Use your air fryer to make the best crispy shoestring french fries! No need to deep fry when you can make these perfectly seasoned fries using this healthier option.
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I live for potatoes in all their beautiful forms. They make the perfect side dish for just about anything.
There used to be a restaurant in town that would serve a burger topped with thin, crispy french fries. I’ve been missing that burger lately, so I thought I’d make some shoestring fries of my own!
What are shoestring fries?
Shoestring fries are thinly cut french fries. I made mine extra thin so they’d get really crispy and cook quickly.
If you prefer, you can cut your shoestring fries a little thicker, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time to accommodate.
Every time I cook with the air fryer (affiliate link) my husband looks at it in awe because everything that comes out of it tastes like we’re in a restaurant.
Ingredients
- Potatoes
- Olive oil
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
How to make air fryer shoestring fries
- Peel potatoes and cut into very thin matchsticks using a knife, mandolin, or julienne peeler.
- Place potatoes in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak for at least 30 minutes, changing the water halfway through.
- Drain potatoes and lay them out on a clean kitchen towel, then pat dry.
- Return potatoes to the bowl and add olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Using your hands, toss the potatoes until coated in the oil and spices.
- In two batches, place potatoes in an even layer in the basket of an air fryer. Cook 12 minutes at 400ºF, stirring once halfway through.
Top tips and questions
What kind of air fryer should I buy?
I recommend the Ninja Foodi, which is can air fry, bake, grill, and dehydrate. If you’re going to have another big appliance laying around, it’s nice to have it serve multiple purposes.
If you prefer to buy just an air fryer, I would recommend this one from
What can I use to cut shoestring fries?
I used my julienne peeler to make super thin fries, but you could also use a mandolin, cut them by hand, or maybe even use a spiralizer. If using the julienne peeler, rotate the potato every few slices to keep them even and make it easier to cut.
Do I need to soak the potatoes?
Soaking the potatoes in water before cooking will help release some of the starch in the potatoes, making them crispier when cooked. Normally I would say it’s ok to skip this step if you prefer, but with how thinly cut these fries are you really want them to be crispy and not floppy, so be sure to soak them first.
How long does it take to cook shoestring french fries in an air fryer?
With potatoes cut this thin, it only takes about 12 minutes at 400ºF to cook shoestring fries, but I did need to work in two batches, so 24 minutes total.
If you are just cooking for two people you could cut this recipe in half and be ready in 12 minutes. Keep in mind that if you slice your potatoes thicker than mine (be sure to watch the video to see just how thin I got them) you’ll need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
Pro tip – I like to set my air fry time for longer than I think I’ll need because it will shut off when the time runs out. If your food isn’t done cooking you have to restart the appliance, which can be a pain in the middle of cooking.
Why didn’t my fries get crispy in the air fryer?
There are several reasons your fries may not come out crispy, but they’re easy to avoid. If you follow the instructions in the recipe, you should get crispy air fryer shoestring french fries.
- You didn’t soak the potatoes in water.
- You didn’t dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking.
- You crowded the air fryer basket.
- You didn’t cook them long enough.
Can I make shoestring fries in the oven?
I really recommend the air fryer here, but you could make these in the oven by spreading them on a baking sheet and baking at 425ºF for 25-40 minutes, depending on how thin you cut them. Be sure to flip and stir them once or twice while they bake.
Tips for customizing air fryer shoestring fries
- Sprinkle finished fries with fresh grated parmesan cheese (choose one made from plant rennet if you want them to be vegetarian)
- Use as a topper for chili, lentil veggie burgers, or seitan steaks
- Swap the spices for your favorite seasoning mix
- Swap the russet potatoes for yukon gold
- Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder to the seasoning mix for garlic fries
More potato recipes
- Air Fryer Home Fries
- Oven Baked Potato Wedges
- Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
- Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Thai Tofu Sauce
- Oven Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
- Vegetarian Potato Skin Egg Boats
- Mashed Potato Bake
- Leftover Mashed Potato Cheesy Vegetarian Hash
- Cheesy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, and tag @theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
Ingredients
- 2 Russet potatoes, peeled and julienned
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak at least 30 minutes, changing the water once halfway through.
- Drain potatoes and lay them out on a clean kitchen towel. Pat them dry with the towel or with a second clean kitchen towel.
- Return the potatoes to the bowl and add the olive oil, salt, paprika, and pepper.
- Using your hands, toss the potatoes until completely coated in oil and spices.
- Heat an air fryer to 400ºF. Working in two batches, lay the potatoes in an even layer in the air fryer basket and cook 12 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
- Use shoestring fries to top chili or veggie burgers, or serve as a side dish with your favorite protein.
Notes
Tips for customizing air fryer shoestring fries
- Sprinkle finished fries with fresh grated parmesan cheese (choose one made from plant rennet if you want them to be vegetarian)
- Use as a topper for chili, lentil veggie burgers, or seitan steaks
- Swap the spices for your favorite seasoning mix
- Swap the russet potatoes for yukon gold
- Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder to the seasoning mix for garlic fries
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