How To Cook Frozen Waffle Fries In An Air Fryer

One of the best modern kitchen appliances is definitely the air fryer, coming in second only to the super versatile Instant Pot in terms of its time-saving and ability to create the most delicious meals ever. 

If you’re looking for a way to save time and create less mess in the kitchen, while still getting a crispy crunch, then an air fryer is a tool you should look at investing in.

There are lots of different types of air fryers on the market in a variety of sizes, so there’s bound to be one that works for you. 

A super popular snack to cook in the air fryer is the waffle fry!

These variations on a normal french fry are great to eat on their own or you can use them as a base to make waffle fry nachos, chili-covered waffle fries, casseroles, and all kinds of delicious dishes. 

But, how do you cook frozen waffle fries in an air fryer? To cook frozen waffle fries in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F, make sure the fries aren’t stuck together, coat them in salt and a touch of cooking oil, and cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Read on to discover how to cook waffle fries in an air fryer that has a fryer basket or an air fryer that has wire cooking racks. 

How Does An Air Fryer Work?

If you’ve never used an air fryer before, then you might be wondering how exactly they are able to achieve that delicious crunchy texture without using tons of oil.

These gadgets aren’t super complicated, but they harness the power of hot air to get that crispiness.

An air fryer is basically a mini convection oven that functions by circulating hot air throughout the device. This circulation creates an incredibly crispy texture without using tons of oil. 

The whole purpose of an air fryer is to make foods crisp, like a deep fryer, but without the use of tons of oils or fats.

The final product is lighter and fresher than something deep-fried and an air fryer uses dry heat to do this. 

That’s why you can get such a golden, crispy outside without drying out the center of whatever you’re cooking.

If you are a fan of that deep-fried style, but not a fan of greasy food and big messes to clean up, then the air fryer might have to make your holiday wish list. 

Do I Need To Thaw My Waffle Fries Before Cooking In An Air Fryer?

One of the best things about an air fryer is that it is a quick, easy, and convenient way to get that deep-fried flavor without all the oil and mess. But do you have to thaw your waffle fries before putting them in the air fryer?

No, you don’t! You can take your waffle fries straight from the freezer to the air fryer. I do recommend gently separating your waffle fries before putting them into the fryer basket though to allow the air to flow freely between each fry. 

The airflow is how you get that awesome crispiness without having to rely on huge amounts of oil. 

Step-By-Step Instructions To Cook Frozen Waffle Fries In An Air Fryer

There are two main types of air fryers on the market that need slightly different methods to properly cook crispy, crunchy, and delicious waffle fries from frozen. 

Figure out whether you have an air fryer with a fryer basket or an air fryer that has cooking racks and choose the corresponding cooking method below. 

How To Cook Waffle Fries In An Air Fryer Basket

Cooking your waffle fries in an air fryer equipped with a basket is easy and takes no time at all!

Ingredients

• 1-2 pounds of fries
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil*
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 

Directions

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Some air fryer models may have a Fries setting so you can also hit that button to preheat. 
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the waffle fries, oil, and salt until coated. Since they’re frozen the oil might not cover every fry, but that’s OK since you will shake them as they cook. 
3. Once the air fryer is preheated, add the waffle fries to the basket and put them in for 15 minutes. 
4. At the halfway mark, pull out the fryer basket and give the waffle fries a shake. You can use a spatula to move them around. 
5. Replace the fryer basket and cook for the remaining 7 and a half minutes. 
6. Remove the fryer basket to check the crispiness. If you want them crunchier, give them another stir and put the basket back in the air fryer for another 2-3 minutes.
7. Once waffle fries are crisped to your preference, remove them from the basket, add more salt if needed, and serve straight away with your favorite condiments. 

Note*

• You don’t need to use oil when cooking waffle fries, since the air fryer does a great job at crisping them up. I just like to add it for that extra crunch. But if you’re watching your oil intake you can skip this ingredient. 

How To Cook Waffle Fries On An Air Fryer Rack(s)

If you have an air fryer that looks like a mini oven and has cooking rack, then you will want to use this method to cook your waffle fries straight from frozen. 

Ingredients

• 1-2 pounds of waffle fries
• 1 tablespoon of cooking oil*
• 1/2 a teaspoon of salt

Directions

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. If you have a model that has a Fries preset button, feel free to use that option instead. Remove the wire baking trays from the fryer. 
2. While your waffle fries are still in the bag, gently break them up, so they aren’t all stuck together in one big lump. 
3. Place the waffle fries in a mixing bowl and then drizzle with half of your cooking oil. Stir the waffle fries so the ones on the bottom come to the top and drizzle on the rest of the oil. 
4. Sprinkle on your salt and stir the fries once again. 
5. Spread your waffle fries out in a single layer on the wire baking trays. If possible, try to leave some space between the fries so the air can crisp up as much of the surface area of them as possible. 
6. Place them in the air fryer for 7-8 minutes, then remove the trays and flip the waffle fries. 
7. Return the wire baking trays to the air fryer. You might want to put the one that was on the bottom, on the top rack, and vice versa for even cooking. 
8. Cook the waffle fries for another 7 minutes or until they have achieved the crisp level you’re looking for. Since most of these models have a see-through door, you can peek in at 7 minutes to see if you need to add more cook time. 
9. Once they are cooked to perfection, remove the waffle fries from the air fryer, season with some more salt if desired, and serve immediately with your favorite condiments. 

