Crispy Air Fryer French Fries (Printable Version)

Golden, perfectly crisp French fries made healthier in the air fryer, finished with flaky sea salt.

# Ingredient List:

01 - 4 large russet potatoes

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

03 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for finishing

04 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, optional

01 - Peel the potatoes or leave skins on for a rustic touch, then cut into ¼-inch thick fries.

02 - Rinse the fries in cold water to remove excess starch. Drain and pat dry thoroughly with kitchen towels.

03 - Place fries in a large bowl. Add olive oil, sea salt, and pepper if using, tossing to coat evenly.

04 - Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.

05 - Arrange the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary; do not overcrowd.

06 - Air fry for 15–20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until fries are golden and crispy.

07 - Transfer to a serving bowl and immediately sprinkle with extra flaky sea salt. Serve hot.

01 -

These fries achieve that perfect restaurant-style crispiness without the excessive oil or mess of deep frying, leaving you feeling satisfied instead of sluggish.
The technique is foolproof once you nail the timing, making this your secret weapon for impressing friends who think air fryers are just a kitchen gadget fad.

02 -

Drying the potatoes thoroughly after rinsing is non-negotiable – I once skipped this step in a hurry and ended up with disappointingly soggy fries despite perfect timing.
Working in batches might seem tedious, but crowding the air fryer basket resulted in fries that steamed rather than crisped, teaching me patience yields perfect results.

03 -

For the absolute crispiest results, soak your cut potatoes in cold water for a full 30 minutes to remove excess starch, then dry them obsessively – I even use a salad spinner followed by towel-drying after particularly disappointing soggy batches.
The sweet spot for perfectly cooked fries is when they're just a shade darker than golden – that extra minute of cooking time makes the difference between good and unforgettable.