7 Best Air Fryers For French Fries Of 2023
Oh, the deep-fried, golden, thin slices of potato – just their mere mention is making us hungry! French fries are one of the most popular foods in the world, and we can see why.
Whether you enjoy the standard cut or prefer the crinkle or curly ones, there’s hardly anyone out there who can say no to them.
Dip them in some ketchup or top them up with some cheese, French fries are an excellent side dish served with main courses such as steaks, burgers, and sandwiches. They also make for a great snack and can be eaten by themselves.
However, we know that as tasty as they are, they’re not always the healthiest choice for a side dish. Bummer, right?
What if we told you there is a way to make French fries healthier and make you feel less guilty every time you enjoy them?
Air-fried French fries are much healthier than regular deep-fried ones, and the continuous circulation of hot air to fry them makes it possible to cut down the additional calories and excess fat that comes from deep frying.
So, which are the best air fryers for French fries? The best air fryers yield results closest to conventionally deep-fried French fries without compromising on the health benefits. They are easy to use and are made with high-quality materials that allow quick cooking.
Read our detailed buyer’s guide to find out what to consider when buying an air fryer and our top picks of the 7 best air fryers for French fries:
The Best Air Fryers For French Fries – Buyer’s Guide
Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance used to make fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken, wings, chips, and basically anything that you can deep (or shallow) fry.
Conventionally deep-fried foods are undoubtedly delicious but are not the best options when looking out for your health since they have a much higher fat content than foods cooked using other methods.
The best part about using an air fryer is that you can make the same delicious foods using barely any oil or fat.
As an example, a deep-fried recipe that calls for 3 cups of oil can make do with only a tablespoon in an air fryer. Unbelievable, isn’t it?
An air fryer can be described as basically a small countertop oven that circulates hot air around the food to make it crunchy and crispy.
Similar to an oven, its contents need to be regularly shaken or rotated to ensure even browning and crispiness.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing the best air fryer for perfectly crispy and delicious French fries:
Size and Capacity
When buying a new kitchen appliance, the first thing that you must consider is its size and whether it’ll be suitable for your kitchen space.
If you make fries regularly, you may want leave to leave the air fryer out on the countertop permanently. If not, it would be wise to get a smaller, more compact one that can be stored inside easily.
When referring to the capacity, this means the number of French fries the air fryer can hold in one go. On average, most air fryers hold around 800 grams of food, which is equal to about 4 portions.
Controls
Air fryers come with one of two types of controls – dial or digital. The simpler, more basic models consist of a temperature and timer dial that you twist to set according to your requirements.
It may be useful to look for a timer that can be set for longer than 30 minutes.
Digital controls, on the other hand, have buttons or a touch display with a more accurate timer, temperature readings, and maybe even some pre-programmed settings. Make sure to look for models that are easy to use and understand.
Design
Despite so many different types of air fryers out there, they all have 3 things in common: the air fryer base, the basket, and the basket base.
The air fryer base is the main part of the machine that makes up most of its body. The basket base is situated at the bottom of the fryer and is there to hold the basket. It catches all the oil and crumbs that fall through the holes of the basket.
The fryer basket is what holds the food and is attached to the base of the machine. Depending on the brand and model, it can have round holes or a mesh base.
Cleaning
The basket and basket base need to be washed after every use to make sure they remain clean and safe to use. Some need to be hand-washed while others are dishwasher-safe.
They are small enough to easily fit into the kitchen sink or dishwasher and are even easier to clean if they have a non-stick coating. The main electronic parts of the machine are simply wiped with a cloth.
Additional Features
While the features mentioned above are all essential ones that need to be considered when you buy an air fryer for French fries, there are also some additional features to look for to provide you with an even better experience.
Some models have a transparent lid that allows you to easily check the status of your French fries without having to stop the machine and open the basket to check them every time.
This feature, however, is mostly found in the more expensive air fryers, which is why you need to assess your need for it and determine how important it is to you.
Other than that, shaking is an important part of air-fried foods to ensure they are cooked evenly. To do that, you need to stop the machine and shake your fries halfway through, or more often.
To help you with this, some air fryers come with built-in devices that automatically turn the fries for you.
These, of course, tend to come with more expensive models but is a feature you may want to go for if you want to leave the fries to cook by themselves.
The 7 Best Air Fryers For French Fries Of 2021
To get the best air-fried French fries that can easily rival the deep-fried ones, you need to get an air fryer that lives up to the standard and delivers evenly cooked and perfectly crispy fries. Here are our top 7 picks to help you choose:
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Instant Pot Vortex Plus | Square-shaped basket for extra capacity |
| 2. | Ninja Max XL Air Fryer | Faster cooking time and ease of use |
| 3. | Cosori Air Fryer | Lightweight and portable |
| 4. | Philips Premium TurboStar Air Fryer | Fat removal technology |
| 5. | Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer | Evenly colored and crispy fries |
| 6. | Amazon Basics Digital Air Fryer | Affordable and multi-functional |
| 7. | Elite Gourmet Air Fryer | Compact design perfect for small kitchens |
1. Instant Pot Vortex Plus
An impressive piece of kitchen equipment, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus is a powerful air fryer.
