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    Home » Recipes » Potatoes

    The Best Air Fryer Fries (Air Fryer Chips)

    By Dannii · Published 26th August 2019 · Updated 29th April 2021 · 51 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · This site uses cookies · Post contains 1832 words. · About 10 minutes to read this article.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    By using an air fryer, you can make delicious and perfectly crispy fries without having to heat up the oven or use a lot of oil. This post has lots of tips for making The Best Air Fryer Fries, along with some suggestions of different ways to season them, so you can have a different flavour chip (fries) every time. 

    The best Air Fryer Chips next to two bowls of sauce.

    If you have an air fryer and you have never made fries/chips in it, then you are seriously missing out.We have lots of delicious air fryer recipes for you. We actually had an air fryer for over a year before we made anything but fries in it (although there is so much more you can do in it) and we still have these at least twice a week - they are a classic side dish.

    Instead of heating up the oven and still getting frustrated that you don't have perfectly crispy chips (what fries are called in the UK), why not try doing them in the air fryer? This recipe couldn't be simpler, and there is no need to turn them like you would in the oven, as the paddle keeps them turning (if you are using an ActiFry style air fryer like we have in this recipe).

    Now you have your perfectly crispy chips, what do you serve them with? We serve these with our Homemade Healthier Tomato Ketchup or our Healthy BBQ Sauce.

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • What you will need
    • Step by step
    • What potatoes to use?
    • Seasoning
    • How to get them crispy
    • Oven cooking instead
    • ActiFry Vs other air fryers
    • Some more air fryer recipes
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More potato recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • Crispy fries every time
    • No need to turn them
    • Lower in calories and fat then oven cooked as they use less oil
    • Lots of seasoning options

    What you will need

    Potatoes - Any potatoes will work, but some definitely work better than others. We try to use a floury potato like a King Edward or Maris Piper, as they have produced the best results for us.
    Olive oil - you could swap this for vegetable or sunflower oil.
    Garlic granules - we added garlic granules to add lots of flavour, however there are lots of flavour options with air fryer fries. Add some smoke and spice with paprika and cayenne or a Fajita or Cajun blend.

    Step by step

    One: Chop the potatoes into thin fries.

    A wooden chopping board with a pile of raw potato fries.

    Two: Put them in a large bowl with the oil, salt, pepper and garlic and mix well.

    A metal mixing bowl containing raw potato fries covered in seasoning.

    Three: Put them in to the air fryer (this recipe uses a Tefal ActiFry(aff) with a rotating paddle).

    An air fryer containing uncooked potato fries.

    Four: Press setting number 1 for the chip/fries setting and cook for 29 minutes.

    Fries in an air fryer with the lid closed.

    Watch our web story for these Air Fryer Fries for a quick how-to.

    What potatoes to use?

    Any potatoes will work, but some definitely work better than others. We try to use a floury potato like a King Edward or Maris Piper, as they have produced the best results for us.

    Seasoning

    We have kept it pretty simple with this recipe and just used our standard go-to seasoning of sea salt, black pepper and garlic granules. But there is so much more that you can do with the seasoning here.

    You could add a couple of tablespoons of a Mexican or Italian seasoning blend, or just a teaspoon or paprika if you want to give it a smokey edge.

    When we want to make a more indulgent chip, we open up the air fryer a few minutes before the chips are cooked and add a sprinkle or grated Parmesan and cook for 3-4 minutes more.

    Seasoned fries next to some tomato ketchup.

    How to get them crispy

    To get the best crispy fries possible, you are better off cutting them in the thin fries, rather than thicker potato wedges (although you run the risk of them breaking up). We leave the skins on our potatoes when chopping them. This is partly due to the fact that we are lazy and like to save time any way we can, but also because the skin gets nice and crispy and helps to give an overall crispy chip.

    If you open up your air fryer and they are still not as crispy as you would like them, then put them back on for 3-4 minutes more. For maximum crispiness, serve them immediately. If you let them sit for a while, or reheat them, they can go soggy.

    Oven cooking instead

    You can cook chips in the oven, and that is the more traditional method, however to get them crispy you have to use a lot more oil and the cooking time is almost double. Whilst ovens are bigger, if you have a large air fryer then you can make enough to feed a family of four. They will also need to be moved around the baking tray regularly to stop them from sticking.

    ActiFry Vs other air fryers

    This recipe uses a Tefal ActiFry, which differs to most air fryers as it has a rotating paddle to constantly keep the food moving within the air fryer. This is quite a unique function of the ActiFry and we realise that not everyone will have this type of air fryer.

    If you have the kind of air fryer that doesn't have a paddle, soak the fries in water for about 10 minutes, remove from the water and pat dry. Preheat the air fryer to 180ºC/360ºF. Put the dried fries in a bowl, drizzle with oil and season to your taste. Toss well to coat evenly. 

    Arrange the fries on the bottom of your air fryer basket, in a single layer. The more separated, the crispier they will get. If they overlap, it is recommended that they be flipped half-way through the cooking time for a more even cooking. Cook for 15 minutes and once cooked serve immediately.

