Would you like to make homemade French fries, but don’t know how to make the perfect recipe? Fries prepared with the Air Fryer are certainly the solution you need. They’re far superior to traditional potatoes cooked in an oil bath. With the right cooking method, you can achieve fries that are both tender and crisp. That’s exactly what this detailed guide will show you: the best air fryer fries recipe.
Air fries: ingredients to use
For your air fryer home fries, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Yellow-skinned raw potatoes or the famous Bintje potato varieties (approx. 800 g, equivalent to 4-5 potatoes);
- 15 cl vegetable oil (olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, etc.). For greater precision, you can also use a cooking spray.
- Seasonings of your choice (salt, paprika, pepper, etc.).
Air fryer fries: instructions to follow
Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, it’s time to get down to the practicalities. First, wash and cut your potatoes into small sticks. Size is subjective here, but a width of around 1 cm will do the trick. Then rinse each piece in clear water and bathe in a bowl of cold water.
There’s a debate about the type of water used to soak potatoes. While some prefer to let the potatoes rest in cold water, others prefer boiling water only. Each method has its own advantages. For example, using cold water to pre-cook an air fryer allows :
- Dissolve the starch contained in the potato to obtain crispy air fryer fries;
- To obtain golden-colored frozen air fryer fries;
- Prevent the abnormal browning effect that apples can undergo.
On the other hand, soaking in boiling water can help :
- Save time in air fryer frying if you want to cook quickly for guests;
- Eliminate any bacteria that might resist initial cleaning.
Note: this phase can take from 10 to 30 minutes.
Next, drain the potatoes using a dishcloth to remove any excess water. Transfer them to a large salad bowl and begin seasoning. Between adding oil, salt and other condiments, you’re free to brush the mixture with your hands. The most important thing is to maintain a unique taste that will please your palate.
How do I cook French fries in an air fryer?
It’s that time of year again: air frying. Whether they come from different models like the Actifry Express from Seb, hot-air fryers share a common cooking method.
Start by activating your appliance to heat up to a high temperature of between 180°C and 200°C. The next step is to place the cut apples inside the fryer’s tray/pan. Be careful not to stack them or overload the basket, as this may prevent optimum circulation of hot air.
Close the tray and let the rotating heat do its work. However, this is a good reason not to forget your preparation. You absolutely must stir the potatoes every 2 to 5 minutes for at least 3 times. The aim is to ensure the cooking of the fries.
After a cooking time of 20 to 25 minutes, you’re ready to eat your fries. If you follow all the steps in this guide, your fries will be crisp on the outside and melt-in-the-mouth on the inside. All that’s left is to serve them with a good béarnaise or ketchup sauce.