Crunchy, Salty, Delicious Fries.

I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical of the Air Fryer’s capacity to make crunchy, salty, delicious fries. I figured there was no way to recreate all that favor without a vat of oil, fry baskets, and a good dose of artery-clogging.

Our first batches of Air Fryer fries were, shall we say, uninspired. Tiny limp shoe laces that we chew and chewed as we got to the raw potato in the middle. At the time, we didn’t think there was more to recreating fries than slicing the potatoes and salting them- how wrong we were! Eventually Luke did some research and with just a few adjustments (better seasoning was a GAME CHANGER) we were quickly able to elevate our french fry game! We wanted to share our tips with you so you don’t have to sit through batches of unsatisfying starchy experiments (I think we did enough of that on behalf of everybody.) Plus the cleanup isn’t too bad! Read on for a few ways to make your Air Fryer fries as good as the real thing!

Air Fryer Fries Ingredients

• 1 Bag Russet Potatoes
• Neutral or Vegetable oil
• Pinch of salt
• Fry sauce
• Cheese (if you are feeling fancy, we like queso fresco, but any mild shredded cheese will do!)
• Chopped Parsley(optional)

Step 1: Selecting the Perfect Potatoes

The right potato makes a difference and luckily for us, the cheapest potato (the beloved russet) does well here!! You can also use Yukon Gold, but if you find yourself on a budget (or just cheap bastards like us) a 10-pound bag of russets is the way to go.

Luke says these types of potatoes have a good balance of starch and moisture which I believe, science jargon aside, means they are capable of getting crispy, especially when thin-sliced, and the middle can get fluffy which is also very important. Nothing is worse than a mouthful of raw potato when you are looking for light and crunchy goodness (just take our word for it.)

Step 2: Prepare Your Air Fryer Fries

Luke washes the potatoes first (I should do the same as cleanliness is important and all, but I never have the patience. So I skip this step but don’t be like me unless you don’t mind a more earthy flavor to your fries…and I suppose there are health risks as well, so just wash your taters, folks, and pay no mind to my bad habits.)

You don’t have to peel your potatoes which is great and fits into my life style of doing things in the kitchen as quickly as possible!

Luke loves his kitchen gadgets so we have sacrificed precious counter space for this vegetable chopper (pictured above.) At first, I thought, men and their toys and did a mental eye roll, but this one is well worth the square foot of space it takes up. Super easy and fun to use and definitely shortens the process.

If you find yourself without a commercial chopper as most normal people do, don’t worry, we get it. Just make 1/2-inch slices and try to cut them as evenly as you can.

Once chopped, place the fries in a large bowl and cover them with water. This is an important step!! For all the kitchen-challenged people out there like me, this may seem superfluous but it isn’t! Soaking the fries in the fridge removes excess starch, which helps achieve a crispier texture. The crisp is what it is all about so make sure you allow the fries to soak for at least 30 minutes but pro tip: you can leave the fries soaking in the fridge for up to a week and use them as needed during your meals.

Step 3: Cooking Your Air Fryer Fries

Once your fries have had their cleansing bath and spa treatment, they are ready to be sacrificed for the greater good. We have found 12 x 1/2-inch fries make about half a meal’s worth, so for two people, you’ll want to prepare 24 fries, roughly one air fryer basket’s worth.

Use a salad spinner (another Luke kitchen gadget) to remove excess moisture from the fries. If you (unsurprisingly) find yourself without a salad spinner, a towel will do the trick. You are just trying to get rid of any excess moisture still clinging to the potatoes.

Now, for the fun part! Dump those babies in the air fryer basket, and give them three good flicks of neutral oil (such as vegetable oil or canola oil) using an oil spout (yet another Luke kitchen gadget). For us normal people, I take the cap of the oil container and use that to toss or jiggle the fries in the basket until they are evenly coated in oil. All roads lead to Rome here, just get enough oil on the fries because, without it, things do NOT go well (I speak from personal experience.)

