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    Home » Indian Food Recipes » Appetizers and Snacks » Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

    Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

    Published on December 31, 2019 | By Anushree Shetty

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    Servings: 4 servings
    These quick and tasty homemade french fries crisp to perfection in an air fryer or with your Mealthy CrispLid attachment.
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 32 mins
    Soaking time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr 12 mins
    5 from 3 votes
    Jump to Recipe
    Two red baskets of air fried french fries with a denim napkin, ketchup, and a small pint glass of beer with the words Crispy Air Fryer French Fries typed in white on the top.
    Two red baskets of french fries with parchment paper, a denim napkin, beer, and a cup of ketchup on a wooden table with the words Homemade Air Fryed French Fries on the top.
    A hand dipping a french fry into a bowl of ketchup with red baskets of french fries in the back and two beers on a wooden table and the words Perfect Air Fryer French Fries at the top.

    These crispy vegan air-fryer French fries are so damn good that they could give the deep-fried ones a run for their money. The best part – you can whip up these goodies any time using an air fryer and treat your kids to this healthy homemade version of this popular fast food. 

    A picture from the top of two red baskets of french fries with a blue towel, a small bowl of ketchup, and two beers on a wooden table.
    Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

    Why do we call them French Fries?

    France and Belgium both try to take credit for the invention of the French fry. While we are unsure of which location is the home of the French Fry many believe this crispy potato snack was first exposed to Americans during WWI when soldiers were stationed in Belgium.

    The Belgian soldiers, who primarily spoke French, shared ‘Les Frites’ with the American soldiers who then dubbed them ‘French Fries’.

    How is it traditionally made?

    Most commonly, fries are made by deep-frying fresh-cut potatoes into a vat of hot oil. After being fried to perfection, they get seasoned and served alongside many foods like burgers or sandwiches. 

    Recently people have been looking for ways to make crispy French Fries without deep frying. This led to the oven-baked french fry and most recently the air fried French fry. Both these alternate methods give you crispy French fries without having to deep fry your food. 

    What is the difference between chips and fries 

    The British refer to fries as chips. The difference between the two can simply be seen by their shape. In America, when you order fries you can expect a form of fried potatoes, they may come as wedges, sticks, waffles, or even cubes. However, in the UK when you order chips they are a longer, thicker version of the stick french fries we see most often.

    American chips are salted snacks that are crispy thin. The most popular ones are made by deep-frying thinly sliced disks of potatoes.

    How do you cut potatoes for homemade French Fries?

    Various methods for cutting French Fries exist, resulting in various types of fries. To cut the most traditional looking French fry you can use a knife or a mandoline. 

    To cut French Fries with only a knife:

    1. Wash and peel the potato.
    2. Then cut it lengthwise, to create a flat surface.
    3. Next, lay the potato on the flat surface and cut into ¼ inch slices.
    4. Then turn the potato slices and cross-cut the potato into sticks. 

    Reduce your time and cut French Fries with a knife and mandoline:

    1. Wash and peel the potato.
    2. Using the primary cutting blade of the mandoline, slice the potato lengthwise. 
    3. Then cross-cut the slices into ¼ inch sticks with a knife.

    If you want to cut fries with only a mandoline:

    1. Wash and peel the potato.
    2. Using the cross-cutting blade of a mandoline, slice the potato lengthwise against the blade until the potato is finished being cut. 

     For a visual of how to cut homemade french fries check out this Serious Eats article about How to Cut French Fries. 

    A hand dipping an air fryer french fry into a small bowl of ketchup with two red baskets filled with fries and two glasses of beer on a wooden table.
    Perfect Air Fryer French Fries

    Why do you soak French Fries before cooking?

    To get rid of the excess starch from the potato. This helps keep the fries from sticking together while they cook. Soak them for 20-30 minutes. Rinse them thoroughly after soaking.

    What kind of potatoes are best to make French Fries?

    Use Russet/Idaho potatoes because they are starchy and dense with very little moisture in them. 

    How to make French Fries crispy

    Tips to make perfectly crispy Air Fryer French Fries

    1. Soak them in cold water to remove starch for at least 20-30 minutes.
    2. Rinse them and completely dry them before air frying. Use either a paper towel or a clean dishtowel.
    3. Make sure they are almost the same size for evenly cooking. 

    Why use an air fryer for making French Fries

    Air frying uses so much less oil! In fact, air-fried foods often contain 70-80% fewer calories than their deep-fried counterparts. Air fryers also make perfectly crispy fries. 

    What oil is best for French Fries?

    Any oil with a high smoking point and a neutral taste. I use either avocado or peanut oil. 

    How to make French Fries using an air fryer

    Equipment needed

    • Mandoline
    • Air fryer or Mealthy CrispLid

    You’ll need russet potatoes, oil (peanut or avocado), seasonings such as salt and pepper. 

    1. Wash the potatoes thoroughly and peel them.  You can leave the peels on if you like.
    2. Cut them into sticks that are about 3 inches long and ¼ inch wide. 
    3. Soak them in cold water for about 20-30 minutes. Rinse them and dry them using a clean dish towel or paper towel. 
    4. Toss them in a mixture of oil and seasonings of your choice till they are completely coated. A collage of image showing potatoes chopped into sticks and soaked, the dried and tossed in oil and salt and pepper
    5. Place them in the air frying basket – don’t overcrowd them. You’ll have to make it in batches. 
    6. Air fry them for about 16 minutes at 400°F. Pause the air frying at around 8 minutes and toss the fries to enable even cooking. If using a CrispLid use tongs to flip the French Fries.
      An image collage showing how to air fry French Fries
      French Fries using an Air Fryer

      An image collage showing how to air fry French Fries using Mealthy CrispLid
      Making French Fries using Mealthy CrispLid
    7. Serve them hot with ketchup or any dip of your choice. 

