TIL I was crowding my air fryer basket and that's why my fries were soggy

I was making frozen french fries for my kids, like I do every Friday, and they kept coming out soft and a bit wet. I just thought that's how the air fryer did them. Then, last Friday, I was in a rush and only put in half a bag because that's all that was left. They came out perfect, crispy all over. It hit me that I had been filling the basket too full the whole time, maybe for a year. The air couldn't move around all the fries, so they steamed instead of crisping. Now I do smaller batches and shake the basket twice while they cook. Has anyone else found a different trick for getting frozen fries really crispy?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamesblack1d ago

Honestly, it's the law of the air fryer. You cram it full, you get sad, steamed food. I did the same thing with chicken nuggets for months, just a box of disappointment every time. The thing is basically a tiny, angry oven that needs personal space for everything. Now I treat it like a diva and give every piece its own room.

fiona_murray1d ago

My old Philips air fryer actually works better when I fill the basket about two-thirds full. It seems to trap the heat and circulate it more like a convection oven. I get crispier fries that way compared to when I do a single layer. Maybe it depends on the model and how strong the fan is.