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These Low Calorie Air Fryer Fries are just as crisp and crunchy as deep fried French fries, but with less fat and fewer calories. Everyone will love a healthy and delicious alternative to fast food! Oven baked instructions included!
French fries are delicious, but they become a nutritional nightmare when deep fried. Thanks to the fantastic air fryer, you can achieve that same excellence with nothing more than potatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper!
To cook these low calorie fries in the air fryer, you’ll need a fraction of the oil for deep frying, so there’s less guilt AND less mess! Like regular fries, air fryer fries are crispy on the outside and smooth and creamy on the inside.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Made from scratch with only4 ingredients.
No more soggy baked fries; air fryer french fries are hot and crispy!
Low fat & low calorie alternative to fast-food fries.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Russet Potatoes: Russets have a high-starch content and the least moisture, so they make the best fries.
Olive Oil: Keeps the fries from sticking, adds flavor, and helps create gorgeous golden fries.
Spices: I like my fries simply seasoned with salt & pepper, but feel free to dress up the seasonings.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut potatoes into french fries. Scrub the potatoes, rinse well, and pat dry. Then, with a sharp knife, cut the potato lengthwise into slices the width you like your fries. Cut each piece lengthwise into french fries.
Step 2:Blanch uncooked fries. Bring a large deep pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until they start to soften (about 3 minutes).Drain and transfer to a large bowl to cool—dry well with paper towels.
Step 3:Season blanched fries. Drizzle olive oil, salt, and pepper over the potatoes and toss.
Step 4:Cook seasoned fries in the air fryer. Transfer the fries to your air fryer basket in a relatively single layer. The pieces can overlap somewhat, but don’t overcrowd the basket. Set the air fryer to 400 ℉, and cook (tossing the basket a few times) until the fries are tender and crisped to your liking (about 18 minutes).
Expert Tips
For regular fries, cut the potato into ½-inch thick slices. Cut the pieces about ¼-inch thick for shoestring fries. Keep an eye on them as smaller cuts will cook quicker. Do your best to cut the fries the same size.
If you aren’t in a hurry, soak your fries in cool water for at least an hour to draw out as much of the starch as possible. Be sure to dry the potatoes VERY well after rinsing.
Air fryer functionality differs from one brand to the next. Some may cook faster than others, so keep an eye on your fries.
Variations
Herbs & seasonings: As is, this recipe makes perfectly salted, crispy french fries. The only thing missing is the ketchup! Feel feel to amp up the flavors with herbs and seasonings. Fresh out of the air fryer, toss your fries with garlic & fresh herbs, Italian seasoning, blackened seasoning, seasoning salt, etc. Start with about a ½ teaspoon and add more to taste.
Oven Baked Fries
Preheat the oven to 425 °F. This high temperature will help create crispy fries.
Wash and peel (optional) the russet potatoes. Cut them into evenly-sized fries or wedges. Try to keep them as uniform as possible for even cooking.
In a large mixing bowl, toss the potato fries with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Be sure that the seasonings are evenly distributed and coat the potatoes.
Place the seasoned potato fries on a baking sheet in a single layer. It’s important not to overcrowd the baking sheet, as this can lead to uneven cooking. If necessary, use two baking sheets or bake in batches.
Put the baking sheet with the potatoes into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through the cooking time. The total baking time may vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the fries.
The fries are ready when they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Once the fries are cooked to your desired level of crispiness, remove them from the oven. Let them cool for a minute or two, and then serve them hot.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: French fries are always best when fresh. After cooling, keep extras in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Freezing: After cooling, place the fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer until the fries are solid. Then, place the frozen fries in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 400 ℉ until hot and crisped.
Recipe FAQ‘s
Can I prep the fries in advance?
Up to a day in advance, you can cut the potatoes into fries and keep them submerged in a bowl of water in the fridge overnight. Be sure to dry them off well before air frying.
How do I reheat leftover fries in the air fryer?
To reheat and re-crisp your fries, preheat the air fryer to 375 ℉ and cook the fries for 4 to 5 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through.
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Low Calorie Air Fryer Fries
These low calorie air fryer fries are just as crisp and crunchy as deep fried French fries, but with less fat and fewer calories. Everyone will love a healthy and delicious alternative to fast food!
Prep 15 minutesmins
Cook 18 minutesmins
Total 33 minutesmins
Servings 2Servings
Calories 171kcal
Ingredients
2russet potatoescut into fries
1tablespoonsolive oil
1tablespoonssalt
½teaspoonblack pepper
Instructions
Blanch potatoes in water until tender. Do do this, bring a pot of water to a boil, add potatoes to the water for about 3 minutes. Enough to soften them a bit, but not too much.
Remove from water. Let cool.
Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Place the potatoes into the air fryer. Do not overcrowd air fryer. You will want to cook these in batches. Turn air fryer on to 400°F and cook for 18 minutes.
Halfway through cooking, toss the fries. Shake periodically.
Notes
Different air fryer brands may cook at different rates, so be sure to keep on eye on food.
For regular fries, cut the potato into ½″ thick slices. Cut the pieces about ¼″ thick for shoestring fries. Keep an eye on them as smaller cuts will cook quicker. Do your best to cut the fries the same size.
If you aren’t in a hurry, soak your fries in cool water for at least an hour to draw out as much of the starch as possible. Be sure to dry the potatoes VERY well after rinsing.
Storing: French fries are always best when fresh. After cooling, keep extras in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Freezing: After cooling, place the fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer until the fries are solid. Then, place the frozen fries in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 400 ℉ until hot and crisped.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Tried this recipe?Give it a star rating and leave a comment below!
Jeannie notes.. Above is curated for evaluation and recommendation from simplylowcal.com
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