Set your air fryer to cook for 20 minutes. For the crispiest results, make sure each fry has a bit of room in the basket (we recommend cooking about 12 fries per basket). Pro-tip for those who have mastery of the Air Fryer is to use this cooking time to clean/prep your main dish for this meal.

Step 4: Seasoning and Serving Air Fryer Fries

Once your fries have finished cooking, remove the air fryer basket and add a pinch of salt to taste. Toss or jiggle the basket to ensure the fries are coated evenly. Honestly, I know the amount of straight-up “jiggling” of the basket we seem to do, might feel weird but it is necessary! You should take advantage of the high walls of the basket to thoroughly coat things without making a mess.

Next, is the best part and where you can do a few simple things to make your simple fries fancy AF. Transfer your Air Fryer Fries to a plate, and serve them alongside two or three of your favorite dipping sauces. We recently discovered the bottled Chick-fil-A sauce sold at the grocery store and lemme tell you- GAME OVER! Other popular choices include BBQ sauce, mustard, and ketchup, but feel free to get creative with your sauce selection.

Recently we had a small family gathering and we got a lot of “oohs” and “ahs” with our fries once we added chopped parsley and sprinkled crumbled queso fresco over the pile and drizzled sauce on everything to finish. We let everyone marvel at our creation before revealing our special sauce was just Chick-fil-A sauce.

Don’t forget! Salt is your best friend! Sprinkle on when fries are fresh and hot. Sorry to all my high BP people and sodium watchers over there, we still send our love to you! You can check out other seasoning combinations in our spices and seasonings guide.)

Lastly, dig in! I am always surprised at all quickly they go but air fryer fries are here for a good time, not for a long time. Eat ’em while they are fresh as they don’t hold well and feel slightly better about them because they weren’t fried in oil.

We can’t imagine a more beautiful thing. Be sure to share this Air Fryer Fries Recipe with your friends!

Step 5: Quick and Easy Cleanup

In an effort to reduce kitchen time as much as possible, while the air fryer basket is still hot, clean it using our “no wet hands” method, which only takes 30 seconds. I freakin’ hate doing dishes (doesn’t everyone?) so this method is much preferred to scrubbing caked-on potato bits at the end of the night. Follow the steps outlined in our previous blog post on air fryer cleaning techniques, and you’ll have a spotless basket in no time.

To start, while the basket is still hot, give one squirt of soap into the dirty basket.

Next, fill the basket with a small amount of water.

Then, swirl/jiggle/slosh the water in the basket until it foams.

After that, pour out the soap foam and briefly rinse the basket in the basket.

Finally, insert the basket back into the air fryer. No need to dry the basket with a towel – residual heat in the air fryer will do the trick!

The post Air Fryer Fries Recipe 101: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on The Air Fryer Gourmets.

Tender, Healthy, Scrumptious.

I’ll be honest, I was not bit fully convinced about those zucchini craze recipes like zoodles, zucchini rice, and zucchini pasta. And yet, here I am making my own original zucchini fries recipe. My major gripes of most zucchini recipes are with long prep times and a lack of crispy maillardian goodness. Enter the air fryer to fix all that and bring out the best in these little green sticks. You’re probably wondering, how could you possibly achieve all that deliciousness without beef fat, a fryer, and a cardiologist on standby. Well, you’re just going to have to trust me on this one.

Before we dialed it in, our first couple of dinners with home zucchini fries were a bit sad. The green sticks were limp and lacking in flavor, a bit like wet noodles that have sat out for too long. But that didn’t last long. We did a bit of noggin work, made a couple of precise tweaks, and now we’re experts in making Air Fryer zucchini fries that are delicious enough to make you want to inhale all the food on your plate immediately.

So, without forcing you to suffer through another word, here are the secrets to making absolute zingers of Air Fryer zucchini fries.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Recipe Highlights:

• Quick and easy: From prep to plate in under 15 minutes!
• Healthy alternative: A nutritious and delicious way to indulge in fries guilt-free.
• Minimal ingredients: All you need is zucchini, steak seasoning, and a dash of neutral oil.
• Fun Toppings: Feel free to mix up the seasoning or add sauces on top.

