Snacks · American
Perfect Air Fryer French Fries
Golden, fluffy-inside fries from scratch with a fraction of the oil. The cold-water soak makes them shatteringly crisp.
Restaurant-quality fries without a vat of oil. The trick is soaking the cut potatoes to wash away starch, drying them completely, then giving them room to breathe in the basket. Try them with garlic aioli, curry ketchup or loaded with cheese and spring onion.
Ingredients
Instructions
Air fryer:190°C / 374°F
Cut the potatoes into even 1 cm batons. Even sizing means even cooking.
Soak the cut fries in cold water for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight) to remove surface starch.
Drain and dry thoroughly with a clean towel — any water means steam, not crunch.
Toss with oil, salt and paprika until lightly coated.
Air fry at 190°C for 10 minutes, then shake the basket and cook for another 8–10 minutes until golden and crisp.
Season with extra salt while hot and serve immediately.
Tips & tricks
- Don't skip the soak — it's the single biggest factor in crispiness.
- Cook in a single layer; pile them up and they'll steam.
- A light spritz of oil halfway through gives an even deeper colour.
