Air fryer · Beginner
Hand-cut air fryer fries
Fresh potatoes, two tablespoons of oil, and a basket that never gets crowded.
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Let's make it.
- Scrub the potatoes and cut them into even sticks about ½ inch thick. Even sticks cook at the same rate.
- Rinse the sticks in cold water to wash off loose surface starch, then dry them thoroughly on a towel.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and grease the basket.
- Toss the dry fries with the oil and salt in a bowl, not in the basket.
- Spread one batch in a single layer. Most baskets will need two or three batches.
- Cook 15 to 17 minutes per batch, stirring and turning the fries every 5 to 7 minutes, until crisp and golden.
- Salt again while hot and serve straight away. Keep finished batches spread out on a rack, not piled in a bowl.
The little thing that matters
The basket rule matters more than the recipe: one layer, room for air. A heaped basket steams the middle and leaves you with soft fries.
For meat and seafood, use a food thermometer and the current safe minimum temperature chart to verify doneness. Never pour oil into the air fryer basket; a light coat on the food is enough.
Air fryer setting reference: Taste of Home: Air-Fryer French Fries.
Air fryer vs deep fryer vs pan
On the air fryer chart: french fries at 400°F (205°C). See every food.
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