Easy Homemade French Fries in Air Fryer
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Homemade French Fries in Air Fryer come out hot and crispy with a perfectly fluffy center. Plus, you’ll need far less oil than if you deep-fried each batch. Make homemade air fryer french fries from scratch with your favorite blend of spices and seasonings!
Homemade French Fries in Air Fryer
Sure, we all keep a bag of frozen fries on hand, but did you know you can make homemade french fries in air fryer too? No deep fryer necessary!!
All you need to do is slice and soak a few Russet potatoes, then toss with spices and only 2 tablespoons of oil. They’ll be ready to plate in just 20 minutes, and you only need to shake the basket once.
If you don’t have an air fryer, I have a recipe for oven-baked wedges that you can use for reference. Just reduce the cooking time when cooking thinner fries.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Russet Potatoes – These are the top choice for homemade fries in the air fryer.
Since they aren’t waxy, the insides get nice and fluffy while the outside crisps and browns.
The flavor is also quite neutral, allowing you to use whatever seasonings you’d like! - Olive Oil – Use this to help the outside of the fries brown and crisp. It also helps the seasonings stick to the surface.
Good alternatives include vegetable oil, avocado oil, or peanut oil. - Seasonings – I used a savory blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder for my homemade air fryer french fries.
You could stick with just salt and pepper, try a seasoned salt blend, or mix in some cayenne pepper or chili powder to make them a bit spicy!
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Homemade Fries in the Air Fryer
- Don’t skip the soak, and dry before seasoning.
The initial rinse in cold water removes the starch that was released when the potatoes were sliced. You’ll be able to see it coating the surface.
You’ll then need to submerge and soak the potato strips in ice-cold water to draw out even more starch.
30 minutes is the minimum, but longer is better — up to 3 hours. If you soak for several hours, change out the water when it starts to get warm.
Drain and rinse the potatoes one more time, then pat them as dry as possible before coating in oil and spices. All of these steps combined guarantee the crispiest results!
- Season before air frying — and get creative!
Unlike deep-fried recipes, it’s best to coat homemade air fryer french fries in seasoning before you cook them.
Don’t salt too early, though. This can draw moisture out of the potatoes and cause them to be soft instead of crispy.
Wanting something a little fancier than basic spices? Toss potato strips with Cajun or taco seasoning. Seasoned salt would also be tasty — that’s what Red Robin uses!
Or, swap the garlic and onion powder for minced garlic cloves, then sprinkle cooked fries with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.
- Work in batches as needed.
Like any other air fryer recipe, the food needs to be cooked in a single layer with some space between each fry.
A crowded basket will cause the fries to steam, rather than crisp.
I like to preheat my oven to 200°F and place a baking sheet inside. When each batch is done, it gets transferred to the hot pan to stay warm.
When all of the fries are cooked, toss all the homemade fries in the air fryer together and heat again for 1 to 2 minutes.
The whole batch will be hot, crispy, and ready for serving. No soggy fries here!
Prep Ahead
- Clean and cut potatoes
- Rinse with cold water
- Soak in ice water for 30+ minutes
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Air Fryer – Different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
Serving Suggestions
Every fry needs a dip, amirite?? There are so many to choose from, but here are a few of my top choices:
- Ketchup
- Honey Mustard
- Ranch
- Chick Fil A Sauce
- BBQ Ranch
- Nacho Cheese
- Chipotle Mayo
This homemade french fries air fryer recipe is great for a snack or as a side to all your favorite dishes.
Pair with classics like burgers and hot dogs or serve with sandwiches and pulled pork sliders. I always add some to my plate when I make Alice Springs chicken!
These go especially well with my copycat White Castle Burgers or Chick Fil A spicy chicken sandwich!
Storing and Reheating Homemade Air Fryer French Fries
While these are best served hot and fresh, you can save any leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2-3 days.
You can also freeze them for longer storage. Arrange homemade fries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
Transfer to a storage bag or container, then air fry from frozen within 3 months.
Reheat homemade french fries in air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes (longer if frozen), or until they are hot and crispy again!
Homemade French Fries Air Fryer FAQ
Lay a scrubbed potato on its side and cut length-wise into ¼-inch slabs. Stack 2 or 3 slabs on top of each other, then slice in the same way to create long fries.
Make sure to cut the strips as evenly as possible to ensure they cook evenly and at the same rate. You can also use tools such as a mandoline or French fry cutter to guarantee evenly sized strips.
It’s entirely up to you! I like to leave the peels on for this homemade french fries air fryer recipe — it cuts down on prep time, adds a little texture, and helps with crisping.
But if you prefer your fries without the skin, peel the potatoes before slicing and soaking.
You’ll want to go by both sight and taste. I can’t tell you how many times my homemade french fries in air fryer looked done but were still a bit crunchy in the middle.
Sneak a fry out of the basket and take a bite (let it cool a bit first!). It should be golden and crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. If not, cook for another minute or two and test again.
Enjoy!
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Easy Homemade French Fries in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 Russet potatoes, cleaned, not peeled
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Clean the potatoes, leave the skin on, and cut into french fries size.
- Rinse the potatoes with cold water.
- Put the cut potatoes into a bowl of ice-cold water for a minimum of 30 minutes. Longer will be better. If you leave the potatoes in the water longer, change the water once or twice.
- When ready to cook, take the french fries out of the water and place them on a towel.
- Use another towel and dry them as much as you can.
- Put the dry potatoes into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the olive oil and mix to coat the fries.
- Sprinkle the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground pepper. Mix well.
- Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air Fry at 330 degrees F for 10 minutes. Mix and air fry for 10 minutes or until golden and desired crispiness.
- Place on a parchment line plate.
- Sprinkle with additional salt if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2024
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These came out so good!! Perfect for burger night!