Making Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer is the best way to enjoy yummy, crispy fries in just 15 minutes! Crispier than baking, and much less greasy than frying. You'll love every bite of these air fryer frozen french fries!
Jump to:
- Why air fry frozen french fries?
- Quick Reference for Air Frying Frozen Fries
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- What You'll Need
- How to Cook Frozen Fries in Air Fryer
- Troubleshooting
- Watch the Video
- Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
- Serving Suggestions for Frozen Fries
- Try this recipe with...
- Different Types of Fries
- Storing Leftover Fries
- Can I reheat fast food fries in the air fryer?
- FAQ
- Air Fryer Frozen Recipes
- Crispy Frozen Fries in the Air Fryer
- Feedback
Why air fry frozen french fries?
- It's quick: It takes 20 minutes or less to prepare frozen french fries in the air fryer, making it a quick and easy choice for a side dish for dinner or a snack!
- The results are great: Air frying frozen french fries results in crispy, tasty fries without any effort. We think they taste even better than your favorite fast food fries!
- You can use your favorite fries: You can prepare any brand or style of frozen fries in the air fryer. We'll show you how!
Quick Reference for Air Frying Frozen Fries
Whether you're preparing regular cut fries, steak fries, crinkle-cut fries, waffle fries, curly fries, shoestring fries, or even sweet potato fries, air fry them at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Do not overcrowd the air fryer. For a comprehensive guide, keep reading!
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Let's face it: we've all had a disappointing bag of frozen french fries. A good french fry is crispy and golden brown on the outside, and soft on the inside, and baking fries from frozen never seems to give you the crunch you're looking for.
Air fryer french fries are a totally different experience. They're as close as you can get to deep fried french fries in flavor and texture, without using an entire pot of oil and potentially making a huge mess.
The best thing about this recipe for air fryer frozen fries is that you can use it for your favorite brand and variety of fry, from shoestring to steak fries (we love air fryer potato wedges). So don't worry about buying a specific brand or style - you can use whichever you like best!
Follow our easy, step-by-step guide to make everyone's favorite easy side dish even easier.
What You'll Need
- Frozen fries, any brand: You can use any brand of fries and even any type of fries, from curly fries to waffle fries. See Different Types of Fries below.
- Light Olive oil: You can also use another high smoke point oil such as avocado oil. Learn more: Our Favorite Oils to use for Air Frying.
- Salt: Plus other seasonings of choice, if desired! We generally recommend using kosher salt as it typically adds better flavor than table salt. See our Serving Suggestions below for more seasoning ideas.
How to Cook Frozen Fries in Air Fryer
Step 1 - Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While the air fryer preheats, take your frozen fries out of the freezer and add them to a large bowl. Drizzle with light olive oil, then toss until all fries are coated. Season fries with a sprinkle of salt and any other seasonings you prefer (such as black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, or even chili seasoning for a kick), then toss again to coat completely.
Step 2 - Place the fries in your air fryer basket once preheated and arrange them in a single layer as much as possible (some overlap is fine). Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket, or they will cook unevenly and won't crisp properly. In our recipe testing, we found an average 16 ounce bag of frozen french fries fits perfectly in our 7 ounce air fryer basket.
Step 3 - Air fry at 400°F for 10-15 minutes (larger and thicker fries take more time). Shake the basket every 5 minutes, or at least halfway through, to cook them evenly. Set a timer if you must! When crispy and golden to your liking, serve, and enjoy!
Troubleshooting
- Fries not crispy enough? Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if you must! Increase temperature or cooking time slightly. Use cooking spray instead of oil. Important note: Use an oil sprayer filled with your preferred oil. Do not use a pressurized cooking spray with additives as it can damage the nonstick surface of your air fryer. See our guide to Air Frying Oils.
- Burned your fries? Lower the temperature and cooking time, shake the basket more often, and don't use too much oil.
- Fries not cooking evenly? Shake the basket frequently and avoid overcrowding. If you're using homemade french fries you froze yourself, make sure they've been cut to a uniform size.
Watch the Video
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
The following instructions are for toaster-oven style air fryers with a tray, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air. Note that these models take longer to cook than air fryers with a basket.
- Preheat air fryer oven to 400°F.
- While the air fryer is preheating, take the frozen french fries out of the freezer and place them in a large bowl. Season with oil and salt, then toss the frozen french fries until they are evenly coated.
- Pour the frozen french fries onto the countertop air fryer tray in a single layer, being sure not to overcrowd the tray. Stir halfway through air frying time to ensure even cooking.
- Air fry at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy to your liking.
- When they're just how you like them, remove the fries from the air fryer to a serving plate, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions for Frozen Fries
- Simple salt and pepper: A simple seasoning mix always works well with fries. Some brands may need a little extra seasoning, while others might not. Test and see how you prefer your fries!
- An easy fry seasoning mix: A mix of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper really kicks up the flavor of frozen fries. Add a pinch of chili powder to spice things up!
