Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer
Air fryer frozen french fries come out crisp outside and fluffy inside in about 15 minutes, with no deep fryer and almost no oil. You cook them straight from the bag at 400 °F, shake the basket halfway and salt them while they are hot. Below are the times for shoestring, crinkle and thick-cut fries, plus the mistakes that make them soggy.
- Temperature
- 400°F200 °C
- Total time
- 18min
- Prep time
- 2min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 220kcal
Why the air fryer works for frozen french fries
Frozen fries have already been blanched and partly fried before they were frozen, so they only need to be heated through and dried out on the surface. That is exactly what an air fryer is good at. Hot air blasts off the ice crystals and the surface moisture within the first few minutes, and the thin coating of oil on the fries browns into a crisp shell while the inside turns soft and fluffy.
The oven does the same job, but it takes longer to preheat, and the fries often end up unevenly crisp on a crowded sheet pan. A deep fryer is faster, but it needs a lot of oil. In the air fryer the fries sit in the moving air on all sides, which is why you get this result with little or no extra oil in about 15 minutes. The one thing the basket cannot do is fix overcrowding, which is why the layer should stay loose.
How to cook frozen french fries in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Preheat Heat the empty air fryer to 400 °F for . A hot basket crisps the fries right away instead of letting them steam as they thaw.
- Fill the basket Pour the frozen fries straight from the bag into the basket. Do not thaw them first. One pound is the most a 5–6 qt basket holds in a loose layer; for more, cook in batches. Toss with the oil if you like a deeper golden color.
- Cook and shake Cook for at 400 °F, shaking the basket hard every so the fries separate and brown evenly. Thin shoestring fries need , thick steak fries 18–20.
- Check The fries are done when they are deep golden, firm to the touch and hot in the middle. If they are still pale, add at a time.
- Salt and serve Tip the fries into a bowl and sprinkle on the salt while they are hot. Serve at once, because they are at their crispest in the first .
Times and temperatures
| Frozen French Fries | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fries, 1 lbShake every 5 min | 400 °F (200 °C) | 15–18 min |
| Thin shoestring fries | 400 °F (200 °C) | 12–14 min |
| Crinkle cut fries | 400 °F (200 °C) | 15–17 min |
| Thick steak fries | 400 °F (200 °C) | 18–20 min |
| Lower heat, 350 °FSofter, less crisp | 350 °F (180 °C) | 20–22 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Go from frozen to hot. Thawing makes fries limp. They crisp better when the ice melts and evaporates in the hot basket.
- Shake, don't stir. Fries stick together while they are still frozen. Shaking at 5 and 10 minutes breaks them apart, and tongs help move any clumps.
- Weigh a batch, not a bag. A 5–6 qt air fryer crisps about 1 lb of fries at a time. A 2 lb bag needs two batches, and the first batch can wait on a baking sheet in a 200 °F oven.
Cooking times by cut
Shoestring and thin fries have the most surface and crisp quickly, so 12–14 minutes is enough and burning is the risk. Crinkle fries and straight-cut fries sit in the middle, at about 15–17 minutes. Thick steak fries, wedges and waffle fries hold more water in the middle, so they need 18–20 minutes. Try the minimum time first, then add minutes until they are deep golden. For more detail on other freezer items, see frozen foods in the air fryer.
If you are making fries from fresh potatoes instead of frozen, the crispy french fries page covers soaking, drying and the right oil.
What to serve with frozen french fries
Fries are a classic with hamburgers, chicken tenders or fish sticks. Put out ketchup, ranch, honey mustard or a cup of melted cheese for dipping. A weeknight burger and fries dinner needs only a simple side of coleslaw or sliced tomatoes.
Storing and reheating
Fries are best eaten right away. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for 3 days in a loosely covered container. Reheat them in the air fryer at 375 °F for 3–5 minutes until hot and crisp. Open bags of frozen fries stay fresh in the freezer if you press out the air and seal the bag tightly, which prevents freezer burn.
Variations
- Seasoned: Toss the cooked fries with garlic powder, paprika or grated Parmesan, or a pinch of cajun seasoning.
- Loaded: In the last 2 minutes, top the fries with shredded cheddar and cooked bacon pieces, and let the cheese melt.
- Sweet potato: Frozen sweet potato fries take about 12–15 minutes at 400 °F, since the sugar browns faster. Fresh ones are in the sweet potato fries recipe.
If it does not turn out right
- The fries are soggy
- The basket was too full, or the fries sat in a cold basket. Preheat, keep the layer loose and shake often. Ice crystals on the fries add water, so do not rinse them either.
- The fries are dry and hard
- They cooked too long for their cut. Thin fries burn easily, so drop to 380 °F and check at 10 minutes.
- The salt does not stick
- Salt fries right after cooking, while the surface is hot and slightly oily. A teaspoon of oil in the basket before cooking also helps.
Questions and answers
How long do you cook frozen french fries in the air fryer?
About 15–18 minutes at 400 °F for standard fries, shaking every 5 minutes. Shoestring fries take 12–14 minutes and thick steak fries 18–20.
Do I need to add oil to frozen french fries in the air fryer?
No. Most frozen fries are pre-fried and already contain oil, so they crisp with none. A teaspoon of oil only adds color and helps the salt stick.
What is the best temperature for frozen fries in an air fryer?
400 °F gives the crispiest result. At 375 °F add 3–4 minutes, and at 350 °F add about 6 minutes.
Can I cook frozen fries in the air fryer without thawing them?
Yes, and you should. Thawed fries absorb water and turn soft and greasy, so go straight from freezer to basket.
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