Learn how to air fry frozen curly fries so you can satisfy your craving any time! Cooked frozen with just 1 ingredient and 10 minutes to make.
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Curly fries are one of the greatest joys in life. They're bouncy, crispy, and seasoned to perfection.
I love a good Arby's curly fry as much as the next girl, but how about we make those fries at home, from frozen, in the air fryer? It's incredibly easy and achievable any night of the week.
I used to make all my frozen fries in the oven (I'm definitely not messing around with deep-frying on a regular basis), but now that I'm getting more comfortable with my air fryer I've been trying all sorts of stuff in there. I showed you how to make air fryer waffle fries and air fryer shoestring fries already, but now we're doing curly fries!
Ingredients
- Frozen curly fries
- Salt or other seasoning, if needed (mine came pre-seasoned)
How to cook frozen curly fries in air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- Add frozen curly fries to the air fryer in a single layer, working in batches as necessary.
- Cook 5 minutes, then flip or shake the basket and cook an additional 5 minutes.
- If adding seasoning, season immediately after cooking.
Top tips
Don't cook a whole bag at once
Only cook as many fries as will fit in a single layer in your air fryer. This means you may need to cook in 2-3 batches to cook the whole bag of fries.
Cooking the entire bag and stacking fries will result in soft, soggy fries. Allowing them to cook in a single layer where the air can move around them is what gives them that great, crispy exterior.
The best air fryer to buy
I have the Ninja Foodi (affiliate link) which has functions for air frying, grilling, baking, and dehydrating. It works really well but is pretty bulky for keeping around the kitchen.
If you prefer a more affordable appliance that only air fries, I would recommend Ninja's 4qt Air Fryer or this Corosi Air Fryer. Keep in mind that all appliances vary, and you may need to adjust your cooking time.
How to store curly fries made in the air fryer
Air fried foods are best enjoyed soon after cooking. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, simply air fry again (you'll only need half the time) or bake at 400ºF until crispy. You could also microwave them, but they will not be crisp.
Tips for customizing air fryer curly fries
- Grab a different bag of seasoned frozen curly fries to change up the flavor
- Serve with my homemade veggie nuggets and dip into the sriracha ketchup
- Swap curly fries in for my loaded waffle fries
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, such as my spicy bbq sauce or cashew sauce
- Swap the baked potato for these air fryer curly fries in my BBQ tempeh stuffed baked potato
- If your frozen fries are unseasoned, toss with my oven baked potato wedges seasoning after cooking
FAQ
I always love Ore-Ida fries in all varieties, and I especially love that their curly fries are already seasoned. However, this recipe will work with any frozen curly fries such as Arby's, McCain, or the generic store brand.
Each batch of fries will cook for 10 minutes at 400ºF. If you're cooking the whole bag you will probably need to do 2 batches, so it would take 20 minutes to air fry a whole bag of curly fries.
No, do not thaw your fries before air frying. They will cook best and be more crisp if you cook from frozen.
You do not need to use oil to cook frozen french fries in the air fryer. If you want extra crispy fries, you could spray them with a little cooking spray before air frying.
I do not recommend swapping the frozen fries for fresh potatoes in this recipe. It would require a very different preparation and cooking method because the frozen fries have already been cooked before freezing, and are then air frying from frozen.
More side dish recipes
- Loaded Air Fryer Waffle Fries
- Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
- Air Fryer Home Fries
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Oven Baked Potato Wedges
- Mashed Potatoes with Boursin
- Mashed Potatoes without Milk
- Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Frozen Curly Fries in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen curly fries
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- Add the curly fries in a single layer, working in batches as necessary.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the fries or shake the basket.
- Cook an additional 5 minutes or until crispy and golden.
- If adding seasoning, add it immediately after cooking.
Notes
Tips for customizing air fryer curly fries
- Grab a bag of seasoned frozen curly fries to change up the flavor
- Serve with my homemade veggie nuggets and dip into the sriracha ketchup
- Swap curly fries in for my loaded waffle fries
- Try dipping in my spicy bbq sauce
- Swap the baked potato for these air fryer curly fries in my BBQ tempeh stuffed baked potato
- If your frozen fries are unseasoned, toss with my oven baked potato wedges seasoning after cooking
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