Air Fryer French Fries

Name: Air Fryer French Fries
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 large russet potatoes (about 1 pound); 1 tbsp. white vinegar; 1 tbsp. kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling; 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided

Here's how to make extra crispy fries from scratch, in your air fryer.

By Christopher MichelPublished: Jan 27, 2021

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Yields:

4 serving(s)

Total Time:

1 hr 30 mins

If you're looking to make french fries from scratch, we highly recommend breaking out your top-rated air fryer. While the device is great for cooking proteins like salmon or chicken, and it really sings when used to quickly crisp up leftovers (one of our favorite air fryer tips), it actually does a decent job at, well, frying. And it does so without the splatter that inevitably happens when deep frying—and the headache that comes with cleaning up and figuring out how to dispose of the oil.

French fries should be made with russet potatoes. Waxier varieties don't have quite enough starch, and won't get the crisp exterior and fluffy interior you're looking for in a good fry.

While making fries in an air fryer is generally pretty straightforward, there are three main steps. First, you want to blanch the sticks. This removes a bit of the starch, dries them, and prepares the outside for crisping. Then you want to fry them twice—the first time at a lower temperature and the second time at a higher temperature. This will get you the very crispy-crunchy exterior that you're looking for, without overcooking the insides or burning them.

After that, serve them with your favorite condiment. Ketchup is classic, of course, but mayo is a very popular alternative. You can also combine them into mayochup or mix mayo and mustard for a Dijonaisse. Or you can mix up a spicy mayo–mayo and sriracha, or a tahini dip out of tahini, mayo, and lemon juice. If you want to get very fancy, you can use a homemade mayonnaise.

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Ingredients

2 large russet potatoes (about 1 pound)
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
1 Tbsp. kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided

Directions

1. Step 1Leaving the skin on, slice potatoes into 1/4 inch sticks.
2. Step 2Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Combine potatoes, vinegar, salt, and 4 cups water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are tender but not falling apart, 7 to 10 minutes; drain. Spread fries in a single layer on prepared baking sheet and dry 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Step 3Heat air fryer to 350°F. Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
4. Step 4Arrange fries loosely in the bottom of the air fryer tray, ensuring plenty of room for air to flow. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in 2 to 3 batches.) Cook for 10 minutes, shaking basket halfway through. Transfer to paper towels; cool to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Step 5Increase air fryer temperature to 400°F. Toss potatoes with remaining tablespoon oil and return to the air fryer tray. Cook, shaking basket halfway through, until browned and crispy, about 10 minutes.
6. Step 6Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with salt. Serve with your favorite condiment.