Crispy Air Fryer French Fries

Craving a delicious appetizer, side dish, or snack? With your trusty air fryer, you can make these perfectly crispy French fries. This is one recipe you'll want to keep handy for those repeat cravings.

Why Choose Air Fryer French Fries?

If you love crispy fries without all the oil, air fryer French fries are your answer! Thanks to the rapid air circulation (and Chef John's secret soaking method with cold and hot water), these fries come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Ingredients for Air Fryer French Fries

Believe it or not, these crispy, restaurant-style air fryer French fries only require four simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen:

Potatoes
For the perfect texture and flavor, go with russet potatoes. Alternatively, you can use all-purpose potatoes like Yukon gold for a slightly different taste.

Oil
Since these fries are cooked in an air fryer, they use much less oil than traditional fried fries. Just a few teaspoons of vegetable oil will do the trick.

Cayenne Pepper
A dash of cayenne pepper gives these fries a little kick. Feel free to experiment with other spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika — the possibilities are endless!

Kosher Salt
You'll definitely need some salt. Adjust the amount based on your taste, using more or less than ½ teaspoon to suit your preferences.

How to Prepare French Fries in the Air Fryer

Check out the full, step-by-step instructions below — but here's a quick overview of what to expect when making these highly-rated air fryer French fries:

Slice the Potatoes

Take a sharp knife and carefully cut each peeled potato into slices, then turn those slices into thin sticks.

Soak and Rinse the Potatoes

Place the potato sticks in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for about 5 minutes. After draining, pour boiling water over the potatoes and let them sit for around 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry the potatoes.

Season the Fries

Once the potato sticks have cooled, transfer them to a bowl. Toss with oil and sprinkle with cayenne pepper for a kick of flavor.

Cook in the Air Fryer

Place the potato sticks in a single or double layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes, toss them, and then cook for an additional 10 minutes. Finish with a sprinkle of salt.

How to Store Air Fryer French Fries

Let the fries cool to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. To reheat, use the air fryer (the best method), microwave, or oven.

Community Tips and Praise

"These fries are amazing!" says Mommyof6. "They were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I followed the recipe exactly, and we absolutely loved them!"

"I followed the recipe, but added a dash of turmeric for extra color and a sprinkle of smoked paprika," says Alma. "I finished them off with sea salt right before serving. They looked amazing and were gone in no time!"

Editorial input by Corey Williams

Ingredients List

• 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled

• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

• 1 pinch cayenne pepper

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Prepare all the ingredients ahead of time.

Slice each potato lengthwise into 3/8-inch-thick pieces, then cut them into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Place the potato strips in a bowl of cold water and let them soak for about 5 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain the water.

Transfer the cooled potatoes into a mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil and season with cayenne pepper, tossing to evenly coat.

Arrange the potatoes in a double layer in the air fryer basket.

Cook the fries for 15 minutes. Remove the basket, toss the fries, and return them to cook for an additional 10 minutes or until golden and crispy. Once done, toss the fries with salt in a bowl and serve immediately.

Chef's Tips

Nutritional Information (per serving)