Air fryers have revolutionized the way we enjoy frozen foods, making them crispy and delicious in minutes. This game-changing guide reveals the absolute best frozen foods to pop in your air fryer, delivering restaurant-quality results with just 12 minutes of cooking time. Whether you’re a busy parent or convenience-seeking cook, these perfectly crispy, 130-calorie portions offer a healthier alternative to deep-fried favorites. Get ready to unlock your air fryer’s full potential with these foolproof frozen food selections.
Simple Air Fryer French Fries Ingredients
- Frozen French Fries: 1 bag, any variety (shoestring fries work great)
Air Fryer Instructions
- Basket Prep: Add frozen fries to your air fryer basket, keeping them in a single layer for optimal crispiness
- Even Distribution: Gently shake the basket to spread fries evenly, ensuring each fry gets perfectly crispy
- Temperature Setting: Set your air fryer to 400°F (this high heat gives the best crunch)
- Initial Cooking: Let them cook for the first 6 minutes undisturbed
- Mid-Cook Shake: Remove basket and give fries a gentle shake to ensure even cooking
- Final Cooking: Return to air fryer and cook for remaining 6 minutes until golden and crispy
- Serve: Transfer to your serving plate and enjoy while hot!
Cooking Techniques
Want the crispiest air fryer french fries? The magic is in the spacing! Spread your frozen fries in a single layer with a little room between each one. This lets the hot air flow freely around each fry, making them super crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. Shaking the basket halfway through cooking is also key – it helps every fry get evenly golden brown. If you’re feeding a crowd, cook in batches rather than overfilling the basket.
Variations
Your air fryer french fries can be so much more than plain! Try these quick seasoning ideas right after cooking:
- Sprinkle with garlic powder and parmesan cheese
- Add a dash of cajun seasoning for some heat
- Toss with ranch seasoning powder
- Sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning for a seafood-style twist Just remember to season while they’re still hot so the seasonings stick better!
Serving Suggestions
These crispy fries make the perfect side dish! Serve them hot with:
- Classic ketchup or mayo
- Spicy chipotle aioli
- Honey mustard dipping sauce
- Alongside burgers or sandwiches
- With grilled chicken or fish For extra fun, set up a dipping sauce bar with different options and let everyone mix and match their favorites!
Best Frozen Foods for Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 bag Frozen French fries
Instructions
- Pour your frozen french fries into the air fryer basket. Be sure not to crowd the basket. Give the basket a gentle shake to even out the fries.
- Place air fryer basket into air fryer unit.
- Set temperature for 400 degrees F. If you are cooking shoestring fries, cook for 12 minutes.
- After 6 minutes have passed remove the air fryer basket and shake it gently to move fries around. Return air fryer basket to air fryer unit and continue cooking.
- Enjoy!
