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?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamesblack1mo 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.

the_terry12d ago

Tiny angry oven that needs personal space" is so perfect I might steal that. But I gotta push back on the "law of the air fryer" thing a tiny bit. The single layer rule is solid for most stuff, but it's not one size fits all. I learned that the hard way making tots. If I do one single layer, the ones on the edges get burnt before the middle ones are done, cause the fan hits them harder. So I actually do a thin double layer and shake halfway, and they come out way more even. Same with those frozen jalapeno poppers. If I crowd them just a little, they cook more gentle and don't explode everywhere. So I think it depends on what you're making. Nuggets though yeah, single layer all the way.

fiona_murray1mo 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.