This recipe comes from our families love for gardening. We grow several vegetables throughout the spring and summer, and potatoes do great in Wisconsin. You can obviously use store bought potatoes, but we decided to try ours from the garden to the table in around 1 hour. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
We chose to air fry these potatoes because they are healthier overall and require less cleanup time.
Air Frying Potatoes vs. Deep-Frying”
When it comes to cooking up a batch of golden, crispy potatoes, two methods work: air frying and the classic deep-fried option. Let’s dive into the reasons why you might opt for one over the other, considering factors like taste, convenience, and health.
1. The Health Aspect:
Air Frying:
- Minimal Oil Usage: One of the standout features of air frying is its ability to produce a crispy exterior with significantly less oil. This can be a game-changer for those looking to cut down on added fats without sacrificing taste and texture.
Deep-Frying:
- Control over Oil Amount: While deep-frying does require more oil than air frying, you have the flexibility to control the quantity. Using less oil or opting for healthier oils can make a positive impact on the overall healthfulness of the dish.
2. Texture and Taste:
Air Frying:
- Crispy Exterior, Tender Interior: Air frying excels at creating a satisfying crunch on the outside while maintaining a tender and fluffy inside. The circulating hot air ensures an even cooking process, resulting in a uniform texture.
Deep-Frying:
- Versatile Texture: Deep-frying offers versatility in texture, allowing you to achieve varying degrees of crispiness. With the right technique, you can create a crispy outer layer or a softer, more traditional texture.
3. Cooking Time:
Air Frying:
- Efficient Cooking: Air frying is known for its efficiency in cooking time. The circulating hot air cooks the potatoes quickly, making it a great option for those moments when you need a speedy side dish.
Deep-Frying:
- Controlled Cooking Pace: Pan-frying gives you a bit more control over the cooking pace. While it might take a bit longer than deep frying, this method allows for precise monitoring to achieve the desired level of crispiness.
4. Versatility in Flavor:
Air Frying:
- Infused Flavors: Air frying allows for the incorporation of various seasonings, creating an opportunity for flavor infusion. The dry environment is ideal for spices to adhere to the potatoes, enhancing the overall taste.
Deep-Frying:
- Direct Interaction with Ingredients: Pan-frying provides direct contact between the potatoes and the oils or fats in the pan, resulting in a rich, savory flavor. The process also allows for the development of a delicious golden brown crust.
This is a picture of our harvested red and yellow potatoes fresh from our garden. For this recipe, we used the golden potatoes as they are better for air frying.
Delicious Air-Fried French Fries
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 5 Potatoes
- 1 Spray Olive
- 1/4 cup Seasoning – Old Bay or Seasoned Sale
Instructions
- Rinse potatoes and scrub any excess debris
- Cut potatoes into smaller pieces. You want to try to keep them no larger than 1/2 an inch so they are easier to crisp in the air fryer. OPTIONAL*You can peel them first if you do not like the skin.
- Soak the French fries in a salt water bath for around 30 minutes. I highly recommend this as it reduces the starchiness of the potatoes and you will end up with crispier French fries!
- Drain the potatoes and pat dry to get them as dry as possible.
- Combine oil and seasoning on the French fries.
- Cook in small batches between 13-15 minutes at 375F. You may have to add an extra 5 minutes if you want them extra crispy.
Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 15-20 min(depending on desired crispiness)
Serving size: 4-5
Ingredients
– 5 to 6 yellow potatoes
– oil – I use olive oil or grapeseed oil
– Seasoning – You can use any combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder.
You can vary this to your liking but a generic seasoned salt will work.
You can also use Old Bay or any type of Cajun seasoning if you like your fries with more seasoning. Be careful not to over salt!
Directions:
1. Rinse potatoes and scrub any excess debris (ours had dirt because they just came from the garden)
2. Cut potatoes into smaller pieces. You want to try to keep them no larger than 1/2 an inch so they are easier to crisp in the air fryer.
OPTIONAL*You can peel them first if you do not like the skin. We left them on because garden fresh potatoes have a very thin layer of skin and you can push the skin off with your fingers because they are so fresh.
3. Soak the French fries in a salt water bath for around 30 minutes. I highly recommend this as it reduces the starchiness of the potatoes and you will end up with crispier French fries!
4. Drain the potatoes and pat dry to get them as dry as possible
5. Combine oil and seasoning on the french fries
6. Cook in small batches between 13-15 minutes at 375F. You may have to add an extra 5 minutes if you want them extra crispy.
7. Enjoy 🙂
Conclusion:
With this simple yet flavorful air-fried potato recipe, you can enjoy one of America’s favorite snack without the guilt. Perfect for movie nights, gatherings, or solo snacking, these air-fried potatoes are sure to become a favorite. The best part about these potatoes, in my opinion, is you can create different blends of seasonings to season the fries with. You could try just salt, a cajun, southwest style seasoning, or any type of seasoning you desire. Fire up that air fryer, and get ready to enjoy!