One of the best things about the air fryer is how easy it makes it to cook deliciously crispy snacks. From tater tots to chicken wings, the air fryer allows you to make perfectly snackable treats without any of the oil that you'd typically need to get them to such a crispy texture. Here's how to cook frozen fries in the air fryer to get to a Wendy's level of delectable.
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It can be hard to get frozen fries to the same texture you could achieve with fresh fries, but the air fryer does the trick. You can adjust the cooking time based on how crispy you like your fries, along with how thick they are. Extra crispy french fries will take longer, while soft ones will need less time.
Personalize Your Air Fryer Fries
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The classic way to enjoy air fryer frozen french fries is with some simple salt and dipped in ketchup. However, the sky's the limit when it comes to this easy side dish or appetizer, and you can add your own twist to make them as flavorful as they are crispy.
Try using different seasonings than just salt, like garlic powder, onion powder, celery or chipotle powder for a spicy side. You can also try seasoned salt! Try seasoning each batch differently to have a variety of flavors to choose from.
You can also get creative with sauces for your air fried frozen french fries. If you don't feel like increasing your prep time and just want to have comforting fast food from home, stick with ketchup. However, making a tasty dipping sauce like sriracha mayo, cheese sauce, or aioli will bring your air fryer frozen fries to a new level.
Here's a list of creative sauces for your air fryer french fries at Cheap Recipe Blog.
How to Cook Frozen Fries in the Air Fryer to Crispy Perfection
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To cook frozen french fries in the air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil and put the frozen French fries in. Make sure to only spray the basket lightly, since too much oil will result in mushy fries.
Cook your frozen air fryer french fries for 5 minutes, then take them out and shake them well, making sure to thoroughly toss the fries. Put them back in for another 5 minutes, then shake again. Repeat this process every 5 minutes, checking the doneness of the fries each time. If your air fryer naturally rotates, you don't need to toss them, but it's still best to check them every 10 minutes or so to check for doneness.
Around 25 minutes, the fries should be nice and crispy and ready to enjoy. Take them out and snack away, or repeat with remaining batches if necessary.
If the fries are extra thick, they'll take a bit longer, while thinner fries will have a shorter total time. You can also adjust the cook time based on your preferences- for example, if you like softer fries, you'll want to take them out early before they get too crispy. It's also important to note that each air fryer will cook slightly differently, so take your fries out based on how done they are rather than how long it's been.
Cook Times of Different Fries
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Although 20-25 minutes is a good estimate for classic fries, certain types of fries will take longer or shorter depending on their shape and thickness. These are estimates for different kinds of fries:
- Shoestring Fries: 6-10 minutes
- Waffle Fries: 10-12 minutes
- Crinkle-cut Fries: 10-12 minutes
- Curly Fries: 10-12 minutes
- Steak Fries: 12-15 minutes
Reheating Fries In the Air Fryer
If you've already made your delectably crispy fries and you're just here to reheat your leftovers, the air fryer is great for that as well. Since they're already cooked, set the air fryer to a slightly lower temperature, 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the fries in a single layer for 3-5 minutes, until warm and crispy, and viola!