Step 1: Prepping the Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

First, take out three to four Zucchini. I’ve found that half a meal is about 2 Zucchini. Give each Zucchini a quick wash in the sink to remove any dirt. Next, you’ll want to cut off the stem of the zucchini and cut them in half. Both small and large size zucchini work well for this recipe.

Step 2: Slicing the Zucchini Fries

Now it’s time to turn your zucchini into fries! To achieve the perfect fry shape, use a 1/2″ fry cutter to chop the zucchini into evenly-sized pieces. This will not only ensure that your zucchini fries cook evenly in the air fryer but also give them that familiar, appetizing appearance.

Step 3: Seasoning and Oiling the Zucchini Fries

Once you’ve sliced your zucchini into perfect little fries, toss them into the air fryer basket. Then, sprinkle two dashes of steak seasoning over the zucchini fries. Using a bottle with an oil spout, give the fries a light dash of neutral oil. The steak seasoning adds a burst of flavor, while the oil helps the zucchini fries crisp up beautifully in the air fryer. After adding the seasoning and oil, shake or toss the basket twice to ensure that the zucchini fries are evenly coated in both.

Step 4: Air Frying the Zucchini Fries

Now that your zucchini fries are seasoned and oiled, it’s time to let the air fryer work its magic. Set your air fryer to cook the zucchini fries for 9 minutes. There’s no need to worry about preheating the air fryer – just set the timer, and you’re good to go!

Step 5: Plating and Enjoying Your Zucchini Fries

When the air fryer timer goes off, your zucchini fries are ready to be devoured! Carefully dump the fries onto a plate, and get ready to savor the crispy, golden-brown deliciousness. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce(try our very own BBQ sauce recipe) or enjoy them as is – either way, these zucchini fries are sure to be a hit!

These zucchini fries are also incredibly versatile – you can experiment with different seasoning blends or dipping sauces to suit your taste buds. Whether you serve them as an appetizer at your next gathering, pair them with a juicy burger, or simply enjoy them as a guilt-free snack, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are sure to become a staple in your cooking repertoire.

Step 6: Quick and Easy Cleanup

While the air fryer basket is still hot, clean it using our “no wet hands” method, which only takes 30 seconds. This method is perfect for those who don’t want the hassle of hand washing dishes. Follow the steps outlined in our previous blog post on air fryer cleaning techniques, and you’ll have a spotless basket in no time. You can even clean two baskets at once by using one in each hand.

To start, while the basket is still hot, give one squirt of soap into the dirty basket.

Next, fill the basket with a small amount of water.

Then, swirl/jiggle/slosh the water in the basket until it foams.

After than, pour out the soap foam and briefly rinse the basket in the basket.

Finally, insert the basket back into the air fryer. No need to dry the basket with a towel – residual heat in the air fryer will do the trick!

The post Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Recipe in a Flash appeared first on The Air Fryer Gourmets.

Crispy, Gooey, Delightful.

You’re tired and hungry. You want pizza and you want it now. I’m here to tell you that by following these pro pizza tips, you’ll be saying hello to some perfectly crispy and gooey slices in no time!

It’s simple, you’ll just need to grab the right za, cut it up, cook, flip, cook, sauce, and serve. (NOTE: Amy here, Luke is writing this article but we disagree about the “flip” part of this recipe so I will pipe up in that section to express my disapproval of his wanton ways…okay, back to Luke!)

Both your wallet and your stomach will be thanking you. Your frozen pizza perfection is only 10 minutes away (including cleanup)! The trusty Air Fryer is here to save your day.

