This is the best temperature and cook time to make frozen french fries air fryer style!! You can get them super crispy just like at a restaurant but healthier since you do NOT have to fry them in oil.
Jump To
- Ninja Foodi Frozen French Fries
- What You Need
- How Long to Cook Frozen French Fries in Air Fryer
- Frozen Crinkle Cut Fries Cook Time
- Cooking Tips
- Do I need to defrost frozen French fries before frying?
- What are the best frozen French fries?
- What can you dip fries in besides ketchup?
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries Recipe
- Other air fryer frozen foods you’ll love
Cooking frozen french fries to super crispy this way was a game changer this afternoon! We were all surprised at how crispy they turned out, WAY better than in the oven. This and more air fryer recipes can be found here on The Typical Mom blog.
Before trying this, I decided to make homemade Ninja Foodi french fries and those came out great so these were next. I would say we are because we use our machine at least once a day, maybe more. This was one of the first in a journey of cooking frozen foods in our new hot air machine. We couldn’t stop once this was such a success.
We have been obsessed ever since our hot air machine arrived on our doorstep. We’ve made everything from air fryer carrot fries, to air fryer frozen chicken wings and the list goes on and on. It doesn’t matter what brand you have. A Foodie, Cosori, AirWave, they all basically work the same so get going y’all.
Ninja Foodi Frozen French Fries
Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
What You Need
There are a ton of frozen french fries varieties and brands out there. Stores typically have their own version that is usually the cheapest. I wouldn’t say there is a huge difference between any of them unless they are seasoned in the bag. Done just like air fryer frozen tater tots are, you throw them in right out of the bag and toss a few times to get as crispy as possible.
The key to getting that deep fried crisp is a spray of olive oil on them about twice, at least once near the end though. With any fried foods this is the key to their success. Beyond that typically people want a sprinkle of salt when done and ketchup for dipping.
My teens can make them without me which is nice. Just pop them in and they’re just as good as at a restaurant.
How Long to Cook Frozen French Fries in Air Fryer
Give or take 15 minutes depending on how many you add. They will get done faster if you add fewer and not overlap the pieces. Then the hot air can rotate around each one but always shake the basket halfway thru the timing.
Frozen Crinkle Cut Fries Cook Time
You can choose the straight or Frozen Waffle Fries in Air Fryer timing is here. The thicker they are the longer they will take to cook thru to the middle so don’t mix and match. Now air fryer potato wedges are the longest because of the thickness.
Cooking Tips
Always preheat your machine at 400 degrees for 5 minutes before adding food. When cooking frozen french fries it is all about short stints of time and flipping halfway through cooking for the 15 minute cook time. Oil added near the end will ensure they crisp up to perfection and taste like deep frying too.
This timing and steps make perfectly cooked fries for us, if you want to make them REALLY crispy add 2 minutes at the end.
Do I need to defrost frozen French fries before frying?
When air frying French fries, do not let them thaw beforehand!! They should be kept completely frozen which guarantees that the surface of the potato is sealed during the cooking process, resulting in a crispy, high quality fry. This philosophy works for other things too, like air fryer fish sticks that are a game changer as well!
You can follow the temp and times in our air fryer cook time chart. This has been a game changer for us. Like making frozen air fryer corn dogs instead of throwing them in the microwave, they’re SO much better!
What are the best frozen French fries?
Well, I think that is really subjective but I guess statistics can tell you which ones are the best sellers amongst them all. Ore-Ida Country Style Steak Fries come in at #1. Alexia Seasoned Waffle Fries are next because of the seasoning on them which is great. Ore-Ida Golden Twirls are fun especially with kids, in at #3. Trader Joe’s Chipotle Ranch Fries are amazing if you can find them and like a bit of heat
Many of these brands have other things you’ll love too like frozen onion rings in air fryer and more. Like I said, I really like this extra crispy style, I found these at our local grocery store.
What can you dip fries in besides ketchup?
Of course they are served with a variety of condiments, especially here in Idaho!! If you visit Boise Fry Co. out here they have a bar full of french fry dips. You could recreate this at home for a party too which would be fun including: Fry sauce for French fries is our favorite, curry sauce, hot or chili sauce, mustard or mayonnaise. If you want to try something totally new you should give our bang bang shrimp sauce a whirl! I swear it is good on everything!
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen french fries, 26 oz
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 spray olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Pour half your bag of frozen fries into the air fryer basket and close lid for 5 minutes of cook time.
- Then shake basket and cook for another 5 minutes. Once that is done shake the basket once more, spray top of fries with olive oil spray lightly and salt lightly too.
- After 15 full minutes fries should be perfectly crispy. If you want them crispier leave in fro 2-3 more minutes.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I would highly recommend you get an appliance specifically for air frying vs. the Instant Pot CrispLid device. They work much better for making dinners and side dishes on a regular basis and getting all edges really crispy. If you don’t want to make homemade fries in oven is a great second best.
Of course you’ll want to pair this with a meal most likely. Frozen fish in air fryer is yummy, or try one of our chicken recipes too. I mean they can just be a quick snack too.
Other air fryer frozen foods you’ll love
Once you’re done with these you should try our frozen air fryer potstickers, and fun frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer too.
Wait, so 5 min, 5 min, then 15? Or 15 all combined?
@Dianna, nm just read the whole blog. Ha, I got this…
love the french fries in the ninja
Yes!!
Trying these tonight in my Air Fryer
Enjoy!