It’s an easy way to breathe new life into the sad and stale snack. As ridiculously addictive as French fries are, we all know they lose their luster after a couple of hours. Even if you try to reheat them in the microwave or oven, they’re just not the same anymore. I’d get disheartened whenever I had to toss out leftover fries. For the longest time, I didn’t think there was a fix. So you can just imagine my joy when I found out that you can actually make fries amazing again. With the air fryer, cold and soggy leftover fries can once again be crispy and full of life without using oil. Hurray! With this simple guide, those leftover fries will be as crunchy and delicious as the minute you bought them.
How to Reheat Fries in the Air Fryer
The air fryer, or as I like to call it, the magic pot, has the unique ability to fry food without the need for oil. Thanks to this nifty appliance, you can enjoy your favorite deep-fried dishes minus the guilt! High heat circulates inside the air fryer and dries up all the moisture, turning chicken, pork, beef, and yes, even stale fries, into crispy-fried perfection. To begin the transformation, preheat the air fryer for 2 minutes, or until it reaches 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Preheating ensures even cooking, so don’t skip this step. Then spread the leftover fries evenly in the air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd it, otherwise, the air won’t circulate as it should. A 5.8-quart air fryer can fit two large servings. If you have more, just air fry in batches. The next step isn’t required, but I highly recommend it. Spray the top of the fried with extra virgin olive oil. It really makes a difference! All that’s left to do now is to air fry the fries! This step will give and take 3 to 4 minutes, depending on the shape and size of the fries. It will also vary on the power of your air fryer – some have a higher temperature than others. That said, you want to monitor the fries closely as they reheat. It only takes a few minutes, so this shouldn’t be a hassle. Shake the basket halfway through to prevent the fries from sticking to each other. When the time is up, take out the air fryer basket, give it a shake, and try a piece of fry. If it meets your expectations, they’re done! If they’re not crispy enough yet, just put the basket back. Cook for another minute, shake the basket and check again. Repeat the process, cooking at 1-minute intervals, until desired golden crispiness is achieved. Don’t go beyond the 1-minute intervals, otherwise, you’ll risk burning the fries. And, that’s it! It’s a quick and easy process with a highly rewarding result.
Watch Them Closely
This is key. I can’t stress this enough! You see, air fryers work really fast, so even just a few seconds make a big difference.
How Do You Make French Fries Crispy Again?
The secret? Extra virgin olive oil. I’m telling you, it works wonders! Not only does it help revive the fries to their crisp beauty, but it also makes the insides soft and fluffy. Don’t worry, you won’t need a lot. Just spray a bit on the top of the fries and they’re golden. Plus, extra virgin olive oil is healthy, so we can’t feel so guilty about using it now, can we?
How Long Does the Reheating Take?
The length of reheating varies depending on the thickness of the fries, but on average, it’s around 3. Here’s a quick guide for you. This table applies to room temperature fries. If you’re reheating cold, refrigerated fries, add a minute to the total duration.
Best Temperature For Reheating
This depends on the power of your air fryer. Not all air fryers are created equally. With mine, a temperature of 360 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect. If you’re not familiar with your air fryer yet, 350 degrees Fahrenheit is a good starting point.
What Types of Fries Can You Reheat
Absolutely anything! Just be sure to adjust the time accordingly depending on the type of fries you’re reheating.
Why Do Fries Get Soggy?
Potatoes contain a lot of starch. The starches release moisture as they cool, making the fries soft and soggy. Poor packaging is another culprit. While most dishes are best stored in air-tight containers, fries should be placed in an open box. When stored in sealed containers, the steam from the potatoes will condense while cooling, forming water droplets over the fries.
Can I Also Reheat Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer?
Absolutely! I’m one of the few people who prefer sweet potato fries over regular fries, so I’ve done this countless times, and it works every time. You can follow the same procedure, with one small difference: spray more olive oil on top of the fries. The result is super crispy golden sweet potato fries that taste just as incredible as freshly-cooked fries.
How to Serve Fries
There’s nothing wrong with eating fries as is, but when I’m in the mood to splurge, I like going all out with my toppings! For cheesy fries, take out the air fryer basket at the last minute of cooking and top the fries with grated cheese. Cook for one minute and you get that cheesy, melty goodness oozing over your fries. To make things even more extra, jazz it up with salsa, bacon crumbles, olives, and even more cheese. Congratulations, you’ll have some jaw-dropping, lip-smacking nacho fries!
Other Dishes You Can Cook in the Air Fryer
Did you know that aside from frying things, the air fryer can also make pop tarts, French toast, and even banana bread? Make the most out of this versatile gadget and try out these recipes! Apple Chips – If your taste buds are longing for something crunchy, but you don’t want to indulge in oily potato chips, these wholesome apple chips are the perfect solution. French Toast – It’s the easiest way to get decadent French toast on the table. Air fryer French toast is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and amazing in every bite. Banana Bread – Are you bananas for banana bread? Don’t bake it in the oven, try the air fryer instead! The air fryer makes insanely moist and flavorful banana bread in no time. Churros – For a sensational afternoon snack, make air fryer churros! Your kids will love you even more. Breakfast Pizza – start your day right with breakfast pizza! Loaded with cheese, eggs, and sausage, this pizza is the breakfast of champions.
Fun Facts About French Fries
I bet you didn’t know these little-known facts about the classic snack!
While it’s a universal side dish, not all countries refer to it as “fries.” They’re called “chips” in the United Kingdom and “frites” in France.There’s a possibility that French fries did not originate in France. Three countries claim to have invented the addictive snack – France, Spain, and Belgium.The answer to who brought it to America, however, is clear. President Thomas Jefferson is to thank for introducing us to French fries.
He discovered them while working as an American Minister to France. He loved them so much that even when he returned to the United States, he had his chef, James Hemings, continue making them for him.
Can you guess which food chain sells the most amount of fries? McDonald’s! The chain supplies over a third of the French fries consumed in the United States. 7% of the country’s potatoes are turned into McDonald’s fries. That’s a lot of potatoes!Have you ever tried replicating the famous McDonald’s fries? Not to deter you, but it’s not easy. The original recipe contains almost 20 ingredients! At least 15 types of French fries exist. Aside from the ones I’ve mentioned above, there’s also the crinkle-cut, cottage, tornado, and curly fries.What makes restaurant fries so much more addictive than homemade fries? They’re deep-fried, twice. After the first round of frying, the potatoes are cooled to room temperature, then fried for a second, even a third time. The result is a crispier and greasier treat.French fries are so beloved in Belgium that there is a museum dedicated to them. Called Frietmuseum, it houses artwork, photographs, and historical artifacts relating to potatoes and fries. It also doubles as a cafe that serves Belgian fries.Charles Dickens was the first author to ever write about French fries. In his 1859 novel, “A Tale of Two Cities,” he described the snack as “husky chips of potato, fried with some reluctant drops of oil.”Fries aren’t that bad. They actually have a few nutritional benefits, such as vitamins B6 and C, iron, and magnesium.
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