- Italian seasoning: Have you ever tried Italian seasoning on your fries? If you haven't, definitely give it a try! It's delicious!
- With a dipping sauce: Try dipping fries in fry sauce, ranch dressing, ketchup, BBQ sauce, or even honey mustard. Most dips work well!
- Loaded fries: You can add toppings like a cheese sauce, sour cream, sliced green onions, and bacon bits to make loaded fries!
- Favorite pairings: We love to enjoy french fries with many things, but just to name a few, we recommend pairing them with our Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Air Fryer BLT Sandwich, or for something a little different you don't want to miss try our Air Fryer Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Sandwich!
Different Types of Fries
Our air fryer recipe for frozen french fries can be used to make any variety of fry you like best. Regular cut frozen french fries usually work best, but you can absolutely make thicker steak fries in the air fryer, if you like. They just need more time!
Regular Cut Fries
The standard straight-cut fries work great. This recipe uses regular cut fries, but any of the other varieties can also be used.
Crinkle-Cut Fries
They work well and hold seasonings nicely. Find our recipe here: Air Fryer Crinkle Cut Fries
Waffle Fries
A bit thicker, but the waffle pattern can get crispy and is always a favorite. Great with chicken sandwiches! Find our recipe here: Air Fryer Waffle Fries (Frozen)
Curly Fries
A fun shape kids especially love, curly fries are a wonderful choice for air frying. See our Arby's Curly Fries recipe for tips!
Shoestring Fries
These are super thin and cook quickly for a crispy texture. Depending on the thickness, they may take less than 15 minutes to make. If you're a fan of shoestring fries, see our recipe for Air Fryer Shoestring Fries or our recipe for Checkers Fries in the Air Fryer!
Steak Fries
Thicker fries that might take a bit longer to cook, but are amazing when seasoned. Try our Air Fryer Steak Fries!
Sweet Potato Fries
A more wholesome option than regular potato fries, that crisps up well. For a comprehensive recipe with tips, see our Frozen Sweet Potato Fries.
Storing Leftover Fries
Store leftovers by first allowing them to cool to room temperature, then add to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag with the air pressed out, and place in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for best results. We do not recommend re-freezing frozen french fries. Proper storage keeps food fresher.
Can I reheat fast food fries in the air fryer?
You sure can! To reheat fast food fries in the air fryer, air fry them for about 6 minutes at 400°F until heated through.
FAQ
The recommended temperature for cooking frozen French fries in an air fryer is 400°F. This temperature will ensure that the fries are cooked evenly and become crispy.
Yes, you can cook frozen French fries in an air fryer without oil. However, adding a small amount of oil will help the fries become crispy and golden brown. Toss the fries directly in the oil for best results.
There are many air fryers on the market that are great for cooking French fries. Look for an air fryer with a large capacity, as this will allow you to cook more fries at once. Also, consider an air fryer with a non-stick basket, as this will make cleaning up easier.
The cooking time for frozen French fries in an air fryer can vary depending on the type of fries and the air fryer you are using. In general, it takes about 10-15 minutes to cook frozen French fries in an air fryer. However, it's important to check on the fries and shake the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
To make your French fries crispy in an air fryer, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure to shake the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. Also, consider adding a small amount of oil to the fries before cooking, as this will help them become crispy and golden brown. Finally, make sure not to overcrowd the basket, as this can prevent the fries from becoming crispy.
Air Fryer Frozen Recipes
- Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Frozen Biscuits
- Air Fryer Frozen Turkey Burgers
- Air Fryer Frozen Burritos
- Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
- Try all of our Air Fryer Frozen Foods!
Crispy Frozen Fries in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 16 ounces frozen french fries
- 1 Tablespoon oil such as olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to your liking
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400℉.
- While the air fryer is preheating, take the frozen french fries out of the freezer and place them in a large bowl. Season with 1 Tablespoon oil and ½ teaspoon kosher salt, then toss the frozen french fries until they are evenly coated.
- Pour the frozen french fries into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or the fries won't cook properly.
- Air fry at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, being sure to shake the basket halfway through air frying time.
- When golden brown and crispy to your liking, remove from the air fryer to a serving plate and enjoy!
Notes
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- Fries not crispy enough? Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket; cook in batches if you must. Increase the temperature or cooking time slightly if necessary. Use cooking spray instead of oil, but remember: use an oil sprayer filled with your preferred oil. Do not use a pressurized cooking spray with additives as it can damage the nonstick surface of your air fryer.
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- Burned your fries? Lower the temperature and cooking time, shake the basket more often, and don't use too much oil. See our guide to air frying oils if your oil doesn't seem to be working well for you.
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- Fries not cooking evenly? Shake the basket frequently and avoid overcrowding. If you're using homemade french fries you froze yourself, make sure they've been cut to a uniform size.
- Nutritional value is based off of generic frozen french fries. Please check the packaging of your frozen fries for accurate nutrition.
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