Air Fryer Reference
Frozen French Fries in an Air Fryer
Frozen · straight from the bag
- Temperature
- 400 °F
- 204 °C
- Total time
- 14 min
- Shake at
- 7 min
- shake once
- Serving
- About half a 1-lb bag (2 servings) in a single layer
- from frozen
Doneness
Fries are evenly deep-golden; centres are fluffy when bitten through; bend test holds for a moment before the fry breaks.
Technique
Add fries straight from the freezer — do not thaw. Spread in a single layer with no overlap, shake the basket once at the halfway mark, and salt the moment they come out so the salt sticks to the hot surface oil.
Oil & seasoning
Skip the oil — every major brand pre-oils the fries during the par-fry step. A light spray helps only on shoestring cuts.
Watch out for
- Do not thaw the fries first. Surface moisture is the enemy of crispness — frozen fries flash-evaporate that water in the basket and crisp better than thawed ones.
- Shoestring cuts (Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries) need 10–11 minutes; thick steak cuts (Alexia, Trader Joe's Handsome Cut) need 16–18 minutes. Use the brand row below.
- Do not overcrowd. Stacked fries steam each other and stay limp in the middle.