Air frying curly fries allows you to make crispy french fries quickly and easily in your home with just a few simple steps. It’s a great alternative to deep frying that doesn’t sacrifice the taste or texture. Follow this guide to learn how long you should air fry curly fries for the perfect crunch on the outside and tender potato inside.
What Are Curly Fries?
Curly fries are a fun twist on classic french fries. They get their name from their spring-like coiled shape. Rather than being cut into straight strips, curly fries are made by cutting peeled russet potatoes into thin spiral slices.
The curly shape allows for more surface area for getting crispy than traditional french fries. When coated in oil and seasoning and cooked at high heat, curly fries become beautifully golden brown and crispy outside with a fluffy interior.
You can find frozen prepared curly fries at most grocery stores to simply heat and eat. But making them from scratch at home results in the freshest, tastiest curly fries.
Benefits of Air Frying Curly Fries
Air frying is a quick and convenient cooking method that uses circulated hot air to crisp up foods. It allows you to skip the oil involved in deep frying while still delivering that satisfying crunch.
Here are some of the benefits of air frying curly fries rather than deep frying them:
- Uses little to no oil – Air frying only requires spraying or tossing the curly fries in a small amount of oil. Deep frying soaks the fries in vats of hot oil.
- Fewer calories – With less oil used, air fried curly fries are lower in fat and calories than their deep fried counterparts.
- Healthier – The reduction in oil makes air fried fries the healthier option for fewer calories and less saturated fat.
- Quick cooking time – Air frying is fast, allowing you to cook curly fries in just 10-15 minutes.
- Easy cleanup – With minimal oil, there’s less mess and cleanup after air frying. Deep fryers require cleaning vats of old oil.
- Crispy results – Air frying still achieves the crispy exterior crunch that you want in curly fries.
For the convenience, ease of use, and great taste and texture, air frying is the way to go for curly fries.
How to Make Air Fryer Curly Fries from Scratch
One of the best things about air fryers is that you can make homemade curly fries from fresh potatoes with ease. Here are the simple steps for how to make crispy air fried curly fries at home:
Ingredients
- 2-3 russet potatoes, peeled
- 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1⁄2 tsp black pepper
- 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
- 1⁄2 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Use a spiralizer to cut the peeled potatoes into curly spiral shapes. Or use a knife and cut thin slices, then stack several slices and cut into strips to make spiral curly shapes.
- Rinse the cut curly fries under cold water to remove excess starch. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Toss the curly fries in a bowl with the oil to coat. Then add the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Toss again until the fries are evenly seasoned.
- Place the curly fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Try not to overcrowd.
- Air fry at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Fries are done when golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from air fryer and serve hot.
Adjust the cooking time as needed if you made thicker or thinner curly fries. The basic rule of thumb is to air fry for 10-15 minutes, shaking midway for even crisping.
How Long to Air Fry Frozen Curly Fries
You can also air fry frozen packaged curly fries with great results. Here are the steps:
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen curly fries
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- Salt and seasonings of choice
Instructions
- Toss frozen curly fries with oil to coat. Sprinkle with desired salt and seasonings.
- Place fries in a single layer in air fryer basket. Be sure not to overcrowd.
- Air fry at 400°F for 13-16 minutes until heated through and crispy browned, shaking halfway.
- Check frequently during the last few minutes to avoid burning.
- Remove immediately when done and serve hot.
The air frying time can vary slightly based on the size and thickness of the frozen fries. But in general, expect frozen curly fries to take 13-16 minutes at 400°F.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Curly Fries
Here are some helpful tips for ensuring your air fried curly fries turn out perfectly crunchy:
- Cut the potatoes evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Rinse off excess starch after cutting for crispier results.
- Pat fries very dry before air frying so they don’t steam instead of fry.
- Use a light coating of oil – 1-2 tbsp oil is plenty for 1 lb of fries.
- Try tossing the fries halfway through cooking for all over crisping.
- Don’t overcrowd the fries – cook them in a single layer with space between.
- Add seasonings before air frying so they stick and become crispy too.
- Cook at the highest air fryer temperature for best crispness.
How Long Do Air Fried Curly Fries Last?
Properly stored, air fried curly fries will stay fresh and crispy for:
- Room temperature: 2-3 hours
- Refrigerated: 5-7 days
- Frozen: 2-3 months
For best results, serve air fried curly fries immediately after cooking. The crispiness starts declining the longer they sit out.
To reheat leftover curly fries, place them in a single layer in the air fryer at 400°F for 3-5 minutes until warmed through and crispy again. They won’t get as perfectly crisp as just cooked fries.
You can also freeze extra air fried curly fries while fresh. When ready to eat, cook frozen fries directly from freezer for 15-18 minutes at 400°F, shaking occasionally for even crisping.
5 Delicious Flavor Ideas for Air Fryer Curly Fries
Plain air fried curly fries are delicious enough. But you can also liven them up with different seasonings and flavors. Here are 5 tasty ways to jazz up your curly fries:
- Cajun – Toss fries in Cajun seasoning before air frying for a little kick.
- Ranch – Season fries with a ranch dressing seasoning packet for creamy flavor.
- Chili Lime – Add chili powder, lime zest, salt and pepper for a zesty combo.
- Parmesan Garlic – Toss fries in minced garlic, parmesan, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Buffalo – Top fries with hot sauce and blue cheese crumbles after cooking.
Get creative with herbs, spices, cheese, sauces and more to customize your fries. The possibilities are endless for delicious air fried curly fries!
FAQs
Should I soak curly fries before air frying?
It’s not necessary to soak curly fries before air frying. Soaking is sometimes done with deep frying to reduce the oil absorbed. For air frying, simply rinse, dry and coat fries in a small amount of oil before cooking.
Do curly fries cook faster than regular fries?
Curly fries generally cook a little bit faster than normal straight cut french fries in the air fryer. Their thinner shape means they heat and crisp up quicker. Expect curly fries to cook in 10-15 minutes at 400°F.
How can I make store bought frozen curly fries crispy?
The best way to make frozen curly fries crispy is to cook them in an air fryer. Air frying brings out their crispness versus other cooking methods. Toss frozen fries in oil before air frying at 400°F for 13-16 minutes until browned and crispy.
Should curly fries be flipped during air frying?
It’s a good idea to shake or flip curly fries about halfway through the air fry time. This helps promote even cooking and crisping on all sides of the fries for the best texture.
Conclusion
Air frying lets you quickly cook curly fries that are crunchy and delicious. For fresh homemade fries, spiralize potatoes and air fry at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, shaking occasionally. Frozen fries take 13-16 minutes. Toss fries in just 1-2 tbsp oil before cooking and spread in a single layer.
Play around with fun seasonings like ranch, Cajun or parmesan garlic. Store leftovers for up to a week refrigerated or 2-3 months frozen. Reheat in the air fryer to restore their yummy crispness.
With just a little oil and a quick cook time, air frying is the perfect way to enjoy healthy homemade curly fries anytime.