Step 1: Selecting the Best Frozen Pizzas

First things first, you’ll need a frozen pizza. Pro Tip: Depending on where you shop, fresh & ready to bake pizzas at grocery stores (pictured above) can be half the cost and IMO are usually better than the frozen aisle offerings. It is just one step closer to fresher ingredients, and one step further than flash-frozen pizzas that sit in the freezer aisle for an undetermined amount of time. If you can find a grocery store that offers this ready-to-bake option, it is definitely worth a try (and as we said, just as cost-efficient, which we are ALL about over here!)

Step 2: Prepping Your Pizza

We recommend cutting your pizza into eight equal slices before cooking. This will also allow you to cook two to four slices at a time, perfect for a quick snack or meal for one or two. Leave it in the plastic so they don’t get freezer burn and take slices out as you need em.

Step 3: Air Frying Your Pizza: The Perfect Technique

The key to getting a crispy crust and gooey cheese when cooking frozen pizza in an air fryer is to use a two-step process: first, cook the pizza with the crust side down, and then flip it and cook with the crust side up. If you’re making a meal for two, simply use both air fryer baskets to cook four slices instead of two.

(NOTE: Hi, I’m backkkkk. I am Amy and I stand up against people flipping their pizzas toppings side down. Some people who live in this household think that crispy crust is the most important thing, to which I say, NO! Down with the patriarchy!! Put just your pizza face up like a normal person and once sliced, cook for 11 minutes. Don’t listen to their misguided ways, they know not what they do! If you like less clean up and don’t mind a paler crust, join us at Team No Flip! Ahh, Luke is coming back so, just remember us over here when you are fighting the good pizza fight. No flip, no problem!!)

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to air-fry your frozen pizza slices:

Step 4. Cook crust side down:

Place two pizza slices in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping. Cook them with the crust side down for 5 minutes. This will help the crust become crispy and firm, giving you the perfect foundation for your pizza.

Step 5. Flip and cook crust side up:

After 5 minutes, use a pair of tongs or a spatula to carefully flip the pizza slices, so they are now crust side up. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. This will allow the toppings and cheese to cook through and become perfectly gooey.

Step 6. Check for doneness:

After the 3 minutes are up, carefully remove one slice from the air fryer and check for doneness. The crust should be crispy and golden brown, while the cheese should be melted and bubbly. If necessary, cook for an additional 1-5 minutes, keeping a close eye on the pizza to prevent overcooking.

Step 7: Dig in!

When the cooking time is up, give the basket a good shake to loosen the pizza then transfer the sizzling hot pizza slices onto a serving plate. Allow the pizza to cool slightly before enjoying it, as the cheese and toppings can be very hot.

If you’re still hungry, continue cooking the remaining pizza slices in batches, following the same process of cooking crust side down for 5 minutes, then flipping and cooking crust side up for 3-6 minutes.

As you savor your perfectly air-fried pizza, take note of the crispy crust, gooey cheese, and flavorful toppings that come together in harmony. This cooking method not only saves time and energy but also provides a convenient and delicious way to enjoy pizza in the comfort of your own home.

For a complete meal, consider serving your air-fried pizza with a simple mixed green salad, some garlic bread, or a refreshing glass of your favorite beverage. You can also try experimenting with different pizza toppings, sauces (like our very own BBQ sauce recipe), and cheeses to create a variety of tasty combinations.

Step 8: Quick and Easy Cleanup

While the air fryer basket is still hot, clean it using our “no wet hands” method, which only takes 30 seconds. This method is perfect for those who don’t want the hassle of hand washing dishes. Follow the steps outlined in our previous blog post on air fryer cleaning techniques, and you’ll have a spotless basket in no time. You can even clean two baskets at once by using one in each hand.

To start, while the basket is still hot, give one squirt of soap into the dirty basket.

Next, fill the basket with a small amount of water.

Then, swirl/jiggle/slosh the water in the basket until it foams.

After than, pour out the soap foam and briefly rinse the basket in the basket.

Finally, insert the basket back into the air fryer. No need to dry the basket with a towel – residual heat in the air fryer will do the trick!

The post Air Fryer Frozen Pizza Perfection: Dinner Hack appeared first on The Air Fryer Gourmets.