Frozen Sweet Potato Fries In a Air Fryer

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Air-frying frozen sweet potato fries is a speedy method to achieve crispy fries without deep-frying. This cost-effective side dish can be ready in as little as 20 minutes. Just toss your frozen fries into the air fryer basket, and follow the cooking instructions and my expert tips. You will have a delicious side dish in no time.

The sweet potatoes’ natural sugars and high heat from the air fryer create a perfectly crisp fry texture. Add seasonings to take your fries to the next level, and dip them into your favorite sauce. Combining all three, air-fired sweet potatoes, seasonings, and the perfect dipping sauce make the perfect fries!

Did I mention the bonus of air-fried french fries? There is minimal clean-up, and your house won’t smell like a deep-fat fryer. Try frozen broccoli in air fryer or zucchini fries for additional vegetables prepared in an air fryer.

This recipe also works great with traditional white potato fries, curly fries, tater tots, waffle fries, steak fries, and potato wedges. Ok, I admit it, the air fryer works with every type of fry possible.

Equipment and Ingredients You Need

Air Fryer – If you are looking for an air fryer, they come in many sizes and styles. I have two different ones, and they work great. I recommend this 2.6qt dash compact air fryer or the 7qt Gourmia air fryer.

Frozen Sweet Potatoes -I use Alexia sweet potato fries; they are easy to find at my supermarket and taste great. However, many popular brands exist, including Costco, Ore Ida, and Trader Joe’s. Generally, the cook times are similar. However, check every 5 minutes to see how the fries are doing. You might need to adjust the time depending on the cut of the fry.

Neutral Oil – I recommend using cooking spray. They are convenient and easy while minimizing the amount of oil used. Good oils include olive oil, avocado oil, or canola oil.

Seasonings (optional) – Use your favorite seasonings or read the section titled ‘seasoning Ideas‘ for suggestions.

Dipping Sauces (optional) – Use your favorite dipping sauce or read the ‘dipping sauce’ section for ideas.

Instructions to Make Fries

Making fries is super easy. Here is how you do it.

Step One: Preheat the Air Fryer –

Oil the basket. Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes.

Step Two: Air Fry –

Add the frozen sweet potato fries to the air fryer basket. At a maximum, only fill the basket to the halfway point. Cook for 12-14 minutes, shaking the fries halfway through. For extra crispiness, lightly spray the fries with cooking spray before placing them in the basket.

Note: depending on the size of your fry, you might need to adjust the cooking time. Thinner fries will cook for less time, and thicker fries will require additional cooking time.

Step Three: Season and Serve –

Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer basket and season them with salt or any other desired seasoning. Serve immediately while still hot and crispy.

Note: It is important to remember that frozen fries are usually pre-cooked, so you do not need to cook them for as long as you would with fresh fries. Overcooking them can result in burned fries.

Cooking Time

Loving the crispiest of fries, I wanted to do a time test to see a perfect time. I tested fries cooked at 5 minutes on each side, 6 minutes on each side, and 7 minutes on each side. Fries cooked for seven minutes had a deeper color and were crispier; overall, I did not feel the additional cook time made that much difference in the texture.

Seasoning Ideas

What I love about sweet potato fries is how seasonings complement the potato’s, natural sweetness. I have been experimenting with seasonings and trying different flavors. By far, my favorite is Slap Ya Momma Cajun season. Slap Ya Mamma has a salty, peppery taste, which compliments the sweetness of the potato to create a sweet, salty, and spicy combination.

Here are some other combination ideas

Seasoning	Description	Measurements (Per One Cup of Fries)
Brown Sugar and Chili	A sweet and spicy seasoning made with brown sugar and chili	1 tbsp brown sugar 1/2 tsp chili
Cajun Seasoning	A spicy blend of herbs and spices with a hint of sweetness	1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
Cinnamon Sugar	A sweet and spicy seasoning made with cinnamon and sugar	1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Chili Powder	It adds a spicy flavor to the fries. Try Aleppo, chipotle, or regular chili powder.	1 tsp chili powder
Curry Powder	Adds a warm and slightly spicy flavor to the fries	1 tbsp curry powder
Garlic Powder	Adds a savory and slightly pungent flavor to the fries	1 tsp garlic powder
Maple Syrup and Bacon	A sweet and savory combination of maple syrup and bacon	Drizzle maple syrup and crumbled bacon on top of the fries
Paprika	Adds a slightly sweet and smoky flavor to the fries	1 tsp paprika
Parmesan Cheese	Adds a salty and savory flavor to the fries	1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Smoked Paprika	Adds a smoky and slightly sweet taste to the fries	1 tsp smoked paprika
Turmeric	Adds a warm and somewhat earthy flavor to the fries	1 tsp turmeric

Dipping Sauces

The sweetness in sweet potato fries lends itself to a wide variety of dipping sauces. My favorite is barbeque sauce, while my husband loves spicy sriracha aioli. I included a few ideas if you want a new and creative sauce to dip your fries in.

• Barbeque sauce
• Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
• Garlic Parmesan Dip
• Ketchup
• Mayo/Vegan Mayo
• Nacho Cheese
• Ranch Salad Dressing
• Spicy Sriracha Aioli
• Tzaziki/Vegan Tzaziki

Expert Tips

Preheat the Air Fryer: I always recommend it, even if the instructions say you do not have to preheat it. Preheating helps create a crispy texture.

Don’t overcrowd the basket: I know it can be tempting to overcrowd, but only fill the basket to the halfwayOvercrowding point. Overcrowding the basket causes the fries to steam instead of crisp. Steamed fries are soggy, and honestly, no one likes soggy fries.

Shake the basket: The air circulates around the fries. However, the bottom of the basket tends to be the hottest point of the air fryer. Shaking the basket mixes up the fries and helps them to cook evenly. I recommend shaking every 4-5 minutes. While this is not a hard and fast time, it serves a dual purpose and allows me to keep an eye on fries from overcooking.

Cook using frozen fries: The moisture in room-temperature fries results in the oil to steam. On the other hand, with frozen fries, the oil makes a crispier fry.

Frequently Asked Questions