Frozen Curly Fries in the Air Fryer

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

How to cook frozen curly fries in air fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
2. Add frozen curly fries to the air fryer in a single layer, working in batches as necessary.
3. Cook 5 minutes, then flip or shake the basket and cook an additional 5 minutes.
4. If adding seasoning, season immediately after cooking.

Top tips and questions

What brand of curly fries is best?

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.

Can I air fry the whole bag of fries 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.

Should I thaw my curly fries before air frying?

No, do not thaw your fries before air frying. They will cook best and be more crisp if you cook from frozen.

Do I need to use oil in the air fryer?

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.

What kind of air fryer should I 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.

Can I use fresh potatoes?

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.

How long are air fryer curly fries good for?

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
• 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

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!

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