How to Cook Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer

Cook Time 15

Pre-heat 3

Total Time 18

Frozen French fries: Any cut—shoestring, crinkle, waffle, curly, steak, or seasoned.
Oil spray (optional): Avocado, canola, or olive oil spray for extra crispness.
Salt: Fine sea salt or kosher salt for even seasoning.
Optional seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, seasoned salt, Cajun spice, or ranch seasoning.
Sauces for serving (optional): Ketchup, aioli, ranch, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, fry sauce.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). If your model needs preheating, let it run for 3 minutes. A hot basket helps the fries crisp right away.
Add fries in a single, loose layer. Fill the basket about halfway. Don’t pack it to the top. Crowding leads to steaming, not crisping.
Lightly spray with oil (optional). One or two quick spritzes are enough. Skip if your fries are already lightly oiled or seasoned.
Air-fry for 6 minutes. Then remove the basket and shake well to flip and separate the fries so they cook evenly.
Continue cooking 4–8 more minutes. Shake once more halfway through. Total time depends on the cut: Shoestring: 8–10 minutes total Crinkle or waffle: 12–15 minutes total Steak fries or thick-cut: 14–18 minutes total Curly or seasoned: 10–13 minutes total
Check for doneness. Fries should be deep golden and crisp at the edges with a fluffy center. Add 1–2 more minutes if needed.
Season immediately. Toss with salt and any spices right after you pull them out. The residual heat helps seasonings stick.
Serve hot. Enjoy right away for the best texture.