    Variations 

    While salt and pepper are the seasonings of choice, I love to mix it up by adding a dash of the following seasonings – 

    • Garlic pepper
    • Cumin powder
    • Chaat masala
    • Black salt

    How to reheat French Fries

    Throw the French fries into the air fryer and cook them at 400°F for 4-5 minutes. 

    Air fryer vs Mealthy CrispLid which one is better 

    The end results are almost identical but I prefer the air fryer version because it is easier to toss the French fries using an air fryer whereas with CrispLid you need to use the tong to turn one fry at a time. 

    Read this: Mealthy CrispLid review – should you get one?

    To get an exclusive $10 off on your purchase of Mealthy CrispLid use code SIMMERTOSLIMMER on the Mealthy website. You could also buy it from Amazon. 
    A red basket of air fryer french fries in the front with a blue towel, two glasses of beer, a small bowl of ketchup, and another red basket of french fries in the back on a wooden table.
    Air Fryer French Fries

    Other Air Fryer Recipes you might enjoy:

    1. Tandoori chicken tikka– This quick and easy Tandoori chicken tikka recipe is a delicious appetizer dish that is a sure shot crowd-pleaser!
    2. Tandoori Salmon – Spicy and tangy bite-size pieces of the salmon are grilled to perfection to make this delicious dish that takes less than 30 minutes to make. 
    3. Tandoori Chicken – This quick and easy Tandoori chicken recipe makes the most flavorful and authentic chicken that is crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside – just like it is supposed to be!
    Looking for easy recipe ideas? Subscribe to our newsletter to get new recipes and time-saving tips delivered straight to your inbox!
    A red basket of air fryer french fries in the front with a blue towel, two glasses of beer, a small bowl of ketchup, and another red basket of french fries in the back on a wooden table.

    Air Fryer French Fries

    These quick and tasty homemade french fries crisp to perfection in an air fryer or with your Mealthy CrispLid attachment.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 32 minutes
    Soaking time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 270kcal
    Diet : Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan
    Course : Side Dish
    Method: Air fryer
    Cuisine : American

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 lbs Russet Potatoes ~ 4 medium-sized potatoes
    • 3 Tbsp Oil avocado or peanut
    • Salt and Pepper to taste
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    Equipment

    • Mealthy CrispLid
    • Phillips Air Fryer
    • Mandoline

    Instructions
     

    • Wash the potatoes thoroughly and peel them. You can leave the peels on if you like
    • Cut the potatoes into sticks that are about 3 inches long and ¼ inch wide.
    • Soak them in cold water for about 20-30 minutes. Rinse and dry the potatoes using a clean dish towel or paper towel.
    • Toss them in a mixture of oil and seasonings of your choice till they are completely coated.
    • Place them in the air frying basket - don't overcrowd them. You'll have to make it in batches.
    • Air fry them for about 16 minutes at 400°F. Pause the air frying at around 8 minutes and toss the fries to enable even cooking. If using a CrispLid use tongs to flip the French Fries.
    • Serve them hot with ketchup or any dip of your choice.

    Notes

    Variations 
    While salt and pepper are the seasonings of choice, I love to mix it up by adding a dash of the following seasonings - 
    • Garlic pepper
    • Cumin powder
    • Chaat masala
    • Black salt
    Reheating instructions
    To reheat the fries, throw them in the air fryer and cook them at 400°F for 4-5 minutes.
    Tips to make perfectly crispy Air Fryer French Fries
    1. Soak them in cold water to remove starch for at least 20-30 minutes.
    2. Rinse them and completely dry them before air frying. Use either a paper towel or a clean dishtowel.
    3. Make sure they are almost the same size for evenly cooking. 

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    Disclosure: This recipe contains affiliate links to products we love and recommend. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 9gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 946mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 2mg

    Disclaimer: Approximate Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.

    Did you make this recipe?Take a photo and tag @simmertoslimmer on Instagram for a shoutout!
    Keyword : after school snack, Air fryer recipes, Kid-friendly, Mealthy CrispLid
    Author : Anushree Shetty
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    About Anushree Shetty

    Hi! I am Anu - I combine my passion for food and photography to create easy, delicious, and visually appealing Indian-inspired recipes to inspire busy moms to cook more often at home.

    Previous Post: « Instant Pot Indian Chicken Curry Recipe
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anjali Saxena says

      February 20, 2021 at 6:22 am

      5 stars
      I tried it today and it came out really well. Thanks Anu

      Reply
      • Anushree Shetty says

        February 24, 2021 at 11:50 am

        You are welcome, Anjali 🙂

        Reply

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    Indian Food Blogger, Anushree Shetty

    Hi there, I am Anu!

    I love simplifying Indian food recipes without using highly processed ingredients. My goal is to inspire you to cook at home by sharing easy recipes that you can quickly make in your Instant Pot (or stovetop)...Read more

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