so it's best to make what you plan to eat within a few days.

To find our entire air fryer recipe index, click here.

Air Fryer Fries FAQs

Why Air Fryer?

Air Fryers work to circulate hot air quickly around food, for precise, directed heat that gives food a crispy crunch like deep frying – with a whole lot less oil.

How long to air fry french fries?

Air fryer french fries take about 20 minutes to cook.

What air fryer should we use for crunchy air fryer fries?

Fries are best when cooked as hot as possible, from 400-450 depending on your air fryer. Cook as hot as possible in your air fryer for the best crispy crunch.

What type of potatoes should we use for air fryer french fries?

We personally love the classic potato flavor of russet potatoes for this recipe, but Yukon Golds work well too.

Can we skip soaking potatoes?

While you can skip soaking your potatoes before frying, the potatoes will have a harder time crisping up since they won't have given off some of their starch. Letting potatoes release starch helps them crisp and allows the outside to get crunchy while still light and airy inside!

Do we need to dry potatoes before air frying?

For this recipe it is essential to pat potatoes dry of any water so that the olive oil can stick to the potatoes and help crisp them up without getting soggy.

Do we need to peel the potatoes for air fryer French fries?

It's a matter of personal preference. You can leave the skin on for added texture and flavor, or peel the potatoes if you prefer a smoother texture.

Can we season the fries with spices and herbs?

Absolutely! Season the fries with your favorite spices such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, or herbs like rosemary or thyme before air frying for added flavor.

How do we keep the fries warm and crispy before serving?

You can place the cooked fries on a wire rack in a single layer in a warm oven (around 200°F or 93°C) to keep them warm and maintain their crispiness until serving.

What dipping sauces go well with french fries?

Common dipping sauces include ketchup, mayonnaise, aioli, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or cheese sauce. You can also get creative with homemade sauces or seasonings. We also love our French Fry Sauce.

What temperature for air fryer fries?

Preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F (190-200°C), or as high as your air fryer will go.

How long to air fry fries?

Cook the fries for about 15-20 minutes, shaking or flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.

Can we make this recipe with sweet potatoes?

These French fries are simple and good – and can be used with sweet potatoes, too! You will need to adjust cooking time for crispness with the sweet potatoes for sweet potato fries, but the rest of the recipe can remain the same.

Are Air Fryer Fries healthy?

There is no question air fryer fries are healthier than deep fried fries, as long as eating potatoes in moderation are a part of your diet. Potatoes, while a starch, contain many health benefits when eaten in moderation. For more information on the health benefits of potatoes, consider this potato nutrition guide.

Ingredients

3 large russet potatoes
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Method

Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice the potatoes into fries. We don't worry too much about the size of fry we are making- some are bigger, and some are smaller. That's fine!
Next, place your potatoes in a cool water bath. Completely submerge the fries in water.
Let fries sit one hour. This helps to remove excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the oven.
Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees.
After an hour, drain the water, and pat fries dry with a paper towel.
Toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper.
Add fries to bottom of air fryer basket, making sure they are all on the same level (don't stack them on top of each other.)
Cook 15-20 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels and a cooling rack over it.
Place in warm oven (set to the minimum temperature, not over 250 degrees) and let rest while other batches of fries are cooking.
Serve hot and enjoy.