Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance for making quick and delicious meals and snacks. One food that many people enjoy making in air fryers is french fries. When making fries in an air fryer, an important question arises – should you season the fries before or after air frying them? There are good arguments on both sides of this debate, so let’s dive in and explore the pros and cons of each approach.
Seasoning Fries Before Air Frying
Seasoning fries with salt, spices, or other flavors before air frying has some potential benefits:
- The seasoning gets evenly distributed – When you toss raw fries in seasonings before air frying, it helps coat them all over and ensures even coverage.
- The seasoning adheres better – Seasonings and spices may stick to and penetrate raw fries more than fully cooked ones coming out of the air fryer.
- The fries absorb more flavor – Raw fries have a better chance to absorb flavors from seasonings compared to after air frying.
- You don’t risk over-seasoning – It can be hard to control how much seasoning sticks to cooked fries, so seasoning before avoids potential over-seasoning.
Overall, seasoning fries before air frying helps the flavors become ingrained right into the fries for enhanced taste throughout. The downside is that any breading or coating may fall off easier during cooking if the fries are pre-seasoned.
Seasoning Fries After Air Frying
On the other hand, there are also some good reasons to hold off on seasoning until after the fries come out of the air fryer:
- The fries stay crisper – Seasonings can draw out moisture from fries and make them less crisp, whereas seasoning after keeps crispness intact.
- No seasoning gets baked off – Some seasonings may bake off or burn if applied before air frying at high heat.
- You control the seasoning level – It’s easier to sprinkle on a little seasoning at a time after cooking to reach the desired taste.
- The fries look more appealing – Fries coated in seasonings before air frying may look less appetizing or uniform afterward.
Seasoning after air frying lets you highlight and enhance the fries’ inherent flavors and textures. Just be careful of over-seasoning. A light hand is recommended when sprinkling on seasoning after air frying.
Tips for Seasoning Fries
No matter when you choose to season your air fried fries, here are some tips for getting the best results:
- Use large-grained seasonings – Finely ground spices may fall off easily or burn, while coarse salt, pepper, spices, etc. adhere better.
- Toss fries in oil/fat before seasoning – The small amount of oil helps the seasonings stick to the fries.
- Season lightly before, finish seasoning after – Try a light coat of seasoning before air frying, then sprinkle on a bit more after.
- Let fries cool slightly before final seasoning – Seasonings will stick best when fries are no longer piping hot.
- Try wet seasonings after air frying – Brush on barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or other wet seasonings which adhere well to cooked fries.
Results Comparison
To settle the debate over the best time to season air fried fries, I tried out air frying two batches of fries, seasoning one before and one after. Here’s how they compared:
| Before Air Frying | After Air Frying |
|---|---|
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Based on my test, I personally prefer seasoning fries lightly before air frying and then finishing them off with a bit more seasoning after. This gives the best of both worlds – great flavor penetration while maintaining texture and appearance. However, seasoning after works well too. Just remember to control the amount of seasoning you add post-fry!
Best Seasonings for Air Fryer Fries
You can get creative with what herbs, spices, and other flavor additions you use on your air fried fries. Here are some of the most popular and delicious seasoning options:
- Salt – The simple classic, salt enhances the natural potato flavor.
- Pepper – For a little kick, freshly cracked black pepper is perfect.
- Garlic powder – Adds a zing of garlic flavor.
- Onion powder – Similar to garlic powder but with onion taste.
- Paprika – A mild, sweet and smoky spice.
- Cajun seasoning – The blend of spices like garlic, onion, and chili pepper give a spicy kick.
- Ranch seasoning – Dries ranch flavors of garlic, onion, herbs coat the fries.
- Parmesan – Sprinkling on some Parmesan cheese post-fry is delicious.
- Barbecue spice – For a sweet and tangy barbecue flavor.
Get creative and make your own signature blend! Spice mixes are also great on air fried fries.
Best Oils for Air Fried Fries
While air fryers don’t require added oil like deep frying, using a small amount of oil can improve air fried fries. The oil helps the fries crisp up nicely and aids in browning. It also helps seasonings adhere. Consider these oil options for air fryer fries:
- Olive oil – A heart-healthy oil that adds nice flavor.
- Avocado oil – Has a high smoke point so great for air frying and adds richness.
- Coconut oil – Provides delicious subtle coconut flavor.
- Beef tallow or duck fat – For an extra-crispy and decadent result.
- Peanut oil – Neutral tasting oil good for frying.
- Grapeseed oil – Another neutral oil suitable for high heat.
I recommend using about 1-2 tsp of your chosen oil per 1 lb of fries. Toss the raw fries in the oil before cooking. This oil will help the fries get perfectly crisped and browning, while also allowing any seasonings to adhere better to the fry surfaces.
