I tried five types of frozen fries and cooked them in an air fryer: final test

The fries are a delicateness. I am not even talking about fancy handmade fries, which Are amazing. No, I mean particularly factory-made, flash frozen, packed in a plastic bag, indisputably junk food variety fries. They are in one of their own leagues.

While restaurants can have resources to roast their french fries deeply, most homes should rely on simple methods. For me, he is an air fryer. To determine what type of French fry fare is best in the powerful crunchy of an air fryer, I cooked five different types and assessed the results. It should never be said that I will not go up and beyond for the discovery of truth.

Find the best air fry french fry

Credit: Ellie Chantorn Rainman

Looking through the freezer section of my grocery store, I quickly realized that it would not be an easy task. After some ideas (should I compare brands? Flavor?), I decided to focus on fry shape: would some sizes better cook in air fryer than others?

I grabbed the bags of direct cut, stake cut, curly, waffle, and crinkle fries, to determine which air would be the best. My criteria: texture, taste and cooking speed.

For all the tested fries, I put them in my immediate vortex air fryer (one of my one) Top Air Fire Pix of 2025) And crank the temperature up to 400 ° F. I consider high heat and a short time frame as the best way to cook fries. Ideally you want to crisp the center softened and outwards while leaving potato-Y. Very short of temperature or much longer than cooking time and you will probably dry the fries.

None of the fries was pre-elauded with any oil or salt, but was added directly into the basket from the bag, uncontrolled. I worked with small batches to allow better air flow. When the air is frying at home, keep in mind to keep the fries in the same layer – do not crowd them or the trapped steam will make your search complicated for crispness.

Candidate and how they performed

McCain Vaphal Fries

I was pleasantly surprised by these waffle fries. After just four minutes at 400 ° F, they were ready to remove from the air fryer. I cooled them on a wire cooling rack (it prevents humidity from getting stuck under the fries and making them muddy) and they were perfect. In terms of taste, they were delightful – not very salty, and a good potato taste. The texture was also perfect: a crisp outdoor, not over-brown, and a soft, fluffy potato interior.

Red robin stake cut fries

Among all the fries I tested, it took the longest time to cook – about 10 minutes. Stake cut fry is usually a large piece of tatter. It is sliced in wide, flat strips and cannot be experienced or experienced. I always assumed that the “stake cut” referred to the size of being thicker like a stake, but the people I tested were really experienced who tasted like a stake. Anyway, in theory – the spice was quite subtle and not tasty at all.

On that note: I found that these fries have been blew to a large extent. And despite the additional cooking time, no one external was very crisp, and there was a little crisp disappearing because the interior steam softened it because the fries were cooled enough to eat. In short, this size did not rent well in the air fryer. On the plus side, the center was good and soft.

Nathan’s crinkle cut fries

High expectations, I had. In my mind, these fries fry as golden and tasty, as they do on the Nathan counter in Koni Island. It is a matter of regret that my expectations collapsed. Like the stake cut fries, these crinkle cuts were roughly cut, and it seems that the interior of the excess potato simply releases a lot of moisture to crisp the outside before burning outside. I was mine for about six minutes, before the crinkled edges began to dramatically brown. They cooked through, but they remained soft. To make cases worse, this brand fryed an unpleasant manner.

Arby’s curly fries

We go back to thin shapes. The next batch was the air-fried Erbi’s curly fries. I think it is safe to say to qualify as a curly fry, it should have a heavy orange colored spice. They were not disappointed. I immediately popped Arbi fries into the vortex and they were ready to leave for about four or five minutes. He did not take much color as a fries of Nathan, but he managed to become crisp twice. After cooling slightly, these curly fries were all cooked evenly. Their taste was excellent – the perfect balance of salt and spices that can add anything well from the Ramon bowl to the chocolate milkshake.

Ore-id straight cut fries

I finished my taste test with a classic: straight cut fries. I have made them many times before, so I knew that they would not have any difficulty in making a plateonic ideal of a wind-fired French fry. They came out crisp, well experienced, and irresistibly snackable, the way only the straight cut fries can be. In a way, the straight cut fries are all air fry fry -french controls: The texture decreases, but the center always has a strip of soft potatoes, and they are tasty, but are not cursed per cess. The straight cut fry almost seems as if it was always fried.

Best French French to Cook in an Air Fire

Credit: Ellie Chantorn Rainman

For crunch lovers

Stick to a classic: After air frying, straight cut fries will be your crisp option, without unknowingly being crispy. Also, if you don’t like them then you can always take them out a little quickly Very Crunchy

For pillow-nine centers

The stake cut fries are winners in this category as they are the most thickest and despite the additional cooking time, the center remains soft and alcoholic.

For the best taste

It may be cheating because they are truly dusting in delicious charming masala, but curly fries taste the best from the air fryer. He also extracted a little more oil than others, so that they can help to balance with taste and texture.

Best Air Fire Frarse Frequently Frees

While Stragt Cut was a close contender, Wafal Fries won gold as the best air French fry. These fries developed both the fastest cooked, a crisp exterior and soft, fluffy interior, and offered the best unmatched taste. As an additional bonus, waffle fries are large and strangely shaped, and their irregularity selects the next fry from your plate a constant adventure – and the feeling of adventure is something that I value in a snack.