It features a high-quality stainless steel build and large, easy-to-read buttons.
With a square-shaped basket that makes for a larger cooking surface, it can fit up to 2lbs of French fries or 4lbs of chicken.
It comes with a 6-in-1 functionality that allows you to air-fry, bake, broil, dehydrate, reheat, and roast, and has customizable one-touch smart program settings for the above.
Despite its large capacity, it has a compact design that is counter-friendly and can adjust in almost any kitchen. It is also incredibly easy to use and clean and has a hinged handle on its tray that allows for easy removal.
2. Ninja Max XL Air Fryer
One of the top performers when it comes to air frying, the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer is a traditional basket-style air fryer that is extremely easy to use.
Compared to other air fryers, it has a quicker cooking time and comes with a ceramic-coated crisper plate that’ll perfectly cook your fries.
Its ceramic-coated basket has a capacity of 5.5-quart and can fit around 3lbs of French fries.
Its main unit has 7 programmable cooking functions that include air-frying, air-roasting, dehydrating, baking, reheating, broiling, and max crisping.
These can all be accessed via an easy-to-use control panel and digital countdown timer that counts down to the second.
3. Cosori Air Fryer
One of the most convenient air fryers out there, the Cosori Air Fryer’s compact design makes it very suitable for kitchens and rooms of all kinds.
Using quick air circulation, it can cook French fries much faster than a traditional oven, with crispier, tastier results.
It has simple icons and a touch panel to make it very easy to use, along with a digital LED display that provides you with a detailed view of the cooking progress.
Its easy-to-clean baskets are removable and square-shaped that can fit a variety of foods and are non-stick, dishwasher-safe, and BPA-free.
4. Philips Premium TurboStar Air Fryer
The Philips TurboStar Air Fryer is the only air fryer that comes with a special fat removal technology.
This removes the excess fat from your food so that you can prepare your favorite items with up to 90% less fat.
Its rapid air technology creates 7x faster airflow for foods that are crisped to perfection on the outside yet are tender and soft on the inside.
Other than French fries, you can make several other dishes in this air fryer and can even bake, grill, roast, and reheat food items.
5. Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer
The Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer makes it so easy to perfectly fry French fries.
Its rectangular rack offers a large cooking capacity allowing you to make 3lbs of French fries at a time that are both delicious and guilt-free.
Other than French fries, you can enjoy your favorite snacks such as nuggets and wings.
In addition to air frying, it also offers a wide range of toaster oven functions that include baking, broiling, roasting, toasting, reheating, warming, and dual-cooking.
Made with high-quality and durable stainless steel, it uses a specially engineered motor that delivers high-heat airflow for perfectly fried foods.
It also comes with a large viewing window and interior light to help you check the status of your French fries.
6. Amazon Basics Digital Air Fryer
A great air fryer at an affordable price, the Amazon Basics Digital Air Fryer allows you to make crispy French fries within minutes.
It is a great option for those not familiar with using air fryers and comes with a detailed manual explaining everything you’ll need to know.
It also has a detachable, non-stick basket that is easy to clean and maintain.
With features such as an automatic shut-off, a digital timer, LED display with 7 pre-set cooking options, a handy counter-top design, and rubber non-slip feet, the Amazon Basics Air Fryer is a rare find, especially at this price point.
7. Elite Gourmet Air Fryer
The Elite Gourmet Air Fryer is a compact machine that is perfect for smaller kitchens where counter space is an issue.
With a non-stick rack that can hold 1.5lbs of food at a time, it is perfect for personal use and smaller families.
Although it doesn’t come with preset functions, it does have an adjustable timer and temperature settings.
These provide you with the ultimate control to air fry your favorite foods.
You can choose anywhere between 180°F-395°F on the temperature controls and up to 30 minutes on the timer.
You can not only air fry but also bake, grill, and roast according to your preference. It has a dishwasher-safe, removable, non-stick drawer pan that allows for faster and easier cleaning.
Tips On Using An Air Fryer
Now that you have all the information regarding air fryers and the best ones for making French fries, here are a few tips that might come in handy, especially for first-timers:
- Use a light hand and do not go overboard with the oil since the excess oil deposits in the drawer under the grate.
- Do not spray cooking oil on the basket or rack since most of them already have a non-stick coating and excess oil may damage the finish over time.
- Do not use oils with a low smoking point. Refrain from using olive oil and opt for vegetable, canola, or peanut oil instead.
- Do not overcrowd the drawer with food. The fries will come out crispier and will cook faster if you work in small batches.
- Do not forget to shake the basket of food every few minutes to ensure it is cooked properly and evenly.
- Use tongs or spoons to get the food items out of the air fryer. Do not just dump them onto a plate since it will cause the excess oil collected under the grate to come out on your plate too.
- Some parts of the air fryer can get really hot; therefore, refrain from touching the air fryer with your bare hands.
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