Frozen french fries cooks in an air fryer at 200°C (390°F) for 15~18 min. Preheat first, and no flipping needed. Edges turn deep golden brown
Frozen fries are what air fryers do best. They are already par-fried, so no extra oil is needed — the trick is high heat for a short time. Pull the basket once mid-cook and shake it so the fries separate and brown evenly.
Fill the basket only until you can still see the bottom. Two layers deep and the lower fries steam instead of crisping — split anything over 500 g into two batches.
At a glance
| Temperature | 200°C (390°F) |
|---|---|
| Time | 15~18 min |
| Preheat | Yes |
| Flip | No Shake basket |
| Doneness check | Edges turn deep golden brown |
| Adjusting for quantity | Fill the basket only until you can still see the bottom. Two layers deep and the lower fries steam instead of crisping — split anything over 500 g into two batches. |
What usually goes wrong
- Skipping the preheat — moisture escapes early and they go limp
- Never shaking — the touching faces stay pale
- Adding oil — they are pre-fried, so extra oil just makes them greasy
Make it better
- An extra minute or two past done gets you takeaway-level crunch
- Salt them the second they come out — salt only sticks while they are hot