    Some more air fryer recipes

    If you are looking to get the most out of your air fryer, but don't really know what to make in it, then we have you covered. Why not try these Air Fryer King Prawns or Air Fryer Chicken Tikka.

    Air Fryer Chips on a wooden board with ketchup and mayonnaise.

    FAQs

    Are air fryer fries healthy?

    Usually, if you want really crispy fries then they need to be deep fried. With air fried food, you get all the taste and crispiness of a fried dish, but uses much less oil and cooks by circulating hot air around the food. The best bit is, it doesn't sacrifice on taste. Traditional fried food can also seem a lot heavier because of the fat content. But not these Air Fryer French Fries!

    Can I use Fry Lite for fries?

    You can use Fry Lite and although they will taste a little dryer, they will still cook well and get crispy and you will save yourself some calories by not using a tablespoon of oil per person.

    Do I need to soak potatoes before cooking?

    We have tried them when they have been soaked (and patted dry) first and without soaking and noticed no difference in how they were cooked or how crispy they got. So, we now don't bother soaking them, because it just makes the whole process longer.
    However, this process is different for other air fryers - see above.

    What do I do if my chips still look raw?

    Well, they shouldn't be raw after this cooking time, however if they still aren't cooked to your liking then cook them for a few more minutes. Cooking times will vary depending on the potatoes you use, the thickness of the chip and your air fryer.

    Do you need to par boil the potatoes first?

    We haven't parboiled them first. However, if you want really fluffy on the inside chips, then you can parboil them for 5 minutes first.

    Can you cook frozen chips in an air fryer?

    Yes, you can and I think it's the best way to cook frozen chips. Simply heat your air fryer up to the temperature on the packaging and then cook them for ¾ of the time stated, but check on them every 5 minutes.

    Can you make cheesy chips in the air fryer?

    Is there anything more comforting than cheesy chips? Once your chips are cooked, add some grated cheese and then cook it for a further 2 minutes (without a paddle) until the cheese is melted.

    My air fryer fries are too soggy

    If your air fryer fries are too soggy, then make sure you are drying them with some kitchen towel before adding them to the air fryer.

    My air fryer fries are burnt

    If you are finding that they are burnt, then try using less oil and reducing the cooking time. This recipe really does depend on how you cut the fries and your air fryer - they all cook things differently.

    Extra tips

    • Please note that this recipe is made using a Tefal Actifry(aff) Air Fryer. Using a different model of air fryer will change the cooking method needed (see above)
    • If you want to change the amount this makes, we recommend a ratio of 1 tablespoon of oil to every medium sized potato.
    • Get creative with the seasoning. You can add a Mexican or Italian seasoning, or keep it simple like we have.
    • For some extra indulgent chips, sprinkle some parmesan on top a few minutes before they are fully cooked.

    More potato recipes

    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Roasted Creme Fraiche Potatoes with Watercress
    • Homemade Garlic Crisps
    • Patatas Bravas
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    If you’ve tried these or any other recipe on the blog then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

    Recipe

    Air Fryer Chips on a serving board

    The Best Air Fryer Fries (Chips)

    Here are lots of tips for making The Best Air Fryer Chips, along with suggestions of different seasonings, so you can have a different flavours every time.
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
    Vegan
    4.49 from 84 votes
    Pin Print
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 29 minutes
    Total Time: 34 minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 220kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 500 g potatoes
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon garlic granules

    Instructions

    • Chop the potatoes into thin fries.
    • Put them in a large bowl with the oil, salt, pepper and garlic and mix well.
    • Put them in to the air fryer (this recipe uses a Tefal ActiFry with a rotating paddle).
    • Press setting number 1 for the chip setting and cook for 29 minutes.

    Notes

    • Please note that this recipe is made using a Tefal Actifry Air Fryer. Using a different model of air fryer will change the cooking method needed - see full post.
    • If you want to change the amount this makes, we recommend a ratio of 1 tablespoon of oil to every medium sized potato.
    • Get creative with the seasoning. You can add a Mexican or Italian seasoning, or keep it simple like we have.
    • For some extra indulgent chips, sprinkle some Parmesan on top a few minutes before they are fully cooked.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 1080mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 28.5mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 8.3mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram and tag #hungryhealthyhappy!
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    *All links marked (aff) are affiliate links. Please read our Privacy Policy for more information*

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle

      January 11, 2022 at 10:29 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect use of the air fryer! These are so good I could eat them every night!

      Reply
    2. Carrie Robinson

      January 11, 2022 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      These definitely look like french fry perfection to me! So smart to use the air fryer to make these. :)

      Reply
    3. Sara Welch

      January 11, 2022 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      Another great recipe for my air fryer! Quick, easy and perfectly crisp! Definitely, a new favorite recipe!

      Reply
    4. Jessica Formicola

      January 11, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      We made these with dinner last night and they were wonderful! The perfect texture and quicker than the oven!

      Reply
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    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.

    Welcome! My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist, along with travel, home and family life and general happiness.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food and lifestyle blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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