The air fryer might be the single best thing to ever happen to frozen fries. The air fryer cooks faster than the oven and makes the fries crispier, all with minimal added oil. Once you try air-fryer fries, you may decide to keep a bag of your favorites — crinkle cut, shoestring — in the freezer at all times.
This recipe requires your hands-on work for less than 5 minutes. Open the bag, dump fries in the basket, shake the basket halfway through. If you want to go full-on control freak, you can shake the basket every 5 minutes instead for optimal results.
Read next: Chart: How long to cook potatoes in the air fryer
Quick reference
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Temp | 400°F |
| Time | 15 to 20 min (for standard cut; see success tips for adjustments needed for other cuts like shoestrings) |
| Shake | At least once at halfway or every 5 minutes |
| Oil | Optionally, a light spray for extra crispiness |
Instructions for standard-cut fries
- Add the fries to the basket. A single bag requires a 5- or 6-quart basket. If you have a smaller basket, use only half the bag. The fries should sit mostly in a single layer with some overlap.
- Mist fries lightly with oil. A 1- or 2-second spray of avocado or olive oil gives a slight crispness boost. If you’re watching your fat intake or you don’t have oil spray, you can skip this step.
- Cook at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket at least at the halfway point, but ideally every 5 minutes. If you skip the shake, the fries on the bottom will be pale and limp. Adjust the timing within this range based on how you like your fries. A shorter cook time delivers softer fries, while more time in the air fryer produces crispier fries. See the success tips if you are cooking shoestrings, crinkle cuts, curly fries, or steak fries.
- Salt and serve. Salt sticks to fries when they’re fresh out of the basket. Wait five minutes and it’ll just slide off.
Tips for success
You don’t have to preheat the air fryer for frozen foods.
Bigger fries take longer to cook. Here’s the breakdown by cut:
- Waffle-cut: 10 to 12 minutes
- Shoestring: 12 to 15 minutes
- Standard cut: 15 to 18 minutes
- Crinkle cut: 16 to 18 minutes
- Steak fries or wedges: 20 to 25 minutes
- Curly fries: 12 to 15 minutes
Don’t overfill the basket. You may only be able to cook a half a bag at a time if you have a small air fryer. Place them in a single layer if possible. If you need more, make a second batch.
Salt after cooking, not before. The salt won’t stick well to frozen fries, so it ends up at the bottom of your air fryer.
Toppings ideas
You can go simple or serious with your frozen fry seasonings. You can’t go wrong with salt, pepper, and ketchup or sriracha mayo. For something quick and delicious, toss the hot fries with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Or sprinkle on smoked paprika and garlic power.
If you’re hankering for something indulgent or trying to appease a bunch of sports fans, try one of my many frozen French fry creations:
- Chili cheese fries
- Bacon and cheese fries
- Bacon nacho cheese fries
- Carne asada fries
- Pizza fries
- Taco fries
- Chorizo fries
- Cuban fries
- Cincinnati chili fries
- Philly cheesesteak fries
- Barbecue chicken fries
Storage
Frozen fries don’t reheat well after they’ve been cooked the first time. They go soft and never come fully back. If you must eat the leftovers, pop them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
Frozen French fries: Nutrition
The nutritional profile of frozen French fries varies by brand, cut, and style. Some are pre-fried and others are not, which can make a big difference in fat and calorie counts. Here is a rough range per a 3-oz serving, which equates to about 15 or 20 standard cut fries:
- Calories: 130 to 200
- Total fat: 4 to 9 g
- Sodium: 250 to 450 mg
- Carbohydrates: 20 to 28 g
- Fiber: 2 to 3 g
- Protein: 2 to 3 g
- Nutrients: small amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium from the potato itself
Air-frying your frozen fries rather than deep frying typically cuts fat per serving by 50 to 70%.
