Recipe This | Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries (2024)

FAQs

Why are my air fryer fries not crispy enough? ›

If the air is not hot enough, or if you overcrowd the basket, your food will not come out crispy. Preheat the air fryer for at least 3 minutes, and work in batches if you need to. How do you keep air fried french fries warm and crispy? Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 250°F oven until ready to eat.

Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches—it helps achieve the coveted French fry crispiness and prevents the fries from sticking together. This is what I did for the air fryer, too. I soaked these potatoes for about an hour or so, but I've also soaked them for up to 24 hours with no ill effect.

If your air fryer fries are soggy, it is likely because you over-crowded them in the basket. The sweet potatoes steam when crowded together, instead of air frying. For the best, most crispy results, cook the fries in a single layer so that the air has room to circulate.

Using an air fryer is an excellent and easy way to give your fries that fresh-from-the-fryer crunch. Simply set your air fryer to 350 degrees, then place your leftover fries in a single layer in the fryer basket. Heat them for three to five minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness.

Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer so that the potatoes are not touching each other. You will have to work in batches. Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes*, flipping halfway, or until crispy.

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

No, you do not need to add extra oil when air frying frozen fries. Most varieties already come with oil! However, you could add a bit of cooking spray to the bottom of the air fryer basket if you would like.

If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

If your air fryer fries are turning out soggy it is likely because you are over-crowding your air fryer basket or using too much oil. For the best results, use just ½ Tablespoon of oil per sweet potato and cook your fries in a single layer so that the air has room to circulate.

How long should you soak sweet potatoes before air frying? ›

If you'd like, you can soak the sweet potato slices for 30 minutes up to 2 hours before frying to remove excess starch. Personally, though, going through this step didn't make a real difference for my fries. Peels on or off — it's up to you!

The secret to crispy (instead of soggy) sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don't touch. This is especially important if you're making a big batch of fries. Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches.

Don't forget to give the potatoes a thorough wash/scrub. Avoid Cooking Spray – Aersol cooking sprays will damage the coating of your air fryer basket. Tossing the potatoes in olive oil keeps them from sticking. Don't overcrowd the basket – the potatoes need room for the air to circulate and crisp up properly.

When they are left out to cool, the starches secrete moisture, which eventually makes the fries' crust soggy. How do you make sure your fries stay crisp? Opt for clear-coated ones. A clear starch coating keeps your fries' exterior crispy and interior fluffy for much longer.

If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

Remember, fries are full of water. The more fries you add to a tray, the more steam they'll be releasing in your oven, reducing crispness. Load the oven quickly. This prevents heat loss that can result in soggy fries.