Note*

• If you prefer to skip the oil, feel free. The air fryer will still crisp the waffle fries nicely. I just find that a bit of oil takes the crispiness to the next level. So if you’re not concerned with your oil intake, I suggest using it. 

How To Make Waffle Fry Nachos

This is a delicious way to turn your waffle fries into an incredible dish, perfect for any party!

Ingredients

• 1-2 pounds of waffle fries 
• 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
• 1/2 a teaspoon sea salt
• 1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (or both)
• 1/2 cup cooked ground beef or black beans 
• 1/4 cup pickled jalapenos or banana peppers
• 1/4 cup black olives
• 1/2 small red onion, finely diced 
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced 
• 1 tomato, cut into cubes 
• 1 avocado, cut into cubes 
• Salsa
• Sour cream

Directions

1. Cook your waffle fries in your air fryer, following the directions above. You want to cook them first or they will get super soggy once you top them with all the toppings. 
2. While waffle fries are cooking, preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
3. Chop your red onion, green onion, tomato, and avocado, and set aside. 
4. Once waffle fries are cooked, spread them into a single layer on your baking tray. 
5. Spread the cheese over the waffle fries, covering them liberally. 
6. Layer on the beef or beans, jalapenos/banana peppers, olives, and red onion.
7. Place the waffle fries in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. 
8. Remove the waffle fry nachos from the oven, top with the green onion, fresh tomato, and avocado. Serve with salsa and sour cream. 

What Else Can You Use An Air Fryer For?

Don’t feel limited to cooking just waffle fries in your air fryer! There are tons of other ways you can use it to create delicious meals and snacks in no time at all.

Since air fryers are powerful mini convection ovens, they can often cook your food much more quickly than a regular oven. 

This function will help you save time, energy, and can help keep your house cooler in summer since the smaller air fryer won’t heat up the kitchen as quickly and effectively as your full-sized oven. 

Check out some of the suggestions below for other great ways to use your air fryer to start boosting your creativity in the kitchen. 

Air Fry Vegetables

This function is one of my favorites to use on an air fryer. You can make crispy vegetables that taste like they’ve been fried, without using tons of oil.

I love using my air fryer to make delicious crispy squash bites, potato wedges, and hash browns. 

You can also use it to make crispy broccoli, green beans, asparagus, and other grocery store staples.

You don’t need a ton of time and you don’t need a ton of oil to get perfect results every time. Lots of these veggies will be ready to eat in under 10 minutes. Make sure to add some salt for best flavor. 

Dehydrate Fruits And Vegetables

Lots of the newer air fryer models come with a dehydration function which is great if you’re a kale chip addict like me.

I make a batch or two every week, and they always come out crispy and perfect as opposed to whenever I make them in the oven, and they end up burnt and soggy. Not good.

You can also use your air fryer to make homemade fruit roll ups using fruit purees.

Or you can dehydrate extras from your garden to make yummy fruit snacks that you can take with you on the go. I love dehydrating strawberries, peaches, mangoes, and blueberries. 

Another new discovery from this summer is dehydrating zucchini chips. It seems like there is always such an abundance of these squash in the summer and no one knows what to do with them. 

I like to dehydrate them until they are almost completely dried through. Then I’ll put them fry them for a minute or so to get them browned and ultra crispy. They’re the perfect salty, crunchy, crispy snack for movie night. 

Dehydrate Excess Herbs

I’m not much of a gardener, but I have had some success growing herbs like mint.

At the end of the season, I always have a ton of fresh mint left, more than I could use before it goes bad! That’s where the air fryer comes in. 

If you end up with an overabundance of your herbs at the end of the growing season, try preserving them with your air fryer.

Rather than letting them go to waste, you can spread them out and dehydrate them so you can have a taste of the garden all winter long. 

This method also works if you buy fresh herbs from the grocery store for a recipe and know you won’t finish the rest of the package before they go bad. Pop them in your air fryer on the dehydrate function and you’ll be able to save them for later. 

Use The Rotisserie Function To Cook Meats

Not every air fryer is going to have a rotisserie function, but if you’re a fan of rotisserie chickens, I highly recommend finding one that does.

I use mine regularly and it creates the juiciest, crispiest, most amazing rotisserie chicken I’ve ever had.

You can also use this function to cook other types of meats, such as sausages and prime rib. 

Another fun idea is to use your rotisserie to create glazed fruits, such as pineapple, apple, pear, mango chunks, and others.

The natural sugars in these fruits will caramelize as they cook to create a decadent dessert that you could then dip in whipped cream, melted chocolate, or caramel. 

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