Fry Coating Ideas
If you want to give your fries even more flavor and crunch, try coating them before air frying. Here are some delicious coatings to consider:
- Cornstarch – Gives an extra crispy coating.
- Seasoned flour – Such as spiced flour or seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Panko breadcrumbs – Japanese-style crumbs make a crunchy coating.
- Parmesan cheese – Grated Parmesan gives great flavor.
- Spices and herbs – Such as paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, etc.
The possibilities are endless for creative coatings! Apply your chosen dry coating after tossing fries in a small amount of oil to help it stick. Spray fries with oil if needed while air frying. Watch closely as coated fries can brown quickly.
Fry Cutting Tips
How you cut the potatoes for fries also impacts the end result. Follow these tips for ideal air fried fries:
- Cut fries evenly for uniform cooking.
- Cut fries about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
- Leave the skin on for extra crispness and texture.
- Soak cut fries in cold water for 30 mins to remove starch.
- Pat fries very dry before seasoning and air frying.
- Use starchy potatoes like Russets for the best fries.
Air Fryer Settings
One of the keys to perfect air fried fries is using the right appliance settings. Here are some guidelines:
- Set temperature to 400°F or higher for crisp fries.
- Cook fries in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Flip/rotate fries midway during cooking.
- Add 2-3 minutes to cooking time for coated fries.
- Check often to avoid burning.
The precise air fryer time can vary based on the model, but roughly 15-20 minutes total cooking time for crisp fries is typical. Always keep an eye on them!
Serving Tips
Once your fries are cooked, try these serving tips for maximum enjoyment:
- Let fries cool for 1-2 minutes before eating.
- Toss with extra seasoning right before serving.
- Serve with dipping sauces like ketchup, ranch, or aioli.
- Garnish with extras like parsley, Parmesan, or fresh herbs.
- Enjoy fries immediately for the crispiest texture.
Air fried fries are best served and devoured right away! Their crispy texture fades the longer they sit out.
Troubleshooting
Having some issues getting your air fried fries just right? Try these troubleshooting tips:
- Not crispy enough – Increase temperature, cut thicker, dry fries well before cooking.
- Too crispy – Lower temp, flip fries over midway through cooking.
- Uneven cooking – Cut fries evenly, cook in smaller batches, flip during cooking.
- Not browned – Brush fries with oil during cooking, increase temperature.
- Burned – Lower temperature, watch carefully during cooking.
It may take some trial and error to get your air fryer fries just right. Vary the thickness, temperature, and cook time until you find the perfect crispness and doneness for your preferences.
Recipe Inspiration
Ready to get started on some sensational seasoned air fried fries? Try out these delicious fry recipes:
Classic Air Fryer French Fries
Simply seasoned with salt, these easy fries are a perfect match for burgers, sandwiches, and dips.
Spicy Sriracha and Ranch Fries
Sriracha and homemade ranch seasoning give these fries a spicy, creamy kick.
Parmesan Garlic Air Fryer Fries
Garlic powder and Parmesan cheese take these crunchy fries over the top.
Sweet Potato Fries with Spice Rub
For a healthier, lower carb option, sweet potato fries are tossed in a cinnamon sugar spice blend.
Chili Cheese Fries
These fully-loaded fries are topped with chili, cheese, bacon, and all the fixings.
FAQs
Should you rinse potatoes for fries?
Yes, rinsing potato wedges or fries after cutting and before cooking removes excess starch. This helps yield crisper, better browned fries. Simply soak the cut fries in cold water for 30 minutes, then drain and pat very dry before seasoning and air frying for best results.
What oil is best for air frying?
Good oils for air frying include olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and peanut oil. Use just 1-2 tsp oil to lightly coat fries before air frying. Oils with high smoke points work best.
How long do you cook fries in an air fryer?
Air fryer times range from 10-20 minutes depending on thickness. Cut fries about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cook at 400°F, flip halfway, until golden brown. Add 2-3 minutes if coated or frozen.
What potatoes are best for fries?
Starchy potatoes like Russet and Yukon Gold make the best fries. They get crispy on the outside while fluffy inside. Other good options are Maris Piper and King Edward potatoes.
How do you keep fries crispy after air frying?
To maintain crispiness, cook fries just before eating and serve immediately. Letting them sit will cause them to get soggy. You can also re-crisp cooled fries by putting them back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes.
The Bottom Line
Seasoning those crispy air fried french fries before or after cooking comes down to personal preference. For the best of both worlds, try lightly seasoning before air frying and then finishing with extra seasonings afterward. Use coarse salts or spices, toss fries in a small amount of oil first, and adjust air fryer time and temperature as needed to achieve your perfect fries. From classic salt and pepper to bold spice rubs, the possibilities for seasoning air fried fries are endless. Air frying is a quick and healthy way to enjoy this beloved snack or side. Just be sure to devour these crispy fries right away before they lose that texture!