Serious question about getting fries crispy without oil

I tried making frozen fries in my air fryer last night and they came out super soggy even after 20 minutes. A buddy of mine who runs a food truck told me to spray them with a little cooking oil before cooking. Does that actually work or is there a better trick you guys use? I'm tryna get that crunch like a restaurant without adding a ton of extra calories. What's your go to method for crispy fries?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_daniel5d ago

Read a tip from a chef once. He said parboil your fries first. Then freeze them again. That helps draw out extra moisture. Makes them crispier without needing much oil. Try that next time.

taylor.brooke5d ago

Whoa there, slow down with the serious crisis over some frozen fries (ha). I mean, spraying oil on them before air frying is basically the standard trick, it's not exactly a secret. But here's the thing - if your fries are coming out soggy after 20 minutes, your air fryer might just be packed too full. You need to give them space or they'll just steam each other, you know? I'd say skip the oil spray if you're worried about calories and just try a smaller batch with a good shake halfway through. That's really all it takes, no need to overthink a bag of frozen potatoes.

the_drew5d ago

Man, that reminds me of my buddy Chris who tried to make fries in his air fryer for months and got so frustrated. He finally bought this little spray bottle from a kitchen supply store and filled it with plain canola oil. He told me the secret was just one quick spritz per fry, spread out in a single layer, and then he shook the basket every 6 minutes or so. The first time he did that, he said the fries came out so crunchy he actually burned his mouth on the first bite.