How to Air Fry Frozen French Fries
If you love that great aroma in a French fry and wish you could make your own, an air fryer makes it easy. It will take some practice, but you can have your homemade French fries within a few hours. Your family will love it, and so will you! Let me show you how to do it.
Start by preparing your favorite cut of fresh or frozen French fries. Different thicknesses cook in different ways, so adjust cooking time accordingly. For thin-cut French fries, such as you often see in picture samples, add more sweet potato to the air fryer basket immediately before serving. You do not need to add any extra oil at all. The sweet potato will provide the body and texture.
For thicker fries, such as those you find in fancy French restaurants, cook them on the baking rack for about one hour or until crisp and brown. Drain off any excess vegetable oil, and discard any seeds or skin. Place the fries in a large zip-top freezer bag, and cover tightly. For ten minutes, you can wrap each one in a foil-lined basket and freeze it.
Once frozen, remove from the freezer, and defrost the fries halfway through. The time varies according to the thickness of the fries, but it should be enough to heat up to room temperature. Pour into their unique airtight storage basket.
The final step is to fill the air fryer basket with your choice of the desired seasoning and shake to mix. Add the chicken, and pour in the balsamic vinegar mixture, seasonings, and your choice of vegetables. Shake well, and spray the basket with oil. Seal tightly, and let sit in the fridge for about an hour, which will allow the flavors to meld.
Before starting with the second or third batch, remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and place it on a clean surface. Run a brush through it to loosen any tendrils or wings. Using a food thermometer, check the internal temperature of the chicken, and adjust cooking time and temperature based on the results. Place the chicken on a clean surface, and prepare it for cooking.
If you wish to cook frozen French fries in the same manner but using a different air fryer basket, you will need to begin by defrosting the basket and lining it up like the first batch. Set the timer to the same time you did with the first batch, and preheat the fryer as usual. Once the timer goes off, uncover the basket and set it inside the preheated oven to complete the cooking. All you have to do then is add the chicken and cook away.
There are no special techniques involved with frozen French fries, and there is no need for oil spray as the cooking process is almost complete. Still, it is always a good idea to sprinkle a small amount of sea salt around the exterior of the French fries to enhance the crispiness. If desired, you may even drizzle a little additional lemon juice over the top as well. For best results, make sure the salt and oil spray are fully saturated when the final flip is made.
When the timer goes off, remove the basket from the preheated oven, and continue cooking the French fries according to the package directions. Remove the chicken from its wrapping, place it directly onto the prepared baking sheets, and be careful not to touch the bottom of the dish. Place the baking sheet on the rack in the middle of the oven. In a few moments, your easy chicken recipe will be ready to enjoy!
A word of caution about browned bread: While the oven will typically brown the bread more than other bread, it is unnecessary to brown the bread too much. As long as the French fries are browned to your taste, they are ready to serve. Once the bread has finished cooking, remove it from the oven and set it aside to cool. You can pop it into the toaster for an extra crispy golden brown finish or serve it warm from the refrigerator.
If desired, you may elect to keep the browned bread piece warm to add a bit of variety to your meals. Air fryers are perfect for parties and picnics, as well as making single-layer French fries. The single-layer technique allows you to have several crisp, browned French fries per meal. As is true with most single-recipe cooking methods, it is essential to monitor the levels of browning provided by your air fryer. This is done by carefully watching the heating element and adjusting the